A woman has been taken into custody after allegedly decapitating a statue of Jesus in front of a Catholic church on Long Island. Suffolk County Police reported that Deyonna Subert, aged 41, has been charged with second-degree criminal mischief for damaging the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue located at St. Mary’s Church in East Islip.
The incident took place at the church on East Main St. around 11:15 p.m. on May 15. Following an investigation conducted by detectives from the Hate Crimes Unit, Subert was located and apprehended outside 221 West Main Street in Bay Shore at 6:39 a.m., according to a police statement released on Wednesday.
The statue’s head was discovered missing by churchgoers on Sunday morning as parishioners assembled for services and First Communion events. Father Anthony Iaconis, the church’s pastor, shared with News12 Long Island that the statue’s head was eventually found in nearby bushes.
“Across the way into the auditorium, we held First Communions, and this is where children come to take their pictures,” Father Iaconis explained to News12. He emphasized that donations are being received to restore the statue, which church officials expect to be mended soon.
Regina Vavricka, a long-time member of the parish, expressed her distress at the incident, stating, “I think everyone would be upset by it, whether you belong to this parish or not, or whether you’re Catholic or Jewish—it doesn’t matter.”
Detectives from the department’s Hate Crimes Unit were involved in the investigation. Father Iaconis appealed for the community to pray for the individual responsible, stating, “I just ask people to pray for the person who did this. It’s not right, but we can still pray for them.”
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Suffolk County Police did not provide immediate comments following a request from Fox News Digital. Subert was held at the Fourth Precinct overnight and was expected to be arraigned on Thursday at the First District Court in Central Islip.
Jasmine Baehr serves as a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, covering topics including politics, military, faith, and culture.
Note: The above information is based on reports and statements provided by the Suffolk County Police and related sources.