Grieving family testifies at sentencing hearing

BOISE — A grieving father and grandmother gave Joseph Edward Duncan III's sentencing jury a personal glimpse Tuesday of little Dylan Groene, a softhearted, affectionate 9-year-old who was tortured, abused and killed by Duncan.

The federal jury could begin deciding as early as today whether Duncan lives or dies.

On May 16, 2005, Duncan broke into a Coeur d'Alene house and fatally bludgeoned 13-year-old Slade Groene; his mother, Brenda Groene; and her fiancé, Mark McKenzie — all so he could abduct Dylan and his then-8-year-old sister, Shasta.

On Tuesday, jurors in his federal sentencing hearing heard about the boy Dylan was.

His grandmother, Darlene Torres, described a shy but affectionate little boy who loved being outside.

His dad, Steve Groene, described a boy who was protective of his younger sister, Shasta. He talked about watching Dylan try on all of his old leather motorcycle-riding gear before giving his son a ride.

"Everything was like 10 sizes too big on him and it was hilarious," Groene said.

Some of the jurors wiped their eyes during the emotional testimony. But U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge told prosecutors they couldn't have Steve Groene offer even more heart-rending evidence. What the jurors didn't hear: that after Shasta was rescued and her father learned Dylan was dead, the two returned to the campsite where the little boy was killed and his body was burned.

There, they held a private memorial, placing Dylan's beloved toy cars, his hiking boots and a copy of a poem about losing a child on the spot where he was cremated.

After Groene's testimony, U.S. Attorney Tom Moss told Lodge that prosecutors rested their case. Duncan, who is representing himself, also rested his case.

Closing arguments in the case are scheduled for today.