Report: Sex Offender Stalked Idaho Children

After spotting eight-year-old Shasta Groene in a bathing suit playing in the yard with her brother, convicted sex offender Joseph Edward Duncan III stalked the home for days before entering the house to kill three people and abduct the two youngest children, according to court papers.

At a probable cause hearing Tuesday, Detective Brad Maskell told the court that Duncan told Shasta Groene how he stalked the family's home for days before kidnapping her and her brother May 16.

"(Duncan) told her he watched her two or three days, and at night would peer inside the home," Maskell said. He said Duncan used night-vision goggles to learn the home's layout before breaking in to kill Shasta's mother, her boyfriend and her older brother.

Shasta's Nightmare

According to court documents of the closed-door hearing, Shasta's mother called her into the living room early on the morning of May 16, where she saw her mother, Brenda Groene, her 13-year-old brother Slade and her mother's boyfriend Mark McKenzie all tied up with duct tape and zip-ties. Shasta said Duncan was wearing dark gloves and had a shotgun.

Shasta told investigators that Duncan tied up her and her nine-year-old brother Dylan and left them outside the house while he went back in to kill the other three. Shasta heard McKenzie scream several times and saw her brother Slade stagger, bloody and incoherent, outside.

According to Shasta, Duncan bragged to her about killing her family and showed her the hammer that he used.

Duncan Charged With Murder

Shasta was rescued July 1 when she was recognized with Duncan at a Denny's restaurant in her hometown, less than 10 miles from the scene of the murders. With the help of Shasta and evidence found in Duncan's stolen vehicle, investigators located the remote camp site where the children were held and repeatedly sexually assaulted. They located the remains of Dylan at the site.

Duncan, 42, has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the murders at the Coeur D'Alene, Idaho home. Duncan had been charged with kidnapping Shasta and Dylan, but those state charges will be dismissed and federal charges will be filed because the children were taken across a state line, into Montana.

See Also:
Idaho Suspect Allegedly Staked Out Home

Earlier Articles:
Remains Identified as Dylan Groene's
Idaho Children Abducted, Repeatedly Molested
Search for Dylan Turns Up 'Human Remains'
Shasta Groene Found in Idaho, Brother Presumed Dead
Still No Clues for Missing Idaho Children
Three Killed, Two Idaho Children Missing

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