Topics
Joseph Duncan
Summary
Joseph Edward Duncan III is the murderer and kidnapper who attacked a Wolf Lodge Bay family in May 2005.
Kootenai County deputies discovered three dead on May 16, 2005. Brenda Groene, 40; her fiance Mark McKenzie, 37; and her son, Slade Groene, 13, were bludgeoned to death. An Amber Alert was issued the next day for Brenda Groene’s two youngest children, 9-year-old Dylan Groene and 8-year-old Shasta Groene.
The murders and children’s disappearance launched the biggest investigative effort in Kootenai County’s history, at one point involving more than 100 FBI personnel and more than 80 investigators from several other agencies.
Shortly before 2 a.m. on July 2, Shasta was recognized by workers and patrons at the Denny’s in Coeur d’Alene, and her kidnapper, Duncan, was arrested without incident.
Duncan, 42 at the time, was a federal fugitive and a Tacoma native who had spent much of his adult life in Washington state prisons for sex crimes against children. He was on the run from a child molestation charge in Minnesota when he drove past the Groene home on Interstate 90 east of Coeur d’Alene and spotted Shasta and Dylan playing outside.
Over the July 4 weekend, investigators found Dylan Groene’s remains at a campsite near St. Regis, Mont.
On Oct. 16, 2005, Duncan pleaded guilty to three counts of kidnapping and three counts of murder in the deaths of Brenda Groene, Mark McKenzie and Slade Groene. He was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for the kidnappings. The sentences for the murders were undecided, pending federal prosecution.
More than two years later, after numerous legal delays and psychiatric evaluations, Duncan acted as his own lawyer as he pleaded guilty to 10 federal counts, including the kidnapping of the two children and Dylan’s murder, on Dec. 3, 2007.
On Aug. 27, 2008, a federal jury sentenced Duncan to death. The decision ended the state’s earlier case, with a judge imposing three more life sentences for those murders. Later, Duncan was given three more life sentences, for a total of nine, for his federal crimes.
Duncan pleaded guilty in the death of Anthony Martinez, a 10-year-old California boy, adding his 10th life sentence on March 15, 2011. Duncan has also been linked to the 1996 slayings of two young half-sisters in Seattle.
Key people
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Joseph Duncan
Joseph Edward Duncan III is the murderer and kidnapper who attacked an Idaho family in May 2005. Duncan was 42 at the time, was a federal fugitive and a Tacoma native who had spent much of his adult life in Washington state prisons for sex crimes against children. On Dec. 3, 2007, after numerous legal delays and psychiatric evaluations, Duncan acted as his own lawyer as he pleaded guilty to 10 federal counts, including the kidnapping of the two children and Dylan Grone’s murder.
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Brenda Groene
Brenda Groene, 40, was found at her home by Kootenai County deputies on May 16, 2005, bludgeoned to death, along with her fiance Mark McKenzie; and her son, 13-year-old Slade Groene. Her 9-year-old son Dylan Groene and 8-year-old daughter Shasta Groene were kidnapped by Joseph Duncan.
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Mark McKenzie
Mark McKenzie, 37, was found by Kootenai County deputies May 16, 2005, bludgeoned to death, along with his fiancee, Brenda Groene, 40; and her son, Slade Groene, 13, were bludgeoned to death.
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Steve Groene
Steve Groene is the father of Shasta Groene. His sons, Dylan and Slade Groene and his ex-wife, Brenda Groene, were killed in 2005 by Joseph Dundan. Shasta was kidnapped and was found two months later.
Key places
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Wolf Lodge Bay
Latest updates in this topic
Shasta Groene says her ‘soul was finally free’ after hearing of Joseph Duncan’s death
The sole survivor of a brutal attack and kidnapping in 2005 released a statement Monday after the death of the man who killed her family.
Serial killer Joseph Duncan dies in Indiana on death row
Joseph E. Duncan III, the notorious serial killer responsible for the brutal slayings of a Coeur d’Alene family, died Sunday while awaiting execution.
Shawn Vestal: Duncan, on death row, now facing aggressive brain cancer
Joseph Duncan may not receive the death penalty after all, but not because he’s won an appeal.
Steve Groene, whose family fell victim to a serial killer, dies of cancer at 62
Tragedy struck the Groene family in May 2005, when serial killer Joseph Duncan III broke into the Coeur d’Alene home where three of Groene’s children were living with their mother …
Judge orders Steve Groene out of Coeur d’Alene home built for his daughter after 2005 murders
Steve Groene must vacate the Coeur d’Alene house he has lived in for more than a decade, a judge ruled Thursday, ending protracted litigation over the home that was built …
Steve Groene, father of kidnapping victim Shasta Groene, fighting eviction from Coeur d’Alene home
A house in Coeur d’Alene was supposed to be a gift for Shasta Groene, the lone survivor of one of the region’s most horrific crimes. But more than a decade …
Shasta Groene violates probation in injury to child case
A young Idaho woman who survived heinous crimes as a child has recently been in trouble with the law for exposing two young children to danger.
Kootenai County Jail stylist cuts hair for criminals from thieves to murderers
A pair of shears around uncuffed inmates inside the Kootenai County Jail sounds precarious. But cosmetologist Leticia Serrano is used to the risk.
Child-killer Joseph Duncan still fighting death sentence
Although child-killer Joseph Duncan waived his right to appeal his triple death sentence for the 2005 kidnapping, torture and murder of a 9-year-old North Idaho boy, Duncan, through a team …
Child-killer Joseph Duncan still fighting death sentence
Although child-killer Joseph Duncan waived his right to appeal his triple death sentence for the 2005 kidnapping, torture and murder of a 9-year-old North Idaho boy, Duncan, through a team …
Jury selection begins for accused cop killer Jonathan Renfro
They were firefighters, stay-at-home moms and young adults trying to start a career. All of them were among one of the biggest pools of jurors to be summoned in Kootenai …
Longtime public defender John Adams to retire this week in Coeur d’Alene
Longtime public defender John Adams has announced that he will retire later this week.
Shasta Groene wants sex offenders to spend life behind bars
Shasta Groene, who was kidnapped from her North Idaho home by serial killer Joseph Edward Duncan in May 2005, has started a
Supreme Court denies Duncan appeal in 2005 kidnapping, murder of Dylan Groene
The U.S. Supreme Court has let stand a ruling that convicted killer Joseph Duncan was mentally competent when he waived his right to appeal his death sentence for killing three …
Shasta’s Story: Shasta Groene’s new path 10 years after tragedy
Hers is a name never forgotten by most North Idaho residents. Q6 has the following story chronicling her tumultuous journey over the past 10 years. The once-traumatized little girl is …
Judge rejects Joseph Duncan’s death penalty appeal
Federal judges have rejected efforts to spare killer Joseph Duncan from the death penalty. A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Friday that a district …
9th Circuit dismisses Duncan’s appeal of death sentence
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has rejected claims from attorneys for multiple murderer Joseph Duncan that the killer was incompetent to waive appeals of his death sentence, and …
Ninth Circuit Court considers Duncan’s competency in death penalty appeal
Convicted murderer Joseph Duncan made it very clear he didn’t want to appeal his triple death sentence, U.S. Attorney for Idaho Wendy Olson told the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of …
U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson to 9th Circuit: Duncan made it clear he didn’t want to appeal death sentence
U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson to 9th Circuit: Duncan made it clear he didn’t want to appeal death sentence
Serial killer Joseph Duncan is mentally competent, federal judge rules
BOISE – A federal judge has cleared the way for serial killer Joseph Duncan’s execution for the 2005 kidnapping, torture and murder of a 9-year-old North Idaho boy, ruling that …
Lodge rules Duncan was competent, his death sentence appeal was waived
Lodge rules Duncan was competent, his death sentence appeal was waived
Judge’s ruling clears way for Joseph Duncan’s execution
A federal judge has cleared the way for Joseph Duncan’s execution for the 2005 kidnapping, torture and murder of a 9-year-old North Idaho boy, ruling that Duncan was mentally competent …
Duncan’s Fate Rests In Idaho Court
Duncan’s Fate Rests In Idaho Court
Duncan on federal Death Row, but fate still rests in an Idaho courtroom
Duncan on federal Death Row, but fate still rests in an Idaho courtroom
Joseph Duncan competency hearing nears end
BOISE – Child-killer Joseph Duncan is sitting on federal death row in Terre Haute, Ind., but his fate still rests in an Idaho courtroom. Eight years after Duncan kidnapped, tortured …
Judge: Courtroom stays open for Duncan hearing
BOISE — A federal judge has rejected a request that the courtroom be closed for part of a convicted murderer’s mental competency hearing.
Judge Lodge: No closed courtroom for Duncan hearing testimony
Judge Lodge: No closed courtroom for Duncan hearing testimony
Duncan’s defense attorneys request closed court
BOISE — The former attorneys for convicted murderer Joseph Duncan are asking a judge to let them testify in secret about whether Duncan was mentally competent during his death penalty …
Psychologist: Duncan paranoid, but competent
Psychologist: Duncan paranoid, but competent
Doctor claims Duncan’s competent
BOISE – A forensic psychologist who examined convicted murderer Joseph Duncan four years ago said Duncan scored high on a test measuring paranoia, but was still legally competent to serve …
Duncan had eye on Spokane child
BOISE – Before Joseph Duncan murdered a 9-year-old North Idaho boy in 2005, he set his sights on a Spokane child, posing as a prospective renter and touring a South …
Court hearing: Duncan targeted Spokane boy before settling on his Idaho victims
Court hearing: Duncan targeted Spokane boy before settling on his Idaho victims