Long Island woman arrested after Jesus statue beheaded at church
Police said a 41-year-old woman cut the head off a Jesus statue at St. Mary’s Church, triggering a hate-crimes review and a $1,500 damage estimate.
A 41-year-old Long Island woman was arrested after police said she decapitated a Sacred Heart of Jesus statue at St. Mary’s Church in East Islip, an act that left parishioners shaken during First Communion weekend and forced the parish to confront how exposed an open church courtyard can be.
Suffolk County police said the vandalism happened around 11:15 p.m. on Friday, May 15, at 118 East Main Street. The statue had stood in the courtyard for about 12 years and had become a familiar backdrop for First Communion photos. Rev. Anthony Iaconis said he found the statue’s severed head in bushes on church grounds, a discovery that turned a routine parish weekend into a scene of shock and anger.
Police arrested Deyonna Subert on Wednesday, May 20, at about 6:39 a.m. outside 221 West Main Street in Bay Shore. She was charged with second-degree criminal mischief. Suffolk County police said the department’s Hate Crimes Unit investigated the case, but Subert’s attorney said there are no allegations the incident was a hate crime and said the defense is denying the charges. A judge also ordered Subert to stay away from the church while the case moves forward.
The damage was estimated at about $1,500, but the emotional cost was far higher for a parish that had been preparing for children receiving their First Communion when the vandalism was discovered. Parishioners said the destruction felt like a desecration of sacred space, while others said they still hoped Subert gets help and prayed for her. Flowers and candles began appearing at the site as neighbors and church members tried to restore some dignity to the courtyard.
St. Mary’s Parish posted a statement thanking supporters and asking for prayers for the person responsible. It also warned that fake donation pages had already appeared online and told people to send repair donations directly to the parish. By the end of the week, the Suffolk PBA and others had pledged to help pay for restoration work, underscoring the tension many churches face as they keep courtyards, statues and sanctuaries open to the public while trying to protect them from damage.
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