HUCKLEBERRIES: Groene, Geraldo staying in touch

On Sunday night, I almost posted on my Huckleberries Online blog that killer/child molester Joseph Duncan had cut a deal with the Kootenai County prosecutor’s office to plead guilty in the McKenzie/Groene murders. A coupla readers had posted comments that Fox News had reported a deal. Now I know the source of the information: Steve Groene. Seems Steve called Geraldo Rivera at home Sunday night to report that Duncan would plead guilty the next day. Geraldo musta told Fox News. The two men have connected as a result of this horrible case. In his Geraldo At Large blog, the talkmeister described Groene accurately as “a man who has suffered more grievous pain than anyone I’ve ever met.” Geraldo went on to mention in the blog that Steve lost his vocal cords this fall as a result of cancer surgery. Also, he noted Steve’s reaction Monday when Geraldo asked him for a reaction after Duncan’s guilty pleas. Steve held up a sign saying, “ecstatic.” During his last interview with 9-year-old Shasta Groene, the lone survivor of Duncan’s carnage, Geraldo asked her what she’d like to say to everyone who loves and cares about her so much. Her response (according to Geraldo’s blog)? “I’d like to say thank you and that you’ve done a lot for me and that it’s really nice and I’m very thankful.” (BTW, A Berry Picker sighted Steve Groene at 9:30 Tuesday morning, exiting Davis Donuts on Fourth. Said she: “He certainly deserves a doughnut after the ordeals he’s gone through.” A doughnut. Our continued prayers. And much, much more.