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Groene family murders and kidnapping of Shasta Groene

SOLVED2005Coeur d'Alene area, Idaho, United States5 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On May 16, 2005, Brenda Groene, her son Slade Groene, and Mark McKenzie were killed at their home outside Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Eight-year-old Shasta Groene and her nine-year-old brother Dylan were abducted from the residence. The children's disappearance prompted an extensive search while investigators processed the homicide scene.

Shasta was recognized with Joseph Edward Duncan III at a Coeur d'Alene restaurant on July 3, 2005, leading to Duncan's arrest and her recovery. Dylan did not survive the captivity. Idaho prosecuted the three killings at the home, while the federal case addressed the children's kidnapping and Dylan's murder.

Duncan pleaded guilty in Idaho state court in 2006 to three murder counts and three kidnapping counts connected to Brenda, Slade, and McKenzie. He pleaded guilty in federal court in December 2007 to ten charges arising from the children's abduction and Dylan's killing. A federal jury returned three death sentences in 2008, together with other prison terms.

The United States Supreme Court later declined to hear Duncan's competency appeal, leaving the federal judgments in place. Duncan died in federal custody in March 2021 after a terminal cancer diagnosis. His death did not alter the state and federal convictions.

Shasta is identified as a surviving victim; Dylan, Brenda, Slade, and McKenzie are identified as victims who were killed. This account limits detail about the abuse and does not include nonessential present-day information about Shasta.

Key facts

Victims
Slade Groene, Mark McKenzie, Brenda Groene, Dylan Groene, Shasta Groene
Date
2005
Location
Coeur d'Alene area, Idaho, United States
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2005-05-16

    Brenda Groene, Slade Groene, and Mark McKenzie were killed, and Shasta and Dylan Groene were abducted from the Idaho home.

  2. 2005-07-03

    Shasta Groene was recognized at a Coeur d'Alene restaurant and recovered; Joseph Duncan was arrested.

  3. 2006

    Duncan pleaded guilty in Idaho state court to three murders and three kidnappings.

  4. 2007-12

    Duncan pleaded guilty to ten federal charges arising from the abduction of Shasta and Dylan and Dylan's murder.

  5. 2008

    A federal jury returned three death sentences and other prison terms.

  6. 2021-03-28

    Duncan died in federal custody.

Best coverage

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People

  • Slade Groene

    VICTIM

    Killed at the family home on May 16, 2005.

  • Mark McKenzie

    VICTIM

    Killed at the family home on May 16, 2005.

  • Brenda Groene

    VICTIM

    Killed at the family home on May 16, 2005.

  • Dylan Groene

    VICTIM

    Abducted from the family home and killed during captivity.

  • Shasta Groene

    VICTIM

    Abducted child who survived and was recovered on July 3, 2005.

  • Joseph Edward Duncan III

    CONVICTED

    Pleaded guilty to state and federal murder and kidnapping charges and received federal death sentences.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Coeur d'Alene area, Idaho, United States

47.6928, -116.7800

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Common questions

What happened to Shasta?
Brenda Groene, Slade Groene, and Mark McKenzie were killed and two children were abducted in Idaho on May 16, 2005; Shasta Groene survived, and Joseph Duncan was convicted in state and federal courts.
Where did the murders happen?
Coeur d'Alene area, Idaho, United States.
Who was convicted?
Joseph Edward Duncan III (Pleaded guilty to state and federal murder and kidnapping charges and received federal death sentences.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Idaho

Sources

  1. COURT RECORDDuncan v. United States, No. 2:2017cv00091, Document 43U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho via Justia · 2026-07-13
  2. PRESSGuilty plea in Idaho murder-kidnap caseCBS News · 2026-07-13
  3. OFFICIAL / AGENCYConvicted child murderer Joseph Edward Duncan III dies on death rowU.S. Attorney's Office, District of Idaho · 2026-07-13
  4. OFFICIAL / AGENCYU.S. Supreme Court denies Joseph Duncan's petition to hear competency appealU.S. Attorney's Office, District of Idaho · 2026-07-13
  5. ENCYCLOPEDICCoeur d'AleneWikidata · 2026-07-13

Record history

First published
JUL 13, 2026