Lost In Paradise

Who Murdered A Beautiful Peace Corps Volunteer In Tonga?

(CBS)  With the Peace Corps footing the bill, the defense even brought in Dr. Kosta Stojanovich, a psychiatrist from Hawaii with a resume a mile long. Weiss says he was the "most educated person the Tongans have ever seen in their lives."

Stojanovich testified that Priven suffered from latent schizophrenia, with episodes triggered by stress. He said that Priven was delusional and that he thought Gardner was an evil force who had to be destroyed. But he also said that Priven had no recollection at all of having killed her.

Tupou says he didn't believe it, but Tongans didn’t have the money to bring in their own psychiatrist to say that. "I felt myself, a loner, outside. I'm not being helped," says Tupou. "And these are two Americans, both Peace Corps. They're helping one but not the other."

The trial lasted nine days, the longest in Tongan history. The verdict took 30 minutes. "The courtroom was jammed," says Weiss. "Students of Dennis were crouched at the window, staring at Dennis' face. And a policeman came to this door and said, 'He has been saved.' "

Priven was found not guilty by reason of insanity. "I think the Peace Corps was just dancing in the streets at that point," says Weiss. "It was jubilation."

Edwards never will forget what happened next. "Dennis would not speak to me, acknowledge me anywhere and then all of a sudden he comes, thanked me," he says, about the first time Priven had ever spoken to his lawyer. "I almost fell down. I was surprised."

Did he think Priven was really crazy? "I think he could be very shrewd," says Edwards.

"This guy is a genius in his own mind," says Weiss. "And he pulled off one of the greatest crimes in Polynesian history."

The insanity defense spared his life, but it left Priven's fate in limbo. The Tongans assumed that they would be able to deal with Priven, but Tonga had no mental hospital. So within hours of the verdict, the Peace Corps began its tug-of-war to get Priven off this island and home.

The State Department made promises in writing, pledging that if Priven was released to U.S. custody, he would be committed to a mental hospital until he no longer was a danger.

In January 1977, two friends and a Peace Corps doctor escorted Priven to Washington D.C. Fellow volunteers assumed that Priven was headed for treatment, but he had no intention of doing that. Instead, says Weiss, he demanded a ticket back to New York.

The Peace Corps did convince Priven to see a psychiatrist, assuming Priven again would be found insane, giving it leverage to commit him. But, to everyone's shock, the doctor concluded that Priven, at least on that day, was a danger to no one.

"This psychiatrist came to the belief that Dennis was not a paranoid schizophrenic, he was just a really somewhat disturbed guy who was led on by a girl who was the girl of his dreams," says Weiss. "And she led him on and shut the door, and he snapped and experienced a situational psychosis."

Priven couldn’t be committed against his will, and there were no legal grounds to hold him. So Priven simply went home to Brooklyn. The new administration happily closed the books on this whole case, after helping him one last time.

"He's getting a passport a month after he gets back. He gets a completion of service, which is what any volunteer who completes his service gets," says Weiss. "Just like anybody else."

[wildal33]

this is so horrible and carma is a b,,,h and will catch up with him,the thing is thats not very good on her parents having had to go thru losing a daughter and having to live with the fact that he got/gets to walk around and live his life after taking Debs .shame on them all..cant imagine anyone being shocked at our gov and the way they handled it ..shame on them too..they have one set of rules for all us and a seperate set for them....

[neo267-2009]

None of these people would have gotten away with it if she had been my daughter or friend.

[molo4]

This is not justice.....

In my opinion... This cases should be reopen once again in Tonga. I fell sad about this, And my heart goes out to Deb''s Family. I am from Tonga, I believe that this person who did this to Deb. He will be ill for long-time to come...

[jbellor]

I was in the Peace Corps in 1974 in El Salvador. I remember a briefing we had, where a Peace Corps official was explaining about what to do if any of us got into any "bad" trouble during our time in El Salvador. His words were "get to the American Embassy ASAP". He said it didn''t matter what you had done, even murder, they would get you out of the country. We didn''t think much about it at the time, but I guess they were serious.

[holmeskj]

Kapau teke ilo a lea ko eni, pea tala mai.

[wyo-kid]

Dennis Previn should have done the right thing and killed himself.

[expeditor1]

I cannot believe the post by dmotte. If that were your daughter you would have a different attitude. CBS please post the address Dennis Previn.I would like to follow him and haraas him as he did Deb. What my government did makes my skin crawl.

[dfjones_usa]

A murderer should never be allowed to ''live in peace''. I don''t care who he killed, or how long ago, he killed and has never had to face the consequences. Instead, this murdering gov''t employee was given a cushy gov''t job! Deb Gardner didn''t have the opportunity to live in peace, and neither did her family, or any of the many who were touched by her. They still grieve. The passage of time doesn''t mitigate a brutal murder.

[dfjones_usa]

A murderer should never be allowed to ''live in peace''. I don''t care who he killed, or how long ago, he killed and has never had to face the consequences. Instead, this murdering gov''t employee was given a cushy gov''t job! Deb Gardner didn''t have the opportunity to live in peace, and neither did her family, or any of the many who were touched by her. They still grieve. The passage of time doesn''t mitigate a brutal murder.

[dmotte]

This happened a long time ago so let the man live in peace and get on with your pathetic lives.

[wildal33]

who did you murder and get away with,,,from your coment sounds like something heartless you might do .....

[om8130]

This story is so disturbing on so many levels. it is obvious many people today are still impacted from this situation. If you ask me, Mary George has blood on her hands as well for covering up for this monster and not sending him back to the US before anything happened. Once she saw he was disturbed he should have been returned for a mental evaluation and not allowed back in Tonga or near Deb. He will get his just dues and she will get hers. Deb''s parents should take legal action. Thank you for revealing this story. Rest in peace, Deb.

[om8130]

This story is so disturbing on so many levels. it is obvious many people today are still impacted from this situation. If you ask me, Mary George has blood on her hands as well for covering up for this monster and not sending him back to the US before anything happened. Once she saw he was disturbed he should have been returned for a mental evaluation and not allowed back in Tonga or near Deb. He will get his just dues and she will get hers. Deb''s parents should take legal action. Thank you for revealing this story. Rest in peace, Deb.

[skyhag1]

This is a travesty of justice. The PEACE Corp? I cannot believe that this government would front a top-notch defense lawyer for this scum-bag murderer.
That poor woman, and her poor family. This makes me physically ill...

[holmeskj]

I helped carry Deb Gardner''s casket to the plane. I was in Dennis'' PC group. I lived 12 miles out of town & came in for weekends & was friends with everybody. I knew Deb & teased her every chance I could. She had an infectious personality that charmed you.I and my friends grieved long & hard for Deb & loathed Dennis, Mary George & PC/DC. We were shocked when Dennis left Tonga. He broke no other law but a Tongan law & got away with murder. 2 days after I helped put her body on that plane, I was standing infront of Viaola Hospital at night talking with another PC (Rich Danforth)about her.Suddenly a chill went up & down my spine. Rich felt it too. In my heart of hearts I know it was Deb saying good bye. I am now crying on this keyboard. Time dampens but does not heal old wounds. Emile Hons & Frank Bavaqua are 2 great guys. Dennis should be extradited back to Tonga for breach of contract with the US Gov''t. No justice for Deb Gardner while Privin goes free.

[foop3]

As far as I am concerned the Gardiners should be suing the government and specifically Mary George and Dennis Previn.
The government hired him at Social Security after knowing he was a murderer.

[lauraparis22]

I am shocked by the response of the Peace Corps to the murder of Deb Gardner and wonder .... if it had been Deb who murdered Dennis, would it have been so easy for them to sweep it under the rug?

What kind of response is, "I''m very sorry for the pain of Deb''s family..." but her murderer is one of us? A "death in the family?" Not, "a MURDER in the family?"

Join America''s PEACE Corps: Where PEACE is more important than LIFE and you can MURDER with Impugnity!