Reward Climbs In Nun Murder Case

DURANT (AP) People in the Mississippi community where two nuns were killed say they are having a hard time finding forgiveness, even though that’s what the sisters would have wanted.

Joe Morgan Jr. says he was a patient of Sister Paula Merrill and last saw her about four months ago.

Morgan went to Lexington Medical Clinic where the sisters worked as nurses on Friday in hopes of talking to grieving staff members, but a handwritten sign in the front door says the clinic is closed until Monday.

Morgan says the nuns would’ve wanted him to forgive whoever killed them, but right now he doesn’t have any forgiveness. Also slain was Sister Margaret Held. Both nuns were 68.

Authorities have not released a motive or cause of death, but the Rev. Greg Plata said police told him the sisters were stabbed.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the deaths of two Durant nuns by $20,000. The Holmes County Crime Stoppers chapter has put up $2,500 for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the crimes making the total reward money $22,500. If anyone has information that may be useful in solving this case should call Crime Stoppers at 662-834-0099.