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
Duncan targeted Spokane child
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 Spokane duplex with …
Duncan back in Idaho court, Legislature off and running for session…
Duncan back in Idaho court, Legislature off and running for session…
Killer Joseph Duncan gets new hearing
BOISE – Joseph Duncan was sentenced to death three times over for crimes against a 9-year-old North Idaho boy he killed in 2005, and he initially and repeatedly said he …
Duncan case goes back to the courtroom
Duncan case goes back to the courtroom
Duncan case headed back to Idaho courtroom for competency hearing
Duncan case headed back to Idaho courtroom for competency hearing
Killer’s competency appeal nears in federal court
As an appeal over the competency of a convicted child killer nears in Idaho’s U.S. District Court, a judge is sorting out just what expert witnesses should be allowed to …
KREM: Shasta Groene Breaks Silence
KREM: Shasta Groene Breaks Silence
Groene’s Dad Sues Fund Manager
Groene’s Dad Sues Fund Manager
Groene kids’ dad sues donation fund manager
COEUR D’ALENE — A woman who administered a bank account for donations given to benefit two North Idaho children kidnapped seven years ago is being sued by their father, who …
Duncan’s competency hearing set
BOISE – A court hearing on whether condemned murderer Joseph Duncan was mentally competent when he waived his right to appeal his death sentence has been set for Jan. 8, …
Duncan competency hearing set for Jan. 8
Duncan competency hearing set for Jan. 8
Duncan competency hearing set for January
A court hearing on whether condemned murderer Joseph Duncan was mentally competent when he waived his right to appeal his death sentence has been set for Jan. 8, 2013.
Duncan wants to appeal death penalty
Duncan wants to appeal death penalty
Duncan alters course on sentence appeal
BOISE – Notorious murderer Joseph Duncan has changed his mind about waiving his right to appeal, saying he owes it to his mother to try getting off death row for …
Duncan changes mind, says he now wants to appeal his death sentence
Duncan changes mind, says he now wants to appeal his death sentence
Duncan due in court in Boise tomorrow
Duncan due in court in Boise tomorrow
Duncan still getting competency hearing
Duncan still getting competency hearing
Duncan’s competence at sentencing to be reconsidered
Condemned serial killer Joseph E. Duncan is getting another day in court. Duncan, on death row for the torture and slaying of a North Idaho boy he abducted in 2005 …
Duncan’s death penalty NOT overturned
Duncan’s death penalty NOT overturned
Duncan sentence faces test
BOISE – The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered convicted killer Joseph Duncan back into court in Idaho, saying a federal judge should have ordered a competency hearing …
Expert: Secrecy contributed to 9th Circuit ruling
Expert: Secrecy contributed to 9th Circuit ruling
Duncan Competency Hearing Ordered
Duncan Competency Hearing Ordered
9th Circuit orders Duncan back into court in Idaho
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has ordered convicted child-killer Joseph Duncan back into court in Idaho, saying a federal judge should have ordered a competency hearing before allowing …
Olson: Duncan’s death sentence still in place for now
Olson: Duncan’s death sentence still in place for now
Olson: Every court has found Duncan competent
Olson: Every court has found Duncan competent
9th Circuit ruling could lead to rerun of whole Duncan sentencing trial
9th Circuit ruling could lead to rerun of whole Duncan sentencing trial
9th Circuit suspends Joseph Duncan’s death sentence
9th Circuit suspends Joseph Duncan’s death sentence
Groene Murders 6 Years Ago Today
Groene Murders 6 Years Ago Today
Huckleberries: Strangers reward woman’s effort to turn life around
Kendra Martinez has kept herself out of trouble since the days of yore when she was the object of a tug-of-war between the Kootenai County prosecutor and the public defender. …
Duncan returns to federal death row
Duncan returns to federal death row
Groene Finds Voice In Social Media
Groene Finds Voice In Social Media
Duncan Gets 2 More Life Sentences
Duncan Gets 2 More Life Sentences