Riverside County pursues case against child killer despite objections
Riverside County prosecutors intend to extradite convicted child killer Joseph Edward Duncan and try him in the death of a 10-year-old Beaumont boy, despite objections from the father of one of Duncan's other victims.
Earlier this week, a federal judge in Idaho sentenced Duncan to three life prison terms for kidnapping and sexually abusing two children. Those federal terms were in addition to three more life terms, imposed the same day in state court, for the murders of the children's mother, her fiance and the children's 13-year-old brother.
Duncan was sentenced to death in August for the kidnapping, sexual exploitation and murder of 9-year-old Dylan Groene in 2005. The 45-year-old convicted pedophile also kidnapped the boy's younger sister.
Meanwhile, Riverside County prosecutors have been waiting for their chance to prosecute Duncan on charges in the abduction and death of Anthony Martinez.
Anthony was snatched from outside his Beaumont home in 1997. His nude and battered body was found nearly a decade later in rural Indio.
"We want to make sure he is brought to justice for these crimes," said Ryan Hightower, a spokesman for District Attorney Rod Pacheco, during a phone interview Wednesday.
The father of Dylan and Shasta Groene says the man who kidnapped his children and received three death sentences should not be tried for additional crimes in the California slaying.
Steve Groene says another trial for Duncan could subject the family of that child to the same type of graphic evidence his family had to endure. Jurors watched a horrifying video Duncan made of his sexually abusing, torturing and hanging Dylan until the boy lost consciousness.
Dylan and then 8-year-old Shasta were taken from their Coeur d'Alene home in 2005. Shasta was rescued after a waitress recognized her at a restaurant.
Hightower said extradition efforts were underway for Duncan, but he was unsure when Duncan would be in custody in Riverside County.
"We are working on bringing him here as quickly as possible," Hightower said.
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