Convicted Idaho Killer Confesses To More

Feds Say Joseph Duncan Admits To Killing 3 Children In Washington And California 10 Years Ago

(AP)  A man accused of kidnapping two Idaho children, killing one of them, after slaying their family has confessed to the killings of three other children a decade ago in Washington state and California, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

The prosecutors cited the confessions to the old killings in court papers saying that they intended to seek the death penalty against Joseph Edward Duncan III, who was indicted last week on charges involving the two northern Idaho children.

"The defendant has engaged in a continuing pattern of violence, attempted violence, and threatened violence," prosecutors said. Duncan "is likely to commit criminal acts of violence in the future that would constitute a continuing and serious threat to the lives and safety of others."

Roger Peven, Duncan's attorney, said he had not yet seen the filing and could not immediately comment on it.

Duncan is accused of kidnapping Dylan Groene, 9, and his sister Shasta, then 8, in May 2005, and taking them to the mountains of Montana, where prosecutors say he sexually abused them for weeks before killing Dylan. Duncan was arrested July 2, 2005, when he and Shasta were spotted at a Coeur d'Alene restaurant. The boy's body was found days later at a remote campsite.

The U.S. attorney's office said Duncan confessed that he killed Carmen Cubias, 9, and Sammiejo White, 11, in Washington state in 1996 and Anthony Martinez, 10, in California in 1997. Officials did not specify to whom Duncan made the confession.

The two girls were kidnapped from the Crest Motel in Seattle in July 1996. Their skeletal remains were found 17 months later in Bothell, Wash., a Seattle suburb. Martinez was forced into a car in Beaumont, Calif., in April 1997 as his friends looked on. Sixteen days later a forest ranger found the boy's nude, bound body about 70 miles to the east.

Last October, Duncan pleaded guilty in Idaho state court to first-degree murder and kidnapping for the May 16, 2005, hammer slayings of Dylan and Shasta's mother, Brenda Groene; her fiancé, Mark McKenzie; and Groene's 13-year-old son, Slade. Prosecutors say he killed them to get the younger children.

If federal prosecutors fail to win a death sentence in the case involving the two younger children, a jury will be chosen in Idaho state court to consider whether to impose the death penalty on the murder counts that Duncan pleaded guilty to in October.

Duncan was charged Thursday in a California state court in Martinez's death. Prosecutors there said they also intend to seek the death penalty.

Duncan is a Tacoma, Wash., native who spent most of his adult life in Washington state prisons for sexual crimes against children.

In 2004, he had been arrested for allegedly molesting a 6-year-old boy and attempting to molest another boy in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Authorities say he jumped bail on that charge.

[trusnbr1]

as a mother of 4 it really pisses me off that this freak and so many others get a slap on the wrist for hurting innocent children. if this guy spent most of his adult life in state prisons how was he able to once again get out and do these things again. our judicial system will put innocent people in prisons for years based on no substantial evidence but you have someone like him who is clearly guilty and he continues to be set free to continuously hurt children.lethal injection would be to easy. let the guys in the yard get to him.

[loudnclear12]

this guy was a bad seed from the start. To bad his mother didn't find a place to have an abortion in an alley ...

[ritemite]

He's guilty as sin when he's shown a repeated pattern and history of sexual abuse on children, admitted to what he's done AND was arrested with Shasta in his company. Joseph Edward Duncan III hasn't been innocent since he himself was a small child. If you're stupid (or sick) enough to even dream that he might be innocent...I have to seriously question your own morals and ethics. Perhaps the police need to come investigate YOUR home?

[jeannec3]

One more thing I need to say. When I read these comments like ' Everyone has their faults ' when we are talking about children being raped and killed. It makes me think ' are YOU one of those child rapist and killers !? ' Cause if you are I hope YOU get caught !!!

[jeannec3]

When this guy can sit there with a smile on his ugly face and say he did this or that to a child and then killed them. And the evidence proves what he stated that should be the end for him ! I don't understand how a person can get out on bail the first time this happens so he can run and hide to only harm more children. These people should be put away FOREVER the FIRST time they are caught !!!

[gunrunnerss]

Whats with some of these comments"innocent till proven guilty" or "Every person has their faults".Its like you are saying oh well.This guy should not of ever made it out of jail.He should have been dealt with in the yard and taken out.Those poor children and their families.

[dmotte]

Every person has their faults.

[citygirl0110]

This is just yet another sexual predator who, because of current laws, was allowed to continue to prey on children, sexually assault them, and commit murder. Whether or not he was spanked as a child is not the issue. We as outraged parents who fear for the well-being of our children need to change the laws. Sexual predators of children need to be imprisoned indefinitely, with no bail allowed, and a statewide database implemented to keep track of them so they cannot move from state to state only to prey and kill yet again.

[lost_seraph]

Lethal injection or the chair are too quick and painless for what this guy deserves. Death by paper cuts sounds like a decent punishment to me.

[goldsummer]

Why on earth was this preditor ever let out of jail to begin with ? while yes he may have served his sentence the first time.. they KNEW *** well he would reoffend.. WHY WAS HE LET OUT?