$2500 reward offered for infomation leading to arrest in nuns’ murder

MBI spokesman Warren Strain said after the nuns failed to show up for work Thursday morning, a co-worker who went to check on them found their bodies.

Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesperson Warren Strain said the auto was found behind a grocery store on Mill Street late Thursday night, roughly a mile from the nuns’ home.

The nuns may have been victims of a break-in and auto theft, police said, according to The Associated Press.

The women, one of whom was a member of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, were found stabbed in a residence in Durant, north of Jackson, Holmes County Coroner Dexter Howard said. This 2015 photo provided by the School Sisters of St. Francis shows Sister Margaret Held.

Authorities are offering a ,500 reward for any information that could help police catch the person (s) responsible for killing Held and Merrill. The nuns worked as nurses at the Lexington Medical Clinic, where Dew was the office manager. Dew. Authorities arrived at the home, saw evidence of a break-in and found two bodies, she said.

“They were sweet, very loving people, easy to get along with. They came here to MS to outreach to the poor using their medical services”, said Father Gregory Plata, who knew the women well and was a friend to the victims. “They absolutely loved the people in their community”, said Bishop Joseph Kopacz. “It’s so senseless”, Father Greg Plata, OFM, told a reporter on the scene.

Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki said whoever killed Held “robbed not only the School Sisters of St. Francis, but also the entire Church of a woman whose life was spent in service”. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has begun their investigation and we will not rest until we find the murderer and bring them to justice. “Please pray for all those that have been affected by this horrific crime”.

Dr. Elias Abboud, who worked with the sisters for years and helped build the Lexington Medical Clinic, says he’s not sure what will happen to the facility in light of their deaths.

The sister of a nun who was killed in rural MS says her sister was called to “serve the underserved”.

If anyone has information that may be useful in solving this case should call Crime Stoppers at 662-834-0099.