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Nun thwarts burglar at Waterville convent
By DOUG HARLOW
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Tuesday, August 07, 2007

WATERVILLE -- Sister Katherine Kelm said she was frightened by an attempted break-in at the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament convent early Sunday, but she remains confident that police will continue a high-visibility presence in the area.

"I'm in a state of high alert," said Kelm, whose nickname is Sister Kay-Kay, on Monday. "It was frightening; that's about all I can tell you -- they did not get in."

Police on Monday said the nun scared away a would-be intruder Sunday morning. She heard a noise at her window and then saw someone's fingers attempting to pry open a screen.

Kelm said the window was in the corridor connecting the nuns' sleeping areas.

"The person was about to open the screen and I slammed the window down," she said.

Waterville Deputy Police Chief Charles Rumsey said a "panic alarm" was sounded by Kelm at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday. Police received an immediate call from Maine Security.

Three police units were dispatched initially to the Silver Street convent and fanned out to search the back and sides of the building. A police search dog from Oakland also was sent to the scene.

On Jan. 27, 1996, Mark Bechard -- a mentally ill man who was unable to get crisis assistance -- broke into the convent's chapel and killed two nuns, using a statue of the Virgin Mary as a weapon.

Two of the nuns, Sisters Marie Julien Fortin and Edna Mary Cardozo, were killed. Two others, Sisters Patricia Ann Keane and Mary Ann DiGiacomo, were severely injured.

Bechard, 38, was found not guilty of murder or attempted murder by reason of mental disorder or defect and was ordered confined for treatment indefinitely at the Augusta Mental Health Institute, now Riverview Psychiatric Center, in Augusta. He was determined to be insane and not criminally responsible for his actions.

Kelm, 69, said she was not present for the Bechard break-in, but attended the funerals.

Conversation from Sunday's dispatch radio log reveals the concern by police and dispatchers at the police station.

"This is an attempted burglary at the convent," the dialog reads. "Sister heard someone trying to make entry to a window."

Oakland Police Officer Bryant Laverdiere and his tracking dog Bingo were reported on their way to the convent at 3:43 a.m., according to the log. The dispatcher also was told to call area taxicab companies to see if anyone was picked up in the area.

"She stated that she heard a strange noise near one of the windows of the convent, went to the window and opened it and when she opened it she saw someone's fingers poking through the screen," Rumsey said. "She slammed the window shut and activated her panic alarm."

Police interviewed people who were out and on the streets in the area at that hour. Police inspected the footwear of one of the people for possible clues.

Rumsey said police found holes in the bottom of the screen.

There was no description of the intruder.

By 4:48 a.m., police called for a camera, but had no suspects.

Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey declined to speculate as to why someone would want to break into a convent, where there are no valuables or large amounts of cash on hand.

"As you can imagine, the sisters are very safety-conscious, so we encourage them -- don't wait, don't hesitate -- and activate their alarm systems immediately," Massey said. "They do a very good job at that."

Massey said police patrols will be conspicuous in the area.

"These sorts of incidents always concern us," he said. "The officers are going to be aware of that through rollcall and we will pay particular attention to that area, no doubt about it."

Kelm, known as Sister Kay-Kay, won the Morning Sentinel's Newspaper Award two years ago as part of the 15th national Make A Difference Day sponsored by USA WEEKEND Magazine and the Points of Light Foundation.

Her name was listed in USA WEEKEND along with winners from other states.

She writes songs, plays guitar and sometimes sings at public events.

Kelm said the sisters are entering a scheduled retreat and the chapel will be closed until next Sunday.

Doug Harlow -- 861-9244

dharlow@centralmaine.com

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Reader comments

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cherrie hight of waterville, ME
Aug 7, 2007 3:11 PM
wow and i still remember that night my husband (now x ) was a fire fighter at the time that box was nostop all night and i asked what was wrong and a guess there was a code put out no fire fight could say any think so the way learned of that bad day was same as the world newpaper. i just still sickens me that day. i remember that day all to clear and ya the nuns have a right to be scare i would be to....report abuse
Joyce Shaw of Skowhegan, ME
Aug 7, 2007 10:14 AM
It is totally unbelievable why anyone would try to get into a home wher Nuns live. Just what is the motive? These Sisters take a vow of poverty & have nothing of value. It's absolutely horrific to think that the sickening act of Jan. 1996 would/could be repeated. Pray that God continues to protect these wonderful & kind Sisters.report abuse
angeldust of winthrop, ME
Aug 7, 2007 7:31 AM
Glad the nuns have the alarm system. I cannot understand anyone bothering the nuns they are loving,kind people. Hopefully the personb who did this has some very sore fingers. Hopefully the police will catch them and punish them. God Bless the nuns and I will pray for their safety.report abuse

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