Searchingtoo's Blog

By REBECCA BOONE – 1 day ago

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The crime was meticulously planned, the killer choreographing every step from his surveillance of the doomed family to the videotaped torture of one of his youngest victims.

Yet something as simple as a locked back door, or fiercer family dogs, might have turned Joseph Edward Duncan III away.

Duncan's federal sentencing hearing opened Wednesday with U.S. Attorney Thomas Moss outlining how the convicted pedophile terrorized the Groene family, all because he wanted to "live out his fantasy" and exact revenge on society for perceived wrongs.

Duncan pleaded guilty last year to 10 federal charges in the kidnapping of two siblings, ages 8 and 9, and the murder of the older child. The jury will determine whether he should serve life in prison or be executed.

Moss told jurors they'd have to watch video footage of the sexual torture of 9-year-old Dylan Groene, filmed shortly before Duncan killed him.

Duncan forced 8-year-old Shasta Groene, the sole survivor, to watch the video. He also made her watch as he killed her brother, jurors were told.

Duncan, who is representing himself, told the jury Wednesday that most of what Moss said was fair and accurate "up to the point of what occurred at the campground."

He said he would testify so he could try to "clarify things."

His standby legal counsel, Judy Clarke, has said Duncan doesn't plan to offer any mitigation, such as evidence of his own traumatic childhood.

Shasta's videotaped statements to police will tell her story in court. It's not known if she will offer a victim impact statement.

Duncan's past is littered with arrests and prison time for crimes ranging from car theft to rape and molestation. He is suspected in the 1996 slayings of two half-sisters from Seattle and is charged with the 1997 killing of a young boy in Riverside County, Calif.

In 2005, he went to Idaho. Duncan broke into the Groenes' Coeur d'Alene home, bludgeoning 13-year-old Slade Groene, his mother, Brenda Groene, and her fiance, Mark McKenzie, before abducting Shasta and Dylan. Duncan has already pleaded guilty in state court for the three murders; the federal case concerns the crimes against Shasta and Dylan.

Duncan had researched police investigation procedures and took steps to avoid getting caught, Moss told jurors. He bought too-large tennis shoes at a thrift store so no bloody footprints would lead police to him. He wiped down shotgun shells before loading them so there'd be no fingerprints. He loaded the first shot with BB pellets because he thought he'd have to shoot the family dogs and didn't necessarily want to kill them.

WTH?

He had a video camera, a computer and a GPS device filled with locations he thought would be handy, such as potential campsites, Moss said. He brought with him the framing hammer he used to bludgeon the older victims.

On the night of the murders, Duncan crept across a field to the home, using a low-visibility red-bulb flashlight to guide his way. He peered into a window and saw the children sleeping. One of the family dogs saw him and growled, frightening him enough that he retreated to the fence, Moss said.

"He made a decision: `If that back door is locked, I'm going to abort,'" Moss said Duncan later told police.

When he turned the handle, it opened. Then the terror began.

The dogs scurried away when they saw Duncan's gun, Moss said. Duncan bound the family, took the youngest children outside and beat the others to death.

Then he drove away with Dylan and Shasta, making sure they knew he had killed their relatives as he headed into the Montana wilderness.

The trio camped for several weeks at the end of a remote road. When Duncan left the camp, he tied the children to a tree with a dog chain.

On June 22, 2005, Duncan left Shasta at the camp, taking Dylan to a cabin, where he videotaped himself sexually abusing and torturing the boy.

"Heinous, cruel and depraved are tough words in the English language, but none of these words ... fully express the outrage of what you will see," Moss told jurors.

After they returned to the campsite, the first thing Duncan did was show Shasta the video, Moss said.

Then, at some point during the next four days, Shasta heard a gunshot and turned to see Dylan clutching his stomach where he'd been hit. She watched as Duncan walked over to Dylan, held the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The gun didn't fire, Moss said, so Duncan reloaded and fired again.

Duncan wrapped the body in a tarp, threw it on the campfire and let it burn until it was reduced to ashes. He then took Shasta back to Coeur d'Alene, stopping for a meal at a Denny's restaurant, where a waitress recognized the girl and called police.

Dylan "deserves the justice that only you can provide," Moss told the jury.

He even made the boy write a good bye letter to his sister before he tortured him.. because he told him he was going to take him home.

This story out of Oregon. A couple of scum bag teens thought it was cute to shoot at an elderly man with a BB gun while he took his daily walk through the park.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Doctors counted 22 BB pellet wounds after a man with dementia was shot Wednesday at a Portland park.

Gary Wigant, 60, said he tried to defend himself from teens armed with a BB gun while he was on his daily walk through Pier Park in the St. Johns area.

Wigant, who suffers from diabetes, dementia and the effects of a stroke, said he had to fight off the teens as he staggered to his home.

"He had blood down his cheek and his shirt was off and he had all these red spots," said Judy Wigant, Gary's wife. "I asked him what happened and he said, 'Some kids jumped me.'

Wigant's wife rushed him to the hospital. She said doctors counted at least 22 wounds on her husband's body.

"At the end, they were throwing rocks," Gary Wigant said. "I think one of them hit me right here."

Police later arrested a 15-year-old boy on second-degree assault charges in connection with the BB shooting. They said they're investigating other suspects.

Wigant said he walks through the park once or sometimes twice a day. His wife said she's surprised at the BB shooting. "I never, never dreamed anything would ever happen to him over there," Judy Wigant said.

Despite the attack, Wigant said he'll continue to take his walks at the park.

"He wants to do his daily walks and get some exercise," said Cynthia Reyes, Wigant's granddaughter. "I think he should be able to do that peacefully, without people bugging him or being hurt."

Local Blogger Midtown Miscreant has taken upon himself to explore the urban blight areas in and around the KC area.. So far he has been to

40Hwy and Stadium

And KCK

Complete with pictures and Let's just call it MM's colorful way of expressing himself!

This weekend, Hempfest rolls into Seattle, holding claim as the biggest pro-pot rally in the world.

How are the police handling it?

"Actually, Hempfest is one of the easier events that we do," police spokesman Mark Jamieson said. "There has always been great cooperation between the organizers and SPD.

"We haven't had any major problems since Seattle's been doing Hempfest."

The festival stemmed from a Gulf War protest in 1990 and began as an annual event with a 500 person turnout the following year.

Attendance jumped to 5,000 people in 1993 -- a year that featured blatant marijuana smoking in the "Bong-a-Thon," but didn't come with major repercussions from police.

Police said about 60 people were cited for illegal marijuana use at the 1997 Hempfest, and about a third of that number were arrested at the event the following year.

In 2001 -- the year Hempfest became a two-day event -- a West Precinct police commander told the Seattle P-I that there was only one arrest.

Police in the past have taken a low-key approach to policing pot use at Hempfest and aren't expecting anything worse this year when a crowd of more than 150,000 people is expected to pack Myrtle Edwards Park.

A month after the 2003 Hempfest, Seattle voters passed an initiative making the investigation, arrest and prosecution of marijuana offenses the lowest law enforcement priority when the drug was intended for adult personal use.

Medical marijuana has been legal in Washington since 1998.

Organizers tell people to Leave their Drugs and Booze at Home! The festival is about education rather than a big excuse to get stoned, organizers say.

Speakers and performers included travel guru Rick Steves and Layzie Bone of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony fame. (Let's hope things go better than the  last time Layzie Bone was here.)

To read a more detailed history of the festival,Read the Story

KTLA News

August 14, 2008, 8:34 PM PDT

SANTA MONICA -- Panhandlers will soon have to stand up when soliciting in the seaside city.

The Santa Monica City Council voted last week to bar panhandlers from sitting or lying down on public benches or chairs.

The ordinance effects the Promenade area to the Transit Mall, which stretches along Broadway and Santa Monica Boulevard between 2nd and 4th streets.

City officials say they're not out to get panhandlers or the homeless.

Rather, they say the law is designed to free up limited public seating.

And, by the way, panhandlers aren't the only ones who must stand up while doing business, so does anyone else soliciting money whether they're collecting for charity or selling girl scout cookies.

The new law must first be approved on second reading.

My question..If it is public seating.. does that mean that panhandler, girl scouts and charity workers are hereby declared NOT the public?

Hotel workers stage 15th protest outside Disneyland

At least 28 arrests were made by police during the 1,000-person rally

 By SONYA SMITH and ADAM TOWNSEND The Orange County Register

Mickey Mouse, Tinker Bell, Aladdin and about 1,000 of their supporting friends held up traffic in Anaheim on Thursday evening.

The union representing workers at three Disneyland hotels marched from the Paradise Pier Hotel to the Disneyland entrance on Harbor Boulevard from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the union's 15th protest. Anaheim Police Sgt. Rick Martinez said at least 28 people were arrested for disobeying police orders, blocking streets and standing in the roadway.

Unite Here 681 has been in contract talks with Disneyland management since spring. About 3,000 workers have been working without a contract since January. Union leaders have stopped short of threatening a strike vote.

Hotel service workers, union members of Local 681 and supporters marched along Katella Avenue from the Paradise Pier hotel waving signs that read “Disney is unfaithful. Unite here!” in a Disney-like font.

The crowd for a while blocked some cars at the Katella Avenue and Harbor Boulevard intersection with some motorists cheering on the marchers with honks.

Leaders said before the protest that they intended to get arrested by police for standing in the middle of Harbor Boulevard even after being asked to leave.

The 1,000 marchers neared the Disneyland Resort entrance at Disney Way and Harbor Boulevard and took to a run to charge then stand and sit in the middle of the intersection. A march organizer grabbed a megaphone and rallied the crowd, saying that by not meeting the union's demands, “Disney has forsaken the image of its characters.”

After several minutes, Anaheim police ordered the crowd to clear the streets. While most of the marchers left to stand on nearby sidewalks, a somewhat predetermined group sat down and held hands as an intended disobedience of police orders.

Police then arrested those sitting in the street – including people dressed as Mickey Mouse, Tinker Bell, Peter Pan, Minnie Mouse, Aladdin and Snow White.

Martinez said the protesters were arrested and would next be booked and released, so long as the people had proper identification and no outstanding arrests. The protesters were arrested for three offenses: a misdemeanor for not following the orders of police officers, an infraction for obstructing a roadway and an infraction for standing in a roadway.

Martinez said 35 officers were on hand to watch the crowd and make arrests, while 12 officers worked traffic control to direct vehicles around the protest.

Ada Briceño, the Unite Here 681 president, said Disney's proposals would bring in new workers at a lower wage and make them pay $100 to $250 per month for health care.

"On the healthcare front, they don't want to pay,'' she said. "Now, there is no cost to the employee for healthcare. We have a very good plan, but that's all we have. The rest of our contract is very low-paying jobs."

Disneyland representatives say management is frustrated that union leaders have insisted on negotiating their contract in the media. Disney spokeswoman Lisa Haines said none of the proposals under discussion are final, and that the next negotiating session is scheduled for Aug. 22.

"We've met for negotiations 11 times, and they've had 14 protests," she said. "They've had more protests than time spent at the negotiating table. It's unfortunate that they've resorted to these types of publicity stunts. They're not productive, and they're very disruptive to the resort area."

The gang violence has gotten so bad in Helena-West Helena AR, that the town voted unanimously to go to a 24hr curfew.

The citzens there are scared to death, the children sleep on the floor due to all the stray bullets. This area is one of the poorest in the country.

The Mayor says you can sue us if you want

Police Chief Fred Fielder said the patrols have netted 32 arrests since they began last week in a 10-block neighborhood in this small town on the banks of the Mississippi River long troubled by poverty. The council said those living in the city want the random shootings and drug-fueled violence to stop, no matter what the cost.

ACLU lawyer says it violates some constitutional rights, but failed to answer when asked if you she would live in these neighborhoods.

What do you think?

Good Idea- Spay and neutering your pet

Bad Idea- Letting your friend that swears he knows how,do the home version! With a razor blade.. and that's right.. no Anesthesia..

Poor Pooper!

Cnn has a story this morning about the remains of a toddler inside a suitcase last Spring. Apparently the boys Mother belonged to a religious cult and they starved him in part,  because he refused to say Amen. They referred to him, Javon, as the demon

The Cult. 1 Mind Ministries.

Members of 1 Mind Ministries wore all white, swore off medical care and referred to some members with titles including queen and princess, according to court documents. The group was also accused of insisting that a pregnant woman give birth without access to doctors.

I never could understand how a parent could stand by and watch  their child die.. This child literally died in his mother's arms. No one in the cult sought medical care, not even his mother. The one person who was supposed to protect him.

The Grandmother is already making excuses for her daughter , and of course they are checking on her sanity. Going to go with the old brainwashing senario.

The three other people charged in Javon's death -- Queen Antoinette, 40, also known as Toni Ellsberry or Toni Sloan; Marcus Cobbs, 21; and Trevia Williams, who turns 21 Tuesday -- were already in custody. They were arrested in May in New York City on warrants charging them with failure to appear in court in Baltimore. Those charges stemmed from a scuffle with police in a child custody dispute.

They are all charged with first degree murder.

CNN Crime has the whole story

A lawsuit filed by three Hispanic families against the Catholic Diocese of Wichita challenging a policy that requires students to speak only English while at school goes to trial in federal court today.

They are calling this race discrimination to require the students to speak English only in their school. This is ridiculous. Schools have to operate under some kind of rules. If the rules include communicating in a  manner that enables all to understand you.. I think they should be able to set that rule. So, what now. All the kids need to learn Spanish to communicate with them... Here's an idea, there is this country named Mexico and in Mexico they only speak Spanish at their schools. Why not go there?

The Star has the whole story

When it comes to identifying a person of another race... Is there really that many mistakes made? They are saying there are.

The American Bar Association is considering a measure to discount the lefitamacy of an eye witness identification if the victim and suspect are of differing races.. So, my question to you.. Do you think that eye witness of a different race truly is impossible, or are they taking a few cases in order to set some kind of presidence, in order to up their ability to defend their clients, maybe get some of them off?

Read the whole story and then let me know what you think

Believe it or not there are rules and etiquette for dumpster divers and curb shoppers

MSN money has the scoop here

Among the rules are:

• For starters, find out if it's legal in your town. "Technically it is theft," Sueann wrote in another post. But "justchickenfeed" at Blissfully Domestic said, "Dumpster-diving is legal is most U.S. cities and towns." Check with local authorities.

• Along those lines, do not go on private property or try to open Dumpsters that are locked.

• Take a friend who can help lift heavy stuff or hold the lid open while you look inside. Do not enter the Dumpster. It's fortunate that great stuff is often stacked outside. Picking through the goods outside of the bin is called "curb-shopping" or "curb-crawling."

• Wear gloves, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket.

• Be quick. If your mission will take longer than two minutes, move on, Sueann wrote. Also, move on if someone tells you to leave.

• Dawn at Frugal For Life said, "Don't dive in business areas during business hours. Even though it may be legal in your area, it makes the business look bad and they may call the cops just to scare you off."

• Don't be territorial, Dawn added. Other divers might be looking for stuff you're not interested in.

I guess it is a way to keep it civil amongst the discarded treasure hunters.

They have published the pictures of 21 out of the 23 people arrested in Arizona's largest prostitution bust.

Looks like they had a little something for everyone

I saw this video on the news this morning and found it hilarious.. my only problem is that at one point.. she makes more sense than some of the candidates!

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/64ad536a6d

CHeck it OUT!

What would happen to a child that was never:

Held.

Fed Properly

Potty trained

Spoken to

Dressed

allowed to spend time in the sun

read a bedtime story

held a toy

slept with sheet or a blanket

Loved?

Meet Danielle........ and then you will know

http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/arti
cle750838.ece