A Thorn in Bush’s Side

The Army, which oversees the Peter claim, did not respond to requests for comment on the status of the negotiations or the length of time it is taking them to resolve the case. State Department officials working with Romanian government staffers on the ground continue to express sympathy for the Peter family's loss but declined to comment further.

"We have expressed regret several times for this tragic accident. We know that this is an important matter for the family and for many other Romanians. We hope this matter will be resolved in the near future, but because this is a pending legal matter we cannot comment further at this time," said a U.S. Embassy official, who agreed to discuss the case on the condition that he not be quoted by name, in an e-mailed statement from Romania.

Gurley is now cautiously optimistic that a settlement will be reached within the next few weeks. But the Peter family's feelings remain raw. "We've waited a very long time for this case to be closed, and it's not yet. For us, it's been over three years of waiting. And nobody seemed to care," said Dorian Peter, Teo Peter's brother. "It's very difficult for us, losing a person like Teo. And everyone here knows that VanGoethem was guilty, but the trial--I just don't know how this could happen. It's injustice. In these three years, I learned a new word in English: ordeal. And this ordeal is not finished for us yet."

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