Sister Marguerite Bartz, Nun Found Slain In Home

[Bailey]

Nun Found Slain In Home
Body Of Navajo, N.M. Nun Discovered Sunday Morning

POSTED: 1:21 pm MST November 2, 2009
UPDATED: 3:45 pm MST November 2, 2009

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A nun in the Four Corners area has been found slain over the weekend in her home, FBI officials said.

FBI investigators said that sometime between Halloween night and Sunday morning, Sister Marguerite Bartz, 64, of St. Berard Mission Church in Navajo, N.M., is believed to have been slain in her residence on the church property.

When Sister Bartz failed to show up at services on Sunday as expected, a colleague went to check on her and found her body, investigators said.

The FBI's Evidence Response Team and the New Mexico State Police are processing the crime scene. An autopsy will be performed by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

Authorities are trying to locate a beige 2005 HONDA CRV with a New Jersey license plate number NF24821. The vehicle was in Bartz's possession at the time of the incident and is now missing.

The Diocese of Gallup said Bartz was a Sister of the Blessed Sacrament a religious order founded 118 years ago by Saint Katherine Drexel. The order is headquartered in Bensalem, Pa. The Diocese said 16 nuns of that order are presently serving in Gallup.

The Diocese of Gallup said Bartz was born in Plymouth, Wi.,, in 1945. She entered the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1966 from Beaumont, Texas, and professed final vows in 1974. She held a bachelor of arts degree from Xavier University in New Orleans and a master’s degree in religious education from Loyola University.

Bartz served in missions in Dorchester, Ma.; Lawtell, La.; Guadalupe Indian Mission in Peña Blanca, N.M.; Saint Joseph in Laguna, N.M.; Saint Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe, N.M.; and, since 1999, St. Berard's in Navajo.

"She was known to be a woman always passionate for justice and peace," said the Diocese 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."

Authorities would like to talk to anyone who spoke with Bartz on Halloween night or anyone who believes they may have information related to the investigation. Authorities said the subject or subjects should be considered armed and dangerous.

Persons with information are asked to contact the FBI at 505-889-1300.

http://www.koat.com/news/21500220/detail.html

[Bailey]

Sister Marguerite Bartz was born in 1945 and professed her final vows in 1974.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* Body of Sister Marguerite Bartz, 64, found Sunday in her convent in Navajo, New Mexico
* Her home had been broken into and her car stolen during the weekend
* Bartz was killed between Saturday night and Sunday morning, the FBI said

(CNN) -- Federal authorities in New Mexico say they have located the car of a nun who was found dead earlier this week.

No further details were provided, including where the beige 2005 Honda CR-V was discovered.

The body of Sister Marguerite Bartz, 64, was found Sunday in her convent in Navajo, New Mexico, in a remote area of the Four Corners region, according to Lee Lamb, communications director for the diocese. Her home had been broken into and her car stolen, Lamb said.

Bartz was killed between Saturday night and Sunday morning, the FBI said. When she did not appear at Sunday Mass, a colleague checked on her and found her body.

Bartz, who was born in 1945 in Plymouth, Wisconsin, entered the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1966 from Beaumont, Texas, d professed final vows in 1974, according to the diocese.

She had a bachelor's degree from Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a master's degree in religious education from Loyola University of New Orleans.

Bartz served in Dorchester, Massachusetts; Lawtell, Louisiana; Guadalupe Indian Mission in Pena Blanca, New Mexico; St. Joseph in Laguna, New Mexico; St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico; and, since 1999, St. Berard Parish in Navajo.

There are 16 members of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament -- a religious order founded 118 years ago by St. Katharine Drexel -- ministering in the Diocese of Gallup, the diocese said.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/03/...nun/index.html

[Bailey]

An arrest has been made in the death of Sister Marguerite Bartz, authorities say.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* Body of Sister Marguerite Bartz, 64, found Sunday in her convent in Navajo, New Mexico
* Her home had been broken into and her car stolen during the weekend
* Bartz was killed between Saturday night and Sunday morning, the FBI said

November 5, 2009 12:46 p.m. EST

(CNN) -- An arrest has been made in the case of a nun who was found slain in her convent earlier this week, federal authorities in New Mexico said Thursday.

Darrin Jones of the FBI's Albuquerque, New Mexico, office said the arrest was made early Thursday morning. No further details were released.

The body of Sister Marguerite Bartz, 64, was found Sunday in her convent in Navajo, New Mexico, in a remote area of the Four Corners region, according to Lee Lamb, communications director for the diocese. Her home had been broken into and her car stolen, Lamb said. The car was found Tuesday.

Bartz was killed between Saturday night and Sunday morning, the FBI said. When she did not appear at Sunday Mass, a colleague checked on her and found her body.

Bartz, 64, entered the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1966 and professed final vows in 1974, according to the diocese.

She had a bachelor's degree from Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a master's degree in religious education from Loyola University of New Orleans.

Bartz served in Dorchester, Massachusetts; Lawtell, Louisiana; Guadalupe Indian Mission in Pena Blanca, New Mexico; St. Joseph in Laguna, New Mexico; St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico; and, since 1999, St. Berard Parish in Navajo.

There are 16 members of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament -- a religious order founded 118 years ago by St. Katharine Drexel -- ministering in the Diocese of Gallup, the diocese said.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/05/...est/index.html

[Bailey]

POSTED: 2:10 pm MST November 6, 2009
UPDATED: 5:01 pm MST November 6, 2009

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A teenager has been charged in federal court with killing a New Mexico nun whose body was found in her home earlier this week.

Federal court documents show 18-year-old Reehahlio Carroll of Navajo was charged with "the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought."

FBI spokesman Darrin Jones confirmed Carroll was charged with killing 64-year-old Sister Marguerite Bartz. She served at St. Berard Catholic Church in the tiny town on the Navajo reservation.

Navajo Nation court records show Carroll was arrested Thursday and charged under Navajo law with the unauthorized use of a car that was reported stolen a day earlier.

Navajo police Capt. Ivan Tsosie said the car had belonged to Bartz.

A rosary for Bartz will be held in the St. Michael Indian School student chapel at 7 p.m. Friday.

Her funeral is Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup.

http://www.koat.com/news/21543945/detail.html

[Royalpurple209]

N.M. Nun Murder Suspect Attempts Suicide

Monday, November 09, 2009

A New Mexico teenager suspected of killing a nun on the Navajo Indian reservation reportedly tried to commit suicide over the weekend.

Albuquerque television station KRQE reported Monday that 18-year-old Reehahlio Carroll tried to kill himself in the Window Rock, Ariz., jail on Friday, the day after he was arrested in the case.

Carroll reportedly was treated at a Fort Defiance hospital and then returned to his cell and put on suicide watch Saturday.

Federal authorities have accused Carroll in the death of 64-year-old Sister Marguerite Bartz, who served at St. Berard Catholic Church in Navajo, N.M.

Bartz's body was discovered in a pool of blood Nov. 1 by another nun, who went to check on her after she failed to show up for Mass.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,573528,00.html?test=latestnews

[Bailey]

by Heather Clark - Nov. 12, 2009 01:25 PM
Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A federal judge has determined there is probable cause to hold a teenager accused of murdering a nun at her home on the Navajo reservation.

Eighteen-year-old Reehahlio Carroll made an initial appearance in federal count in Albuquerque on Thursday. He is accused of killing 64-year-old sister Marguerite Bartz in the community of Navajo, N.M.

Federal Magistrate Richard Puglisi denied a motion by the Navajo Nation to quash the case.

Tribal Chief Prosecutor Bernadine Martin says the FBI failed to follow proper procedures under Navajo law when agents took Carroll into custody Tuesday.

Martin says two armed FBI agents demanded Carroll be handed over. She says she was never given the proper paperwork to do so legally.

Federal prosecutor Steven Yarbrough says he believes proper procedures were followed.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...in-nun-ON.html