Tuesday, September 27, 2005

ONGOING COVERAGE: GROENE INVESTIGATION

Evidence paints a chilling picture

Letters written by child victims among items in Duncan's Jeep

Joseph Edward Duncan III faces three counts of first-degree murder and may face federal kidnapping charges. (File/The Spokesman-Review) Documents: Evidence gathered at Groene home (PDF) Evidence gathered from vehicle (PDF)

Taryn Brodwater
Staff writer
September 15, 2005

Documents released Wednesday show authorities have seized a chilling collection of evidence in building their case against murder suspect Joseph Edward Duncan.

Duncan's rented Jeep Cherokee, according to search warrant papers, held a sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, "Rambo" knife, hatchet, camping supplies, global positioning system navigation equipment and maps from several states and communities, and the wallet of victim Mark McKenzie.

"Certainly the Jeep was well-equipped," Kootenai County Sheriff's Detective Brad Maskell said Wednesday. "He was carrying with him obviously many items of camping gear, clothing and blankets that could sustain him on long travels."

The documents released Wednesday include lists of items taken from the Jeep, Duncan's jail cell, and the Wolf Lodge home where the bodies of McKenzie, Brenda Groene and 13-year-old Slade Groene were discovered on May 16. Duncan has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, and has pleaded not guilty. Federal authorities have said they will likely file charges against Duncan in connection with the kidnapping of Shasta Groene, 8, and her 9-year-old brother, Dylan, and for Dylan's apparent homicide.

Authorities also found two cell phones, a digital camera, digital video camera, digital memory cards, DVDs and a laptop computer in Duncan's Jeep. A warrant has been obtained to examine the records, files and images on the computer, phone and cameras, alleging that the information could contain details on crimes including homicide, kidnapping, child sexual abuse and possession of child pornography.

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Letters addressed to "Dad," written by Dylan and Shasta Groene, were also found in Duncan's Jeep. Another letter found in the Jeep was from Dylan to his sister.

Steve Groene, the children's father, said Wednesday that he had never heard of the letters. He said detectives told him they'd let him know when any new information was going to be made public so he could prepare his family, but said he wasn't warned in advance of Wednesday's release of about 60 pages of documents detailing evidence in the case.

Maskell said Groene wasn't shown the letters from his children because they have been entered as evidence.

"Any writings are depictions of events and states of mind that could be evidence in the case," Maskell said.

Days after Duncan's July 2 arrest, authorities obtained a warrant to seize two letters Duncan allegedly wrote on tissue paper while in jail – one addressed to Shasta Groene and another addressed to God.

Specifics on the letters written by Duncan and the children were not available.

Authorities believe Duncan camped in the Lolo National Forest with Dylan and Shasta Groene in the weeks after he allegedly murdered McKenzie and the Groenes. Dylan's remains were later found at a remote campsite in western Montana. One investigator told the newspaper last month that Dylan had been dismembered and cremated.

The 11-page list of items recovered from the crime scene on Frontage Road describes a grisly scene.

Swabs of suspected blood samples were taken from throughout the house and from the sidewalk and other areas outside the home. Everyday items – a Family Circle magazine, a child's stuffed animal, flowered bed sheets, a physical science textbook – were stained with what investigators believe to be blood.

Maskell said the investigation has yielded about 600 items of evidence so far, including many samples sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Va., for DNA testing.

Using a warrant July 5, investigators obtained a so-called sexual assault kit from Duncan – a saliva sample, hair samples, a blood sample and fingernail scrapings. According to court records, Shasta Groene told investigators that Duncan sexually assaulted her and her brother.

Duncan goes on trial in January. Steve and Shasta Groene were served with subpoenas this week to serve as witnesses at the trial. Steve Groene said Wednesday that the family was hoping Shasta would not have to testify, but Duncan's not-guilty plea has forced the matter to go to trial.

"We were hoping it could be avoided," Steve Groene said.