Duncan victims, Shasta & Dylan Groene, Haut de la Garenne, and Caylee Anthony

What is Happening to Our Future And Our Vulnerable Children - Caylee? Groene? Haut de la Garenne?

Yesterday, a jury sentenced torturer and child killer Joseph Edward Duncan III to death and he smiled as the verdict was handed to the bailiff.

Although I have never been a proponent of the death penalty, it's hard to argue with the jury's decision in this case. This was a case that deeply affected me when the details of what these two precious children endured were revealed in the press.

During Duncan's federal trial, it was difficult for me to read the updates. With each new revelation of the terrifying torture and pain inflicted on Dylan and Shasta Groene, the tears would flow. Even thinking about the last hours of Dylan's life overwhelms me.

Now that this trial is over, it appears Duncan's next stop might be Riverside California, where he could stand trial for the murder of Anthony Martinez. If that does happen, I will try to attend some of that trial.

Since February of this year, Donchais has been covering another abuse and potential murder story, involving scores of children on Jersey in the Channel Islands. It goes back decades - it's the story of Haut de la Garenne and the wide-spread abuse scandal.

What makes this story even worse than Duncan's is the political corruption that continues to thwart the police investigation at every turn!

Donchais makes no bones about how abhorrent child abuse is to her - hence her continued coverage of Haut de la Garenne.

Details and reports show that the judicial and political sides in Jersey have obstructed and interfered in the investigation.

Now, we also know that a decomposing body was present in Casey Anthony’s car. Occam's Razor tells us the only logical answer to that evidence is that little Caylee is no longer alive. Investigation Discovery blog is now reporting that sources inside the investigation are confirming that preliminary DNA tests performed on the material found in the trunk prove Caylee Anthony is dead.

As a society, we need to own up! God bless these poor victims and God help us as mankind!

Special thanks to donchais for details on the Haut de la Garenne story. Sprocket.

WESH.com Caylee Anthony case blog

CNN.Crime

Jersey Senator Stuart Syvret's Blog

Jurors Forced to Watch Duncan Torture Dylan Groene

Every time I read more horrific details about the tragic death of Dylan Groene it's difficult to keep the tears from coming; my heart just about breaks.

Against the wishes of Steve Groene, father of Shasta and Dylan, prosecutors played a video tape for the jury of Duncan torturing and raping Dylan. On the tape Duncan can be heard saying, "The devil is here boy, the devil himself. The demon couldn't do what the devil sent him to do, so the devil came himself."

Jurors were visibly upset, crying and looked away from the video that showed, among other things, Dylan being hanged until he passed out, forced to perform a sex act and whipped. Even Duncan's standby attorney's couldn't watch the horror.

Read the latest at CNN.Crime.

Joseph Edward Duncan: Opening Arguments in Death Penalty Phase Begin

A jury was empaneled and prosecutors presented their opening arguments in Duncan's death penalty hearing today. Duncan is representing himself at this hearing and it is speculated that his defense will be silence; that he will not present any counter-argument as to why the jury should spare his life for the brutal 2005 slayings of four individuals of the Groene family, living in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. During that killing spree, Duncan kidnapped the two youngest, 8 year-old Shasta Groene and Dylan Groene, 9. On the run, Duncan took the children to a remote area of Montana where he raped and tortured them and later killed fourth victim, Dylan. Shasta was rescued in a Denny's restaurant when Duncan returned with her to Coeur d'Alene.

This was a horrific case to follow when it first hit the news and I was deeply affected by what happened to this family. There was a large outpouring of love and support from the general public for Shasta when she was found, with many people sending her gifts and toys, myself included. I made her a fleece and flannel throw blanket with cartoon cats on it.

CNN.Crime