Memorial Today for Murdered Mississippi Nuns

BY Rachel West
Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity from Greenwood, Miss were present for the wake of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill in Lexington, Miss. (Photo by Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity)

A memorial Mass is planned today for two 68-year-old Catholic nuns who were murdered last week in their Mississippi home.

In Lexington, Miss. yesterday, people gathered at St. Thomas Catholic Church for a vigil.

Rodney Sanders, 46, was arrested for the murder of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill. He’s due in court today.  The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation hasn’t determined a motive for the crime but says it doesn’t appear to have been robbery.

Nuns
Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill were both nurse practitioners who had come to Mississippi to help the poor. (Photo Lexington Medical Clinic)

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation contends a motive hasn’t been determined, but says it doesn’t appear to have been robbery.

Funeral arrangements at Nazareth, Kentucky are forthcoming.

Russ Jones is the Editor-In-Chief for HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at russ.jones@hottytoddy.com.

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