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Peace Corps Volunteer Murdered in Africa
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ShareMarch 12, 2009 4:18 PM
ABC News' Kirit Radia Reports: A Peace Corps volunteer was found dead early this morning in the west African nation of Benin, the State Department said today. The victim's name and age were not provided. A State Department official said she had been stationed about six hours north of the capital of Cotonou.
"The female volunteer was found outside her home and identified by colleagues and friends at the school where she worked as a teacher," acting State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.
A senior State Department official later said it is believed she had been murdered but offered no details on the circumstances of her death.
"We are saddened by the news of the death of a peace corps volunteer in Benin," Peace Corps spokeswoman Laura Lartigue said, declining to provide further details of the incident because an investigation is ongoing.
"Local police authorities are conducting an investigation and coordinating with Peace Corps and the State Department," she said.
The US Embassy in the capital of Conotou has dispatched its top security officer and other personnel to the site in order to conduct an investigation.
"The government of Benin has expressed condolences to the U.S. government and pledged full cooperation and support in this matter. The State Department expresses our deepest condolences to the family of the volunteer and the Peace Corps," Wood said.
The victim's family is currently being notified, Wood said.
Including the victim there are 100 Peace Corps volunteers serving in Benin, among 7,836 volunteers serving worldwide.
March 12, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (91)
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My thoughts and prayers go out the her family & friends, both stateside and in Benin.
Posted by: Tom Emmons | Mar 12, 2009 5:50:04 PM
This is such tragic news my thoughts and prayers go out to her and her peace corps family.
Chas
RPCV Micronesia,Yap
06-07
Posted by: Chas Hardy | Mar 12, 2009 6:01:12 PM
I know the family and they are the nicest people you could ever come across. This is a terrible tragedy and my deepest, sincerest sympathy goes out to them at this extremely difficult time. I will be praying for them and lighting a candle in honor of such a wonderful person.
Posted by: Steve | Mar 12, 2009 6:33:22 PM
Who murdered her and have they caught them?
Posted by: DEF | Mar 12, 2009 7:29:28 PM
I just got this painful news. I've known her since she was barely walking...she is like a daughter and my heart is broken. SHe was always doing the right thing....giving, giving and giving. I will pray for her family.
Posted by: Linda | Mar 12, 2009 7:31:01 PM
Very sad news. Peace Corps Volunteers around the world are working with passion everyday despite living in high-risk situations. My thoughts and prayers to the family and her Peace Corps colleagues.
Hunter Ogletree
RPCV Honduras 03-05
Posted by: Hunter Ogletree | Mar 12, 2009 7:39:32 PM
I'm a member of the family (not the immediate family, but a cousin). I appreciate the kind things people have posted here, and I'm sure that her immediate family will also. I've spoken to them, and I know they are scared by the prospect of what could happen with the media as details of the story start to emerge. Thanks for being so quick to insert a bit of humanity into the story. If they do search for news, I hope they find this message board.
Posted by: Jamie | Mar 12, 2009 7:53:32 PM
Like Linda, we have known -- since she was born. Our children are the same age. Shocked and saddened, we wish we could be there to support her family, our dear friends for almost thirty years.
Posted by: Jim and Suzanne | Mar 12, 2009 8:08:31 PM
I send much love to this wonderful family. They have to bear many burdens at this time, and I pray that God will give them peace and strength to make it through this most devastating news.
Posted by: TYR | Mar 12, 2009 8:15:23 PM
My heart goes out to the volunteer and her family and friends and to those in the village or town where she lived in Benin. I trust they are mourning too.
Such a tragedy.
Jessica Duke - RPCV Benin 1989 - 1991
Posted by: Jessica Duke | Mar 12, 2009 8:45:35 PM
Although not knowing the fallen volunteer personally,I reiterate the words of others and send my personal condolences to her family & friends in the United States as well as Benin. Many of those who have served understand the very individualistic experience only Peace Corps can offer, but the true power is meeting like-minded people with the same compassion for service and dedication to a cause. Today, we have lost one of our own - albeit in a distant land, the loss is nonetheless great in magnitude. My deepest sympathy to all whose lives were touched by her.
In Solidarity,
Joseph Dizoglio
PCV El Salvador 08-10
Posted by: Joseph Dizoglio | Mar 12, 2009 8:48:33 PM
My condolences to the volunteer, her family, the current Benin PCVs, and the villagers and students in her community who must also be devastated that this happened to their volunteer teacher. Having been a volunteer in Benin, myself, I am very saddened by the news.
Posted by: Suzy | Mar 12, 2009 9:07:24 PM
Horrible news! My thoughts and prayers go to her family, village, and all Benin Peace Corps volunteers and admin.
Posted by: Anne Wenstrom | Mar 12, 2009 9:20:44 PM
Son of mine is a PCV in Benin. What a horrific tragedy. Deepest condolences and prayers go out to her family and friends..
Posted by: Rose | Mar 12, 2009 9:28:02 PM
This is truly tragic. My thoughts are prayers are with her friends and family, and also with the Peace Corps community in Benin. There's nothing that can be said to make it any less devastating, but I hope you are able to find comfort and courage to make it through this difficult time.
Autumn
RPCV Benin 04-06
Posted by: Autumn Notter | Mar 12, 2009 10:13:13 PM
Is the investigator a DSS agent on one of those five year contracts like the one guarding that CIA agent? Is he a Peace Corps Special OIG independent Agent under the new OIG policy? The local police report is available or is it classified like the one at Peace Corps?
Posted by: Katana | Mar 12, 2009 10:56:51 PM
I would never have believed this could happen in Benin. Please know that so many of us, known and unknown, are thinking of her now and our thoughts go out to her family and friends, American and Beninese.
Amanda Fogle-Donmoyer
RPCV Benin 04-06
Posted by: Amanda Fogle-Donmoyer | Mar 12, 2009 11:23:05 PM
We too are very close friends for 30 years and are devastated to hear about their loss. It's a tragedy that an enthusiastic and bright young woman would give the beginning of her adult to help a village in Benin, only to have someone take her life away. We teach our children to be compassion and care for others who are less fortunate. It makes me angry! I am sending lots of love to help her family deal with losing their wonderful daughter!
Posted by: Sally | Mar 12, 2009 11:33:11 PM
I have known this family for years and was so proud of this young lady for being the kind person that she was. My heart goes out to her family and to all of her friends. May God give them peace in the midst of this tragedy and may the knowledge that she was a wonderful giving person give them comfort.
Posted by: Roz Fuller | Mar 12, 2009 11:45:51 PM
I am 99% sure I know this person but have not yet been able to determine if it is who I think it is based on the information given. Either way, I am incredibly saddened by this tragic news and have her friends, family, fellow volunteers, and students in mind.
Posted by: S | Mar 12, 2009 11:48:04 PM
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