FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Nearly two years after 24-year-old Kate Puzey was murdered on a Peace Corps teaching mission in West Africa, the organization formally apologized to her still grieving parents.
"It doesn't bring her back, what can I say. We lost our beautiful girl," said Kate's mother, Lois Puzey
Puzey sat down with Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Regan and showed pictures of her daughter working in the impoverished village of Benin.
In March 2009, her daughter contacted the director of the local Peace Corps office to anonymously report suspicions that a native Peace Corps contract worker had been sexually assaulting young women, including other volunteers.
But just days later, Kate Puzey was murdered in her home. Her alleged killer was the man she had reported to Peace Corp officials. Lois Puzey said the brother of the accused man worked in the Peace Corps office and revealed to him her daughter's name.
"The Peace Corps is good at its mission, but not good when something bad happens to workers," said Puzey.
Puzey said for months following her daughter's death, Peace Corps officials avoided contact with her and offered little information on the murder investigation and how her daughter's confidentiality was compromised.
But following a "20/20" report two weeks ago on sexual assaults of Peace Corp volunteers, leaders of the organization contacted Puzey and her husband.
"They verbally gave us a formal apology, saying if we felt in any way they had not been compassionate to us, they really apologized for that," said Lois Puzey.
She also gave credit to the Peace Corps for implementing new guidelines to improve the safety and security of volunteers, including whistleblowers like her daughter.
"My daughter loved the Peace Corps. She loved the work she was doing there. We hope what we have done for her, being her voice, will make other volunteers safer in what they're doing. This is her legacy," said Lois Puzey.
WSBTV
