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Duncan may have made videotape Posted: Saturday, Jul 16, 2005 - 10:16:35 am PDT By DAVE TURNER Staff writer
Fargo newspaper reports he bought camcorder in April COEUR d'ALENE -- Wolf Lodge kidnap and murder suspect Joseph Edward Duncan III allegedly videotaped himself sexually abusing two children abducted from that home in May, a Spokane alternative newspaper reported in this week's edition.Authorities said they could not comment on the report because they are under restrictions because of an expected grand jury empanelment in U.S. District Court. The story in The Inlander, published on July 14, cited "sources working various aspects of the case." It said Duncan also apparently videotaped abortive attempts he made to kill Shasta and Dylan Groene while he held them captive at a remote campsite in Montana.
The story said during one apparent attempt, Dylan was seen bound and gagged and "unable to wiggle little more than his hands (and) flashed the 'I love you' sign to his sister." Dylan's remains were found at a campsite outside St. Regis, Mont., two days after Shasta, 8, was rescued from the custody of Duncan early the morning of July 2 while sitting in a booth at the Coeur d'Alene Denny's restaurant. Services for Dylan, who would have turned 10 today, will be held at 1 p.m. at Real Life Ministries church in Post Falls. Sources and court documents also said along with a video camera, night-vision goggles and the shotgun Duncan, 42, a level III registered sex offender from Fargo, N.D., is believed to have used to hold the children's mother, older brother and mother's boyfriend during the May 15-16 home invasion robbery, a global positioning system unit was found in the stolen Jeep Laredo Duncan was using. It was that unit which helped lead investigators to Dylan's body. Meanwhile, in its Friday editions, a Fargo newspaper citing police sources reported Duncan bought night-vision goggles, a pocket-sized camcorder and a radar detector a week before he jumped bail on child molestation charges there. The Fargo Forum said on April 13 Duncan went to the Wal-Mart store in Fargo and paid $731.99. He also bought a car battery and a pack of tapes for the camcorder. A subpoena of Duncan's bank records by Detroit Lakes, Minn., police uncovered the personal check that connected Duncan to the purchase. Earlier this week, Duncan was charged in Idaho 1st District Court with kidnapping, binding, then killing Brenda Kay Groene, 40, her son, Slade Groene, 13, and boyfriend Mark Edward McKenzie, 37, with a framing hammer. Authorities said they believe the motive for the slayings was to kidnap Shasta and Dylan for sexual purposes. In March, a Becker County, Minn., prosecutor filed the sexual molestation charges against Duncan, who was released on $15,000 bail after his first court hearing on April 5. Duncan also served nearly 20 years in prison for a 1980 rape of a 14-year-old boy at gunpoint. The week after the Wal-Mart purchases, Duncan had his last contact with a pre-trial probation officer. Duncan was supposed to keep at least weekly phone contact with the officer. That was the last time authorities saw Duncan until shortly before 2 a.m. July 2 when patrons and restaurant workers recognized Shasta with him. This week, FBI officials in Salt Lake City, who offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the children and identification and apprehension of their abductor, confirmed they are working on putting the award of the money into motion. They are "currently reviewing information as it relates to the reward for the special agent in charge to make a recommendation," said special agent Brent Robbins, the division's public information officer. Waitress Amber Deahn and customer Nick Chapman have initially been identified as possible recipients for the reward. However, FBI officials would not say who could receive the money, which will be paid out of an FBI account earmarked for rewards, or how it would be split. That decision, at whatever point it's made, Robbins said, will be made by Special Agent in Charge Tim Fuhrman, who will then make a recommendation to upper echelons in Washington, D.C., for approval. Dave Turner can be reached at 664-8176, ext. 2009 or at dturner@cdapress.com.
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