SPOKANE -- There’s new insight into the mind and motivations of suspected child killer Joseph Duncan after he wrote a letter to a woman who condemned him for being a child molester.

Last Tuesday Joseph Duncan wrote to a woman who had written him, condemning him for his life as a child molester. The Vancouver woman, who received Duncan's letter on Friday, is actively campaigning for a change in Washington law that would lock up violent sex offenders for life.

In his letter, there is a wealth of new information on Duncan's last days with Shasta Groene.

Kootenai County jail officials confirm Duncan sent out the hand written letter last Tuesday. In the letter Duncan concedes no one has the right to play God and says last July, "God himself appeared between me and Shasta and commanded me to take her home immediately. So I did.

I do not know why he did not appear to me sooner, you'll have to take up that question with God."

Duncan was writing to the regional coordinator of a group called “Citizens for a One-Strike Law.”

Mike Schuler is the Spokane organizer of Initiative 921 and doubts Duncan deliberately allowed himself to be caught.

“I think what he's doing there is just manipulating the circumstances after the fact in order to cast himself in a better light,” Schuler said. “I don't think he was on his way to turn himself in or bring Shasta home or anything, I think he got caught.”

From behind bars Duncan then describes himself as a remorseful, tortured man ready to trade places with Dylan and his other three alleged murder victims saying, “If dying, even going to Hell could erase what has happened I would volunteer in a moment. But it can't … even though dying at this point in my life would be easier than facing what I have done."

Initiative 921 organizers feel Duncan's letter only strengthens their call for life sentences for violent sex offenders.

“There's a certain percentage of these guys who commit violent sex offenses that are just not curable,” Schuler said. “There's no point in trying to rehabilitate them, it's just a waste of time trying to rehabilitate them … turn them lose back in society where they're going to commit another crime.”

However in his letter Duncan argues against life or death sentences for sex offenders saying society's contempt for pedophiles simply breeds more violence.

Duncan writes, “If you continue to hate me, even kill me, then you send a message to other sex offenders in this country. You need to honestly ask yourself how that message will affect them the next time they see a vulnerable person."

FULL TEXT OF DUNCAN LETTER, PRINTED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT CHANGES:

Dear Jean,

"Without forgiveness there is only insanity."

I hope that you are not too dismayed to receive letters from me. Normally I would not reply to such a rage filled letters, but I honestly saw genuine pain behind your words and I felt you at least deserved some kind of answer.

You are completely right, "no one has the right to play god", but sadly that is exactly what I was trying to do by condemning society for being "evil and inhuman." But god himself appeared between me and Shasta and commanded me to take her home immediately! So, I did. I don't know why he did not appear to me sooner, you'll have to take that question up with god, (and he can answer, if given a chance.)

But, since I surrendered to the authorities of this world God has been speaking with me everyday. (No, I'm not crazy and I'm not "hearing voices" or anything like that.) I know it is God talking to me though, because not even the devil himself could have made me turn myself over to my most feared and hated enemy ("the system"). It was god God himself who asked me to write you and at least try to let you know that his forgiveness is for everyone! If salvation were only for the righteous (or mostly righteous) then it would not be salvation! There is one simple message that God just asked me to convey to you (apparently he thinks you'll understand): God's power is his forgiveness, if he cant forgive me then he is weak and not God at all! Is that what you really believe?

I realize, of course, that you are hurt and angry, and that was the only reason you said such things to try to hurt me back. And to be honest, it does hurt, more than you know. My own anger, pain and confusion over what happened is more than anyone's (except possibly ! the families, of course). So I know how you probably feel. So, I'm glad that you wrote to me so I could know how you feel. Right now how other people feel is much more important to me than my own feelings. But, as a society, we need to focus on the future "Dylan's",the ones who also deserve nothing but the best in life, before they too loose it to some hate filled person who wants to "play god" by judging those around him instead of taking responsibility for their own feelings! The question should not be "WHY, WHY?" But rather "how can I help stop this from happening again"?

Jean, I know you are hurt. But killing me will not kill the sickness that is in the world that causes this to happen. You are not really angry at me, you are angry at the sickness that I represent in your mind. But God is glorious and all power full God, and if you have faith in him he will lead you to the understanding ! you need. To see me as a human, and to see the "evil" for what it is too. (And maybe putting it to death, not each other).

If dying, even going to hell, could erase what has happened then I would volunteer in a moment. But it cant, so even though dying at this point in my life would be easier than facing what I have done. I must face it (God says so) to give the world a chance to understand, and hopefully grow, so that the next time a man like myself comes into the world (and there are certainly many already here, just waiting repetitiously for their own anger to surface) then maybe as a society we can reach out to them, exactly as I'm reaching out to you now and say, "I am sorry, please forgive me". Not for my sake, but for all of our sakes, and for the children's sake!"

Our fear and hatred is the sickness and there is no "good hatred." If you continue to hate me, and even kill me, then you send a message to other "s! ex offenders" in this country. I HATE YOU! And I wish you were DEAD! You need to honestly ask yourself how that message will affect them the next time they see a vulnerable person who represents to them exactly what I represent to you!

So, should we just "kill them all?" Jean, look where this is leading. I sense that you are a far better person then that or you wouldn't have even given me a chance to feel your pain and anger by taking time to write.

I hope and pray to God that this letter helps, even if in the smallest way, to alleviate your pain. It is so important to me that people understand Gods presence and power in all that happens. He has a plan for all of us that are literally beyond your imagination, and if you simply obey his greatest command, "to love him" then he will show you his plan too. (You don't ever even need a bible, but it can help.) Just open your heart to God. A good way to start is to o! pen your heart to someone you hate (not necessarily me). (sad face added) These are the kind of things God has been telling me about. I hope they help you understand, so you can help us all heal, and stop the insanity!

Take care, trust God, love him, please. Duncan.