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On tape, Shasta describes Duncan's torture

06:27 PM MDT on Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Alyson Oüten/KTVB

Graphic details from a young victim

BOISE - The morning after being rescued from Joseph Duncan, 8-year old Shasta Groene did an on-camera interview with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office.  Today jurors watched that interview in Boise’s federal court.

Sitting in a room in the Kootenai Medical Center, wrapped in a blanket and obviously exhausted, Shasta told a detective about the ordeal she just survived.

She explained how Duncan, who she calls “Jet,” killed her parents and her older brother with a hammer. 

“This is what I killed your parents with,” Duncan told the children.  “And this is what I’m going to kill you with.”

Shasta says she and her brother Dylan were tied up and forced to lay on the floor of Duncan's Jeep as he drove them to a campsite in the Lolo National Forest.

Shasta explained how Duncan sexually molested her and Dylan and how Duncan videotaped those encounters. 

In her little girl voice Shasta told the detective, “If you guys got a hold of [that tape] you’d be crying really hard.”

During time when Duncan would leave the campsite to get provisions, he would chain the children up so they wouldn't run away.

According to Shasta's estimations, about a week into the ordeal, Duncan "accidentally" shot Dylan with a 12-gauge sawed off shotgun.  Shasta heard the explosion, ran to see what happened and graphically described seeing her wounded brother.

She then watched as Duncan shot and killed her brother.

She said Duncan was sad and crying, saying "Oh my God, oh my God!"  Shasta said she assisted Duncan by wrapping Dylan's body in a tarp. Duncan burned his remains on a campfire and disposed of his ashes in a culvert.

Shasta said Duncan decided to return to Coeur d'Alene because she "taught him how to love".  He told her he was going to drop her off at the police station and turn himself in.  Before that could happen, if that was even going to happen, he was arrested at the Denny's restaurant in Coeur d'Alene.

During the interview, Shasta was yawning and having trouble remembering details. She was unemotional even through the most graphic and difficult details.

Prosecutor: Duncan checked out other kids' homes

Duncan's journey west

Friends of Duncan detail strange behavior

Dad leaves Duncan courtroom during graphic video

Duncan writes letter to his mother

Earlier: Steve Groene testifies, shares gut-wrenching details

Earlier: Duncan makes brief opening statement

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