Joseph Edward Duncan III pled guilty to the murders of Shasta Groene's family today in a last-minute plea deal that spared him from the death penalty in Idaho and spared the young victim the trama of having to testify in his trial. Duncan pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping.

His guilty plea today was in state court for the murders and kidnapping of Brenda Groene, 40; her 13-year-old son Slade; and her boyfriend, Mark McKenzie, 37 -- the three people Duncan killed so that he could abduct and assault Dylan Groene, 9, and Shasta Groene, 8.

Duncan could still face the death penalty, however. He faces federal charges for the kidnapping and sexual assault of Shasta and Dylan, and the murder of Dylan. Federal prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty in that trial.

In the unusual plea agreement with Idaho prosecutors, Duncan agreed to be returned to Kootenai County for a death penalty trial if he is not sentenced to death in federal court. See Details of Plea Agreement.

Duncan also agreed to give investigators access to his computer files, which could provide evidence linking him to other child molestation crimes, authorities said.

A Sex Offender Strikes Again

Convicted sex offender Duncan was out on bail in a Minnesota case involving the molestation of a seven-year-old boy, when he spotted Shasta and Dylan Groene playing in the yard in their bathing suits. Their home near Coeur d'Alene was visible from a nearby Interstate highway.

Duncan stalked the home for days before entering the house to kill three people and abduct the two youngest children. He used night-vision goggles to learn the home's layout before breaking in to kill Shasta's mother, her mother's boyfriend and her older brother.

According to court documents, Shasta's mother called her into the living room early on the morning of May 16, where she saw the three 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.

Rescued at a Restaurant

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

The court records reveal that Duncan, 43, molested the children for seven weeks at a primitive campsite in Montana. He recorded some of his actions on a digital video and still cameras he carried. Sometime during the seven weeks, Dylan was killed.

Shasta was dramatically rescued July 1 when she was recognized with Duncan at a Denny's restaurant in Coeur d'Alene, 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.

See Also:
Duncan Pleads Guilty to Murders

Background:
The Trial of Joseph Edward Duncan