Groene kids’ dad sues donation fund manager

COEUR D’ALENE — A woman who administered a bank account for donations given to benefit two North Idaho children kidnapped seven years ago is being sued by their father, who says she mismanaged the funds. The Coeur d’Alene Press reports Steven Groene filed the lawsuit in 1st District Court late last week against Brandy Hoagland. Hoagland is Shasta and Dylan Groene’s aunt and the administrator of a fund created after the children were kidnapped by Joseph Edward Duncan III. Duncan eventually killed Dylan and returned to Coeur d’Alene, where Shasta was rescued. In the lawsuit, Groene contends Hoagland has refused to account for the money donated by the public. Groene also contends she failed to use roughly $48,000 in the best interests of the children. Hoagland could not be reached for comment.