Remains Found in Hunt for Idaho Boy

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho —  Authorities said Monday that they discovered human remains during their search for a missing 9-year-old boy whose sister had been found with a registered sex offender.

Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson said the remains were found in western Montana and would be sent to an FBI laboratory for DNA analysis, which is expected to take three days. He did not say whether the remains were believed to be those of Dylan Groene, and he declined to answer questions.

Officials said previously that there was little hope that Dylan was still alive.

Dylan’s 8-year-old sister, Shasta, was found Saturday at a Denny’s restaurant with Joseph Edward Duncan III more than six weeks after the children disappeared from the home where an older brother, their mother and her boyfriend were bludgeoned to death.

Authorities said they planned to charge Duncan, 42, of Fargo, N.D., with kidnapping and being a fugitive from justice, and that more charges were possible. Federal and local authorities searched Duncan’s Fargo apartment, but police would not say what the outcome was. A judge ruled Monday that there was probable cause to keep Duncan in jail until an initial court appearance today, when he would be assigned an attorney.

With Duncan refusing to talk, authorities said they had been relying on statements from Shasta, physical evidence in Duncan’s Jeep and tips from the public as they searched for Dylan.

Watson did not elaborate about the site where the remains were found or say what led investigators there.

“Investigators continue to follow all of the other leads in this complex case,” Watson said. “This case continues to be the No. 1 priority for all agencies involved.”

About 60 investigators were involved. Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger said Monday that Shasta had provided helpful information, but declined to say what she was telling officers.

“It’s a slow process with Shasta,” Wolfinger said. “We’re taking that very slowly.”

Officials have said they believe that Dylan was alive when he and Shasta disappeared. Investigators said they had received about 100 tips regarding Duncan and the red Jeep Cherokee he was driving since photos were released Saturday.

Based on those tips and other information, authorities believe that Duncan and Shasta remained in the Northwest the entire time, Wolfinger said. He would not say if there was any evidence that others were accompanying Duncan.

The girl’s father, Steve Groene, said he was told not to question her about her ordeal. He said Shasta was doing well and had been watching animated movies, and had a vanilla shake and pancakes for breakfast. He also thanked those who helped find his daughter.