“Hey honey, when we get pregnant, how about if we name our baby Jack, if it’s a boy?” The husband responded, that no, he indeed did NOT like that name. As time went by, they acquired a cat. They were having a hard time finding a name for male feline. Finally husband just said, “You like name Jack so well, let’s give that name to cat. Because I am NOT having a son named Jack.”

So couple went happily on their way, enjoying newlywed life and their new cat, Jack.

After a bit of time passed, happy couple learned they were expecting a bundle of joy to be born later that year. They began overwhelming task of deciding on names. It’d be easy if baby was a girl. They agreed upon a girl’s name long before they were ever married.

They poured over baby naming books; they shared ideas; they made lists; they tried coming up with a boy’s name using this method; then they tried that method. Still nothing. They could not agree on a boy’s name.

The tragic occurrence surrounding little Shasta Groene and her family is indescribable!

What this child may have witnessed is not something any one and most assuredly a child of any age should have to witness.

This is not so much an article about what occurred but about what DIDN'T occur.

Shasta and registered sex offender in two states. Joseph Duncan enters a gas station convenient store along with 5 other people.

Apparently, there is such a mental and emotional grip on 8 year old Shasta Groene that she is released to freely walk about store as alleged kidnapper Duncan calmly reads a paper.

It appears she was instructed before hand, not to speak or draw attention to herself. At one point she even drastically avoids bumping into an female shopper.

As she appears to look into faces of other customers with folded arms she seem to scream out for HELP, in hope that someone will recognize her.

Sadly she goes unnoticed by everyone and all of her hopes are dashed as she and Duncan quietly leave store and Shasta walks towards Jeep Cherokee, opens door and climbs into passenger seat with no visible instructions from Duncan her alleged kidnapper.

I am not looking to bring guilt upon patrons or employees who were in store that Friday, for I must shamefully admit that I, myself likely would not have noticed Shasta's silent cries as well.

So busy are we with our lives and problems that we can not recognizes silent cry of an 8 year old child!

Again I ask...

Have you looked into face of a child?

Kootenai County District Court Judge Wayman set a $2 million bail bond on fugitive charge, and no bail for kidnapping charges.

Public defender Lynn Nelson filed a bail reduction request that will be heard on July 19th, 2005.

Magistrate Benjamin Simpson will hear reduction plea also at which time Duncan is expected to enter a plea of charges filed against him.

Idaho, Kootenai County Tel: (208) 446-1000 Email: kkcinfo@kcgov.us

County's Mailing Address: P.O. Box 9000 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816-9000