Two Bellevue nuns were raped and beaten in Oregon over the weekend. One of them died.

The Klamath County Sheriff's office has arrested a transient who just rode into town last week by train. Maximilano Esparza is charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder, rape and kidnapping.

The District Attorney says the Esparza was drunk when he beat the women into submission so he could sexually assault them.

Investigators say Chaska and another nun were on a bike path just after midnight Sunday, reciting the Rosary, when they were approached by Esparza.

We reached Chaska's brother in North Dakota. He told us she would've seen it as an opportunity to help.

"I'm sure that's the first thing she thought of when she was approached," says James Chaska. "Here's somebody she could help. It's kinda what made her decide to be a nun. She saw so much injustice in the world and she decided being a nun would be the best way to help."

Chaska lived in Bellevue. Neighbors describe her and the second nun as having a strong faith, more conservative than mainstream Catholics.

They say others in the home seem to be students of the nuns who reach out to the neighborhood.

"There's a lot of children that live on this street," says Sirena Young. "If there's cars coming they swoop them out of the way. Help out neighbors by bringing them food or clothing."

Investigators say the women were in Klamath Falls doing missionary work.

Locals tell us they were in town for just a day, selling religious items outside a grocery store.

"We went to Albertsons and then we saw them out there and we asked them how long they'd be staying and they said they'd be going to Medford today and tomorrow they were going back to Washington," says a girl who met the nuns.

Instead, their Bellevue home is quiet, with friends saying they are mourning the loss of a dearly beloved sister - in peace.