Shasta Groene says Duncan bragged of killings

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Convicted sex offender Joseph Edward Duncan bragged to his 8-year-old captive during more than six weeks on the run, telling her how he used a shotgun and hammer to kill her family after staking out their home for days, court documents say.

Little Shasta Groene remembered it all and has been providing authorities with details that are building a strong case against Duncan, charged Tuesday with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping.

"He told her he was out driving around looking for children to kidnap," Kootenai County sheriff's detective Brad Maskell testified during a probable cause hearing. "He glanced over at the Wolf Lodge property and saw her playing in the yard with her brother and wearing a bathing suit. At that point he chose them as possible kidnap victims."

U.S. Attorney Tom Moss of Boise said Tuesday that Duncan will face federal kidnapping charges because he is accused of taking Shasta and her 9-year-old brother Dylan across a state line into Montana and killing Dylan. The federal prosecution will follow the state murder case, Moss said.

Duncan, 42, who could face the death penalty, was to make a preliminary appearance in state court on the murder and kidnapping charges. Kootenai County Prosecutor Bill Douglas said he would ask that Duncan continue to be held without bail.

Duncan's mother, Lillian, who lives in Tacoma, told The Seattle Times that she had spoken briefly with her son after his arrest. She said he told her he loved her and that he showed remorse.

"I don't know what he has done or what he hasn't done," Lillian Duncan said. "I still love him, he's my son."

Meanwhile, Shasta's family is trying to make sure the child does not see news coverage of the crimes. Darlene Torres, Shasta's grandmother, said the girl was "devastated" Tuesday morning when she was changing the television channel and spotted a picture of Duncan.

"She saw this guy and said, 'There's Jet!' " Torres said, referring to a nickname used by Duncan. "It was really disturbing."

All the state charges relate to the deaths of the children's mother, Brenda Groene, 40, brother, Slade Groene, 13, and Mark McKenzie, 37, Brenda's boyfriend, at the family's home near Coeur d'Alene.

Public defender John Adams declined comment. "We try to do our litigation in the courtroom," he said.