(born February 25, 1963) is a violent American convicted sex offender and murderer who received national attention after being arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Shasta Groene, age eight, and her brother Dylan, age nine, and being featured on America's Most Wanted. He pleaded guilty in December 2007 to 10 federal counts involving the kidnapping and torture of the children and the slaying of Dylan at a remote campsite in western Montana.
Duncan has a long history as a violent sexual predator, and was clinically diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder in 1980, while in prison for raping a younger boy at gunpoint.
In 2004, Duncan was charged with groping the genitals of a six-year-old boy. He was arrested in April 2005 in Minnesota. The judge granted bail at $15,000. A businessman in Fargo, Joe Crary, gave Duncan money for bail.[1] When freed, Duncan jumped bail.
Duncan appeared in court on July 6, 2005, during his arraignment on two counts of first-degree kidnapping. His trial was set to begin on January 17, 2006, but was delayed until April 4, after the district judge granted a request to the defense for more time to prepare for the trial, and then again to October 26, after 1st District Judge Fred Gibler stated that "No one wants to try this case twice, including me", thus granting Duncan's attorneys the six month extension. On October 16, 2006, Duncan plead guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping for the deaths of Brenda Groene, Slade Groene and Mark McKenzie. In an agreement reached with prosecutors, Duncan, 43, will receive three consecutive life sentences on the kidnapping charges, which stem from the manner in which Duncan detained the victims before their deaths. His sentencing on the murder charges has been delayed until the completion of his case in federal court for crimes that allegedly occurred against Shasta and Dylan Groene after they were kidnapped from the family's home. [2]
In a January 23, 2007 interview, Duncan admitted to killing three other children in the California area. Detectives are checking into this new information.
Federal CaseOn December 2, 2007, Duncan appeared in Federal court in Boise, Idaho. At this hearing he plead guilty to a total of 10 federal felonies related to the Idaho kidnapping and murders. During this court appearance, he read a statement in which he said, "The not-guilty plea was not entered by me, but on my behalf."
There was no deal made by federal prosecutors in return for the plea, and they are seeking the death penalty. Duncan's federal death penalty sentencing trial began on August 13, 2008. [1]
Investigators are also considering the possibility that a "Minnesota girl" mentioned in his online diary could be related to another minor who is listed as missing.
"The Fifth Nail" advocates for sex offenders and contained material that called for the legal reform law aimed at sex offenders, calling them, "State Sanctioned Discrimination." Duncan was particularly angered by the requirement for sex offenders to participate in a public registry.
