Sole survivor of 2005 Idaho family murder returns to tell her story 20 years later

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — A crime that rocked the Inland Northwest 20 years ago comes full circle as the only surviving victim of an attack on her family is back home, telling her story.

In 2005, a stranger broke into a home near Coeur d’Alene and murdered a woman, her boyfriend and a 13-year-old boy. That man, Joseph Duncan, then kidnapped 9-year-old Dylan Groene and his 8-year-old sister Shasta.

It set off a nationwide search for the kids and the killer. Duncan tortured the children for weeks in the mountains of Montana, ultimately killing Dylan, then bringing Shasta home. Duncan turned out to be a child serial killer who has since died in prison.

It has been over a decade since Shasta Groene set foot on the property, once the heart of a peaceful home, now the site of a horrific triple murder and kidnapping.

For 20 years, its only survivor has carried the weight of that day, longing for someone to truly hear her story.

“Shasta said her whole life, nobody would listen to her story because it’s too painful for them to hear,” said Gregg Olsen, author of Out of the Woods.

Out of the Woods is a newly released book that gives voice to Shasta and tells her full story for the first time.

He has written many true crime stories, but says this is different.

“She lived through something that none of us could even imagine,” Olsen said.

Olsen began writing the book years ago, spending countless hours listening to Shasta’s story. Putting into words what it meant to truly get to know her is not easy.

“I don’t know anybody who’s endured what she has. And I’ve seen a lot,” Olsen said.

At the Well Read Moose bookstore, the signing for Out of the Woods has seen an overwhelming turnout from the community.

“Everybody in this community was touched deeply by what happened, and they’ve followed her story. There’s a lot of love for her,” Olsen said.

For the author who chose to listen, getting to know her has been profound.

After years of crying out to be heard, today the whole community is listening.

“She wants to tell it because she feels like that’s a path to healing. And I think we owe her that — no matter how hard it is,” Olsen said.