Police in Long Island arrested Deyonna Subert, 41, for allegedly decapitating a statue of Jesus outside a Catholic church. Suffolk County Police charged her with second-degree criminal mischief. The incident took place at St. Mary’s Church in East Islip.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue, located at 118 East Main St., was damaged around 11:15 p.m. on May 15. Detectives from the Hate Crimes Unit conducted a thorough investigation. They arrested Subert in Bay Shore shortly after, around 6:39 a.m., according to Suffolk County Police. She was held at the Fourth Precinct overnight and was scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip.
The severed head of the statue was discovered by parishioners on Sunday morning as the church held services and First Communion events.
Father Anthony Iaconis, St. Mary’s pastor, mentioned that the church community was affected. He stated that donations had begun to pour in to assist with repairs. Churchgoers expressed their dismay over the vandalism. Longtime parishioner Regina Vavricka commented on how distressing the act was, noting its impact on all, regardless of faith.
Father Iaconis assured that efforts were underway to repair the statue soon. He encouraged others to pray for Subert, emphasizing the importance of empathy even in difficult situations. The church has since rallied around the incident.
A statement from Suffolk County Police clarified, “A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.” The police department did not provide further comments.