By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Sister Marguerite Bartz, 64, a sister of the Blessed Sacrament, was found dead in her convent on Sunday morning. The circumstances surrounding her death are under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to press release from the Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico, Sr. Marguerite was murdered sometime between Halloween night and Sunday morning at the convent located on the premises of St. Berard Mission Church in Navajo, New Mexico. Her body was found when a colleague went to check on her after she failed to show up for Sunday Mass.
The FBI’s Evidence Response Team and the New Mexico State Police are currently processing the crime scene, and an autopsy is scheduled to be performed by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
In information released yesterday, the FBI said that they would like to talk to anyone who spoke with Sister Marguerite on Halloween night or anyone who believes they may have information related to the investigation. They are also searching for Sr. Marguerite’s car, a beige 2005 Honda CR-V with New Jersey license plate #NF24821, which is missing.
“She was known to be a woman always passionate for justice and peace,” the diocese said in a statement. “And the life she lived would tell us that she would respond to this incident with a spirit of forgiveness towards whoever is responsible for these acts.”
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