Nun's body found in Kollam convent well

A 54-year-old nun, Susan Mathew, on Sunday was found dead in a well in the convent she was residing, in Pathanapuram in Kollam district.

The body of the nun, a teacher in St Stephen’s School in Pathanapuram, was found in the well in Mount Tabor Dayara Convent at about 9.30 am. The convent and school are attached to the Kottayam-headquartered Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Pathanapuram police have registered a case of unnatural death.

Blood stains were found on pillars near the convent well. Susan did not join other nuns for the morning prayers in the chapel located near the convent. After the prayer, the inmates noticed that she was not in her room. Later, they spotted blood stains near the well and found the nun’s body. Police, fire and rescue services personnel took out the body from the well at around 2 pm.

Police said preliminary investigation pointed to a possible suicide. “There are cuts on both her wrists, the one on her left wrist is deep. The wounds appear to be self-inflicted,” Kollam Rural District SP B Ashokan told DH.

Sister Susan was a native of Kallada in Kollam district. The nun was reportedly undergoing medical treatment for a disease and had recently returned to the convent after being with her family for a couple of weeks.