Mississippi nun killed from Massachusetts

August 26, 2016 6:35 am

By: News Staff

news@abc6.com

Two nuns working as nurses in rural Mississippi were killed in their home from an apparent break-in.

ABC6 learned one of those nuns used to make her home in Massachusetts.

Sister Paula Merrill of Stoneham and Sister Margaret Held were discovered in their home Thursday morning when they did not report in to work.

Both sisters worked at a clinic administering insulin shots and flu vaccines to those who could not afford it.

Sister Merrill moved from Stoneham to Mississippi 30 years ago.

Merrill’s family is overcome with grief saying Merrill and Held went above and beyond serving their community.

“I don’t understand why these things happen,” Rosemary Merrill said. “I’ve talked to him. I said, ‘I don’t agree with you, but I trust you.’”

Authorities have not released a motive in the killings, but say they do not believe religion played a role.

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