Laptop may be key to pedophile murder case

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- A man accused of kidnapping two Idaho children and killing their family has a laptop FBI hackers cannot get into that his lawyer may use as a bargaining chip.

The encrypted laptop may contain more horrors relating to the triple-murder and pedophile crimes Joseph Edward Duncan III pleaded guilty to Monday. It may also contain evidence of other crimes, The (Portland) Oregonian reported.

The 43-year-old computer-savvy predator pleaded guilty in state court to killing Brenda Groene; her 13-year-old son, Slade; and her boyfriend, Mark McKenzie so he could kidnap 9-year-old Dylan Groene and his 8-year-old sister for sex.

Seven weeks after the May 2005 slayings, the girl was rescued after she and Duncan entered a Coeur d'Alene restaurant. Dylan's body was later found at a remote campsite in Montana.

The plea bargain Duncan's lawyers struck says the computer key must only be shared with his defense lawyer.