2010.11.23: November 23, 2010: The Backstory on How ABC News Came to do the Show about Kate Puzey

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Benin: Peace Corps Benin : Peace Corps Benin: Newest Stories: 2011.01.14: January 14, 2011: Report by ABC News 20/20: Parents of Slain Volunteer Kate Puzey Say Peace Corps Error Led to Murder: 2010.11.23: November 23, 2010: The Backstory on How ABC News Came to do the Show about Kate Puzey

By Admin1 (admin) (98.188.147.225) on Monday, January 17, 2011 - 11:56 am: Edit Post

The Backstory on How ABC News Came to do the Show about Kate Puzey

The Backstory on How ABC News Came to do the Show about Kate Puzey

We're approached by Lois (Kate's mom) to be part of a task force to seek justice for Kate, both in terms of a trial as well as Peace Corps reform. Lois expressed to us how initially the Peace Corps was sympathetic to their loss, but that soon turned to complete stonewalling when they started asking questions. Not to mention how they were notified: Kate's dad received a phone call as he was hooked to an IV in the hospital, despite the fact that they live in Atlanta, one of the cities with a Peace Corps office. Her effects were simply dropped off some time later with no note or representative. For several months, we compiled information and brainstormed various ways to affect chance. This all came to a head in February 2010 when we, along with Kate's parents and her cousin Emilie, went to Washington to meet with Director (of the Peace Corps) Williams, Senator Isakson, and several other staff members for various other Senators and Representatives. Our goal was to present the reform we see necessary to ensure that nothing like this happens again to a volunteer. So throughout this whole process the lack of media attention for Kate's murder has been kind of astounding. The Puzey's are very much interested in Kate's story being told on a national/international platform. The sooner the better as Harry (Kate's dad) is terminally ill. The Puzey's were approached by 20/20, and jumped at the opportunity. As part of this process, we were interviewed. The experience seems to have been quite positive and therapeutic for Kate's family. However, for us, it was really pretty terrible. We realize our position as former volunteers creates a different dynamic than that of family. Although we feel strongly that Kate's story be told and that Peace Corps reforms are put in place, we didn't feel like we were in the position to do any speculating or name name's on national television, much less on a sensationalistic program. 20/20 wasn't so happy with our position. We still agreed to be interviewed, discussing only first-hand knowledge, as the Puzey's really wanted that. All of this to say, the first segment of the program will be airing in December 3, 2010 at 10pm (EST). We have no idea what to expect. We're quite frankly nervous that anything we, or anyone else, might have said will be misused as fodder for the show.

The Backstory on How ABC News Came to do the Show about Kate Puzey

Dear All,

Hello!! How are all of you?? We [redacted] certainly hope life is treating all the TEFLer's [education volunteers] grandly! It's really a shame that the writing of this email is the catalyst for contact for some of us – we all now understand the "preciousness" of constant contact, and yet time goes by. Blerg. Regardless, we think of all of you often! Well we're just going to dive right in. And we're not really sure how to approach this, so bear with us. A lot, a lot has gone down since we all left Benin, in terms of Kate and the impending trial. Not to make excuses, but it's been really difficult for us to sit with all of the information we're going to share, and not know when the appropriate time to disperse it is. We'll get to it a little later, but there will be some publicity regarding Kate and the Peace Corps soon, so we knew it was time to write this email. Since coming back to the States, we've been in consistent, close contact with the Puzey's. Through this, we've been privilege to a lot of knowledge that we otherwise wouldn't have been, as the Peace Corps has done a mighty fine job of keeping information out of our (all of our) hands, both as former/present volunteers and friends of Kate. We're not sure who knows what at this point, so we're just going to start at the beginning.

Towards the start of our 2009 February break from school, Carly and I went to Badjoude. While there, Kate expressed concern about Constant (Jacques' brother, the language facilitator for Health) and stories she'd been told of his raping and humiliating two of his young students. She also was led to believe that he breached his contract by having a relationship with at least one stagiaire [Peace Corps Trainee]. Because of this information, as well as her own knowledge of Constant's general sliminess/coming to classes drunk/etc., Kate knew she needed to bring this to Admin's attention. She spent a lot of time trying to decide the best way to contact Sheryl. She eventually chose email, and sent the attached note to Sheryl, CCing Florence, on February 27, 2009 (the date is incorrect in the attachment). We've also attached the responses Kate received. As you can see from the chain, Sheryl and Florence quickly took to heart what Kate told them. However, Kate never knew this. She sent the email on Friday from Natitingou. She left for Badjoude (no internet) on March 1, 2009. To be fair, at some point during the two weeks Kate was in Badjoude she received a call from Maria. I remember getting a few texts from Kate about this, but I can't remember specifically what she was told. I do know that she was made aware that Peace Corps was "handling" the situation, and Maria asked if Kate would be interested in legal action being taken against Constant for the raping of students. Because that knowledge was hearsay, Kate said she didn't think that was yet appropriate. This is the only indication we have that Kate would have any idea that Admin was taking her email seriously.

We want to interject here. We assume you all remember All Vol [All-Volunteer meeting] at Du Lac in March 2008. One of the biggest issues tirelessly discussed was the refusal by Admin to not use email as a valid method of quick communication. Case in point. Kate never received the emails that you see attached. [The emails are redacted.] She also never knew that on March 10, Constant received a letter letting him know that he would no longer be contractually employed by the Peace Corps. (For the record, we're unsure if any disciplinary action was taken by the school.) Kate was killed either the night of March 11 or the morning of March 12. In this email, we're trying very hard to be as diplomatic as possible, but there are times, like this one, when that just seems insane. By emailing Kate instead of calling, Peace Corps actively took her right away to make decisions about what would be best for her and her safety. On the night of March 11, Kate slept, for the first time ever alone, on her porch.

Moving on. About a week after Kate's death, Jacques loses his security clearance. Before the Easter break in April 2009, several of us were interviewed when the Peace Corps Inspector General's Office sent two investigators to Benin. We were told by the investigators that their purpose was to determine what, if anything, happened in the Peace Corps office that would have directly been tied to Kate's death. On May 28, 2009 Florence resigns. In mid-June 2009, Sheryl announces her intent to resign by the end of the month.

Another point tirelessly discussed at All-Vol was Admin's constant breaching of confidentiality. While in Benin we speculated this had a major role in Kate's death since ONLY Sheryl and Florence were emailed about Constant. However, we remember being told, in vague terms, that a former employee, a contractual worker and a random Nigerian were in custody for Kate's murder. At some point (the timing is hard to remember) during the summer of 2009, several of us were in Parakou where it was confirmed by a former volunteer who visited the jail in Natitingou that both Jacques and Constant were in jail.

Now we're home. We're approached by Lois (Kate's mom) to be part of a task force to seek justice for Kate, both in terms of a trial as well as Peace Corps reform. Lois expressed to us how initially the Peace Corps was sympathetic to their loss, but that soon turned to complete stonewalling when they started asking questions. Not to mention how they were notified: Kate's dad received a phone call as he was hooked to an IV in the hospital, despite the fact that they live in Atlanta, one of the cities with a Peace Corps office. Her effects were simply dropped off some time later with no note or representative. For several months, we compiled information and brainstormed various ways to affect chance. This all came to a head in February 2010 when we, along with Kate's parents and her cousin Emilie, went to Washington to meet with Director (of the Peace Corps) Williams, Senator Isakson, and several other staff members for various other Senators and Representatives. Our goal was to present the reform we see necessary to ensure that nothing like this happens again to a volunteer. This included:

A. Better notification practices of next of kin

B. Standard procedure for keeping confidentiality

C. Standard procedure for ways that volunteers can notify PC Admin of sensitive information

D. Standard procedure for communication (particularly of sensitive information) between Admin and volunteers

E. The possibility of volunteers being covered under the Whistle Blower Protection Act

We received positive responses from all of the Congress staff that we met with. Senator Isakson is still actively involved with the Puzey's in their seek for justice. Our experience with the Peace Corps, however, was quite a different story. The Puzey's were told that Peace Corps left them alone out of respect, that they assumed it would be a bother to hear from them. When the Puzey's requested the right to see the Inspector General report, as that would bring to light all the steps leading to Kate's death, they were told that the State Department invoked exemption 7(B) of the Freedom of Information Act, that the release of the document could harm the outcome of the trial. Our experience was that the Peace Corps was completely on the defense the entire time we were there.

After this, the Puzey's got a lawyer to continue to fight for their right to the document. Although the Peace Corps and State Department still refuse to release the report until after the trial, the Puzey's did recently meet with the current Inspector General, who did confirm that there was a breach of confidentiality in the office prior to Kate's death. She wouldn't go into more detail, but even that confirms our speculations. In addition, the Puzey's recently received a letter from Brownie Lee (the director after Sheryl) who has recently retired from Peace Corps. She told the Puzey's that Peace Corps instructed her to in no way communicate with "the victim's family," and that although she couldn't go into more detail, she was sorry that Kate had died while under the watch of the Peace Corps. Finally, the Puzey's also recently met with the newly appointed Deputy Director, who is in charge of volunteer safety, program oversight, family support,etc. Clearly (we think) this is in direct response to Kate's death. She also acknowledged that PC Benin's mishandling of the situation led to Kate's death.

One more thing. So throughout this whole process the lack of media attention for Kate's murder has been kind of astounding. The Puzey's are very much interested in Kate's story being told on a national/international platform. The sooner the better as Harry (Kate's dad) is terminally ill. The Puzey's were approached by 20/20, and jumped at the opportunity. As part of this process, we were interviewed. The experience seems to have been quite positive and therapeutic for Kate's family. However, for us, it was really pretty terrible. We realize our position as former volunteers creates a different dynamic than that of family. Although we feel strongly that Kate's story be told and that Peace Corps reforms are put in place, we didn't feel like we were in the position to do any speculating or name name's on national television, much less on a sensationalistic program. 20/20 wasn't so happy with our position. We still agreed to be interviewed, discussing only first-hand knowledge, as the Puzey's really wanted that. All of this to say, the first segment of the program will be airing in December 3, 2010 at 10pm (EST). We have no idea what to expect. We're quite frankly nervous that anything we, or anyone else, might have said will be misused as fodder for the show. But we wanted you all to be aware that was happening. We lied. Now one more thing. The trial, although slated to happen this November, will not happen until who knows when. It took pressure from Senator Isakson's office to finally receive word that the legal system is still waiting on some kind of evidence that was sent to Germany. (Every step of the way throughout this process has been a constant battle for information. It's insane.) After the evidence is returned, the Beninese lawyer turns everything over to a judge. The judge then decides if anything else needs to investigated. When the judge is sure that everything is done, he (along with four jurors) rules on the guilt/innocence of those being held. As of now, we are set to accompany Emilie (Kate's cousin), Lois and Kate's brother to Benin when the judge is ready to rule.

So that's that. We know that a lot of information to take in. And we also know that we might not have presented it in entirely the clearest way possible. So please let us know if you have any questions. We're sending this email to all TEFL, but please pass this along to anyone else you think should know.

Love to all,

[Redacted]



Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: November, 2010; Peace Corps Benin; Directory of Benin RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Benin RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Crime; Murder; Blogs - Benin





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Support Independent Funding for the Third Goal Date: November 9 2010 No: 1460 Support Independent Funding for the Third Goal
The Peace Corps has always neglected the third goal, allocating less than 1% of their resources to "bringing the world back home." Senator Dodd addressed this issue in the "Peace Corps for the 21st Century" bill passed by the US Senate and Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter proposed a "Peace Corps Foundation" at no cost to the US government. Both are good approaches but the recent "Comprehensive Assessment Report" didn't address the issue of independent funding for the third goal at all.

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PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams

Join Us Mr. President! Date: June 26 2009 No: 1380 Join Us Mr. President!
"We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .



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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Benin; Safety; Crime; Murder; Blogs - Benin

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