Locals in a quiet town are furious and have ‘lost their faith in humanity’ after a woman beheaded a Jesus Christ statue in the latest string of events in America.
The statue was beheaded outside of a Long Island church in the middle of the night last weekend.
Police have arrested and charged a woman, Deyonna Subert, 41, with criminal mischief for the alleged decapitation of the statue at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in East Islip.
Her arrest followed a multi day hunt.
The force said that the woman suffers with mental health issues and the incident took place during an episode.
Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association President Lou Civello said, “When you look at what’s going on around the country — the attack on the mosque, the antisemitism, this anti-Christian hate — you might lose your faith in humanity.”
Prior to the arrest Civello and the GOOD Foundation — a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Long Island’s law enforcement community — revealed that they would work together and donated $1,000, each, for the church to replace the statue.
Civello said: “As police officers, we’re tasked with catching the criminals. It’s not often that we get to undo the harm that they have done.”
He was captured handing the giant cheques over to St. Mary’s pastor, Anthony Iaconis, shortly after Subert’s arrest.
Iaconis and other church goers said they forgive Subert’s actions and welcome her to church at any time.
“It’s evil,” Pastor Iaconis said about the vandalism.
“But Christ calls on us to forgive — and that is how peace comes about,” he added.
Marleni Danesi, who has been attending St. Mary’s for decades, said the beheading of the statue was “sad, but not surprising,” and added she has been praying for the vandal.
