Out of the Woods: A Girl, a Killer, and a Lifelong Struggle to Find the Way Home

Dylan Groene, Shasta’s older brother, is a key figure whose death shapes the narrative and Shasta’s emotional world following rescue. Throughout their captivity, Dylan—who is nine at the time—becomes increasingly withdrawn and overwhelmed by the trauma he endures. Jet seems to target Dylan with the worst abuse and forces Shasta to watch. Dylan’s silence and disengagement serve as a stark contrast to Shasta’s protective vigilance and active attempts to appease Jet. Dylan’s suffering and eventual death become central to Shasta’s survivor’s guilt, driving much of her inner conflict and feelings of responsibility amid coming to terms with surviving. Dylan’s life and death are the emotional catalysts for Shasta’s actions and reflections. His death is not only a personal loss but a symbol of innocence destroyed, showcasing the brutal nature of Jet’s crimes. Dylan’s memory motivates Shasta’s quest for healing and self-forgiveness, as she recalls her promise to him to survive and escape together. After years of feeling responsible for his death, Shasta finally realizes it isn’t her fault.

Joseph Edward Duncan III (1963-2021), known as Jet, is the perpetrator of the horrific crimes that form the backdrop of the memoir. He is portrayed as a deeply disturbed individual, shaped by a lifetime of abuse, mental instability, and narcissism. Jet spent his youth and adulthood in and out of rehabilitation and prison, but these experiences only seemed to intensify his feelings of rage and give him the means to act, illustrating The Failures of Systems Designed to Help. Jet’s motivations are complex but based on a desire to assert power and retaliate against a world he perceives as having wronged him. As described in the book,

Jet was mad at the world and what the system had done to him, and he wanted to pay back all the perceived injustice foisted on him by harming a child. He didn’t care if it was a boy or a girl. He was an equal opportunity child abuser and murderer. He wanted his crime to be shocking, a cattle prod poke into the heart of everyone who’d done him wrong (228).

Jet’s ability to manipulate, intimidate, and exploit the vulnerabilities of his victims is a key aspect of his persona. His shifting moods, from charm to cruelty, created a state of fear and confusion for Shasta and Dylan. His belief that he was the “true victim” and his distorted attempts at seeking forgiveness from Shasta reveal his profound narcissism and delusions. The memoir explores not only his monstrous actions but also the systemic failures that allowed his behavior to escalate unchecked. Jet was guilty of child abuse, child sexual abuse, rape, murder, torture, kidnapping, and more. His crimes have become known as some of the most horrific actions against children in American history.

Steve Groene, the father of the Groene children, was not present on the night of the murders; he was separated from Shasta’s mother and lived with his girlfriend and eldest sons. Steve carried the guilt of his absence on that day throughout his life. The book reveals his struggle to cope with overwhelming grief and guilt, which strain his relationship with Shasta. Like Shasta, Steve’s story is one of coming to terms with surviving, though the two never managed to be able to share that experience fully.

Steve’s emotional pain sometimes manifests in harmful behaviors, such as beating Shasta when she attempts to watch news coverage of their story or when she puts on makeup at Halloween. These actions sadly mirror the cycles of abuse already present in Shasta’s life and the experiences she endured at the campsite. Additionally, Steve’s position as potentially being involved in the crimes, coupled with complex family dynamics and accusations, further isolate him. The narrative portrays Steve as a fallen man who is never able to fully reconcile his grief or rebuild his family. His inability to parent Shasta or support her recovery, though he wanted to, only worsened her pain. Shasta often wondered whether Steve wished Dylan had lived instead of her, though she now believes this was likely her own guilt talking.