Sisters of Sin: The Darkest Crimes Committed by Nuns

The image of a nun often evokes thoughts of selflessness, piety, and a life devoted to faith. Yet, history holds accounts of nuns whose actions stand in stark opposition to their vows. From embezzlers and murderers to perpetrators of abuse and child trafficking, these stories reveal the darker side of those who once walked the path of God. Here are the most shocking tales of evil nuns in history:

#10. The Gambler Nun of California

Mary Margaret Kreuper, a principal at a Catholic elementary school, betrayed her sacred vows by embezzling over $835,000 from her diocese and school. Her secret? An addiction to gambling. Over a decade, she funneled tuition money meant for children’s education into casinos. Though sentenced to federal prison, the scandal left an indelible stain on her order.

#9. Catalina de Erauso: The Nun Turned Swashbuckler

Born in Spain in 1585, Catalina de Erauso fled her convent at 15 and adopted the identity of Antonio de Erauso. Living as a man, she roamed the Americas as a con artist, soldier, and murderer. Her escapades, including the killing of her own uncle, remain one of the most notorious stories of rebellion against religious life.

#8. The Baby Thieves of India

In 2018, nuns from Mother Teresa’s Nirmal Hriday Home in Ranchi were caught trafficking babies. Unmarried mothers seeking refuge had their children stolen and sold for profit. The scandal tarnished the legacy of an institution meant to provide safety and compassion.

#7. Saint Theodosia of Constantinople: The Killer Martyr

During the Byzantine Iconoclasm in the 8th century, Saint Theodosia defended religious icons with deadly force. When an officer attempted to remove an image of Jesus from her convent, she caused his fatal fall. Her subsequent execution by Emperor Leo III turned her into a martyr, though her violent actions continue to spark debate.

#6. The Tanacu Exorcism

In Romania, Father Daniel Corogeanu led a group of nuns into committing a fatal exorcism on Maricica Irina Cornici, a mentally ill nun. Bound, chained to a cross, and gagged, Cornici succumbed to her ordeal. The priest and nuns received prison sentences, but the event left scars on the Orthodox Church.

#5. The Smyllum Park Orphanage Abuse

From 1969 to 1981, nuns at Scotland’s Smyllum Park orphanage subjected children to physical abuse and neglect. Decades later, the elderly nuns responsible were sentenced to prison, though the trauma inflicted on the orphans endures.

#4. Canada’s Residential School Horrors

Nuns at Canada’s residential schools for Indigenous children enforced harsh assimilation policies. Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse were rampant. One nun, Francoise Seguin, was charged at 97 years old for her role in the atrocities, but many culprits escaped justice.

#3. The Murder of Sister Abhaya

In India, Sister Abhaya was murdered after witnessing a priest and nun engaging in illicit relations. Her body was found in a convent well, sparking a decades-long investigation. In 2021, the culprits were convicted, marking a rare victory for justice.

#2. Mariam Soulakiotis: The Mother Rasputin

A 20th-century Greek Orthodox nun, Soulakiotis lured wealthy women into her monastery, tortured them, and seized their fortunes. Accused of causing up to 177 deaths, her crimes came to light too late for full accountability—she died in prison before facing all her charges.

#1. The Magdalene Laundries

In Ireland, Magdalene Asylums operated as forced labor camps for unwed mothers, sex workers, and orphans. Managed by nuns, these institutions abused and exploited women for nearly two centuries. The 1993 discovery of a mass grave of 133 women exposed the horrors, but most perpetrators had long since passed away.

From greed and murder to abuse and exploitation, these stories serve as grim reminders of how power, when unchecked, can corrupt even those sworn to a life of service and faith.