The Murder and “The Hidden Hand” of St. Pius: Two Catholic Priests Arrested for Murder of Nun

John Grisham should be booking a ticket to India. Sixteen years after the body of Sister Abhaya was found in the well at the St. Pius convent in Kottayam, India, two priests and a nun have been arrested for murder. Father Thomas Kottor, Father Joes Phthrukayil and Sister Abey are being held on charges in the death of the 21-year-old sister. A court ordered the investigation re-opened after concluding that a “hidden hand” was a work to hide the truth in the case.

The murder was originally investigated by a local priest who found no evidence to prove murder and the local crime investigators ruled that Sister Abhaya had committed suicide despite the fact that suicide by well is hardly a common method for terminating one’s life.

On September 4, 2008, the Kerala High Court issued an order that referred to evidence that a “hidden hand” was a work in the case to “jettison” the investigation. It directed the Delhi unit to transfer the investigation to another city’s office.

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