US Supreme Court won’t hear case of Beaumont boy’s killer

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition to hear an appeal from a man sentenced to death for kidnapping, torturing and killing a young northern Idaho boy after killing several members of his family.

Joseph Edward Duncan III faces the death penalty for the 2005 murder of 9-year-old Dylan Groene. He also faces several life sentences for the murder of three family members and the kidnapping of his then-8-year-old sister.

The high court’s action in late February lets stand a judge’s 2013 finding that Duncan was competent when he waived his right to appeal after representing himself at his sentencing hearing.

That finding was also affirmed in March 2015 by a federal appellate court. The court said a lower court had correctly found Duncan competent and said it was too late to change his mind.

Duncan was also convicted of the April 1999 killing and sexual assault of Anthony Martinez of Beaumont. Martinez, then 10, was lured from the alley behind his home by Duncan. His body was found in the Indio Hills several days later.

Local prosecutors extradited Duncan to Riverside County but declined to move forward with a death penalty trial after discussion with Martinez’ family. He agreed to plead guilty to Martinez’ murder and was sentenced to life in prison in that case.