Oprah set to share Groene tragedy

“Kidnapped by a Pedophile: The Shasta Groene Tragedy” is the title of today’s “Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Steve Groene, father of the 8-year-old kidnapping victim from Coeur d’Alene, was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey and will be sharing the latest information in the case, according to Winfrey’s Web site. Groene said last month that he will also be speaking on the “lack of laws” for sex offenders.

Sex predator Joseph Edward Duncan, 42, is awaiting trial for the alleged murders of Shasta Groene’s mother, 13-year-old brother and her mother’s boyfriend.

Federal charges are pending for the kidnapping of Shasta and her 9-year-old brother Dylan, and for Dylan’s subsequent killing.

Duncan is likely facing additional federal charges for crimes including production of child porn. Shasta Groene told detectives that Duncan repeatedly molested her and her brother during the weeks he held them captive.

“He should have been behind bars the first time,” Winfrey says of Duncan, who spent 14 years in prison for raping a 14-year-old boy at gunpoint, in the trailer for today’s show. “I’m so sick of it.”

Since Duncan’s arrest he has been tied to abductions and homicides of a 10-year-old California boy and two girls from the Seattle area.

Today’s show will provide information on how to help the fight against sex offenders.

The show, which airs at 4 p.m. on CBS, will also include appearances by Mark Lunsford, father of a Florida girl who was abducted and killed by a sexual predator, as well as a woman who was tortured by a sex offender.

According to Winfrey’s Web site, the show will highlight wanted sex predators.

Winfrey plans to introduce a $100,000 reward.

A trailer for the show can be found at www.oprah.com.