COEUR D’ALENE-- The father of the children kidnapped and killed by Joseph Duncan says that an account set up in their honor was misused by the children's aunt.
Dylan Groene was killed by Duncan and Shasta Groene was rescued.
The complaint claims their aunt, Brandy Hoagland, spent the money on things other than the children.
KREM 2's Katie Utehs spoke with Hoagland about the allegations.
Hoagland said she's always had Shasta's best interest at heart but, she couldn't say in our interview how the money was spent and what's left in the account. "It's just very disappointing that the family is fighting over such a minimal amount of money and putting Shasta through this."
Thousands of dollars were donated to bank accounts and through fundraisers. But Joseph Duncan's brutal killing continues to divide Steve Groene and the children's maternal aunt Brandy Hoagland.
She calls his recent court action retaliation. "It’s definitely retaliation over you know accusations that Mr. Groene is an unfit father."
Groene says Hoagland embezzled funds. Earlier this month, he filed a complaint claiming that Hoagland misused the money from an account she set up in Dylan and Shasta’s name.
"Shasta and Dylan were still missing we didn't know what condition they were in at the time the account was opened." Hoagland says she used the money for funeral arraignments and efforts to help find the missing children.
Court documents say at one point the U.S. Bank account totaled to $48,000.
Shasta was found two months after the account was opened. Six years later Hoagland still controls it as the account administrator.
Hoagland's attorney says the bank statements and receipts will be made part of the court record if the lawsuit progresses. He plans to file a motion for dismissal by next week at the latest.
Shasta is now 15-years-old and Steve Groene has custody.
