ISLIP, New York (LifeSiteNews) — Local Police arrested a 41-year-old homeless woman on May 20, 2026, in connection with the vandalism of a Sacred Heart of Jesus statue at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in East Islip, New York.

Deyonna Subert faces a charge of second-degree criminal mischief, a Class D felony, according to a press release for the Suffolk County Police Department.

Officers arrested her in the early morning hours and she was held overnight and arraigned on Thursday at Suffolk First District Court in Central Islip.

The incident occurred around 11:15 p.m. on Friday May 15, and was discovered the next morning when parish families noticed the beheaded statue as they gathered for First Holy Communion celebrations. The head was later found in nearby bushes.

At the time, the parish pastor Father Anthony Iaconis described the scene as particularly distressing because the statue sat in a garden area where families would often take pictures with their children after such milestone events at the church.

He urged prayers for the perpetrator, stating, “It’s a terrible thing. I just ask people to pray for the person who did this. It’s not right, but we can still pray for them.”

The Diocese of Rockville Centre expressed concern over the vandalism. “Along with the parishioners of Saint Mary’s Church, the diocese is troubled by the vandalism to the statue of Our Lord,” said diocesan spokesman Father Eric Fasano. “As the investigation continues, we pray that justice will be restored for the parish.”

Police confirmed that surveillance footage and tips from the community helped investigators make the arrest.

“Due to community input and assistance, we were able to track her down the road,” said Detective Sgt. Apryl Hargrove, commanding officer of the department’s Hate Crimes Unit.

Hargrove emphasized that the act was not a hate crime, but rather a random incident carried out by a woman who will now receive mental health services.

“She did not target the Catholic community,” Hargrove proposed. “It’s a mentally ill person who will now receive the services she needs.”

Furthermore, the department stressed that a criminal charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The incident occurs amid a broader pattern of vandalism against religious sites. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has documented hundreds of attacks on Catholic churches and properties since 2020, including statue beheadings, arson, and graffiti. Advocacy groups like CatholicVote have tracked a notable rise in such hostility in recent years.

Local leaders, including Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, highlighted the importance of protecting houses of worship. “All houses of worship are sacred places for our community to congregate and worship peacefully,” Romaine stated, thanking police for their swift action and pledging to remain vigilant in this regard.

Iaconis said donations were immediately made to repair the statue and it is expected to be restored next week.

Anti-Christian hate will not prevail. The Suffolk PBA and Good donated $2000 to help repair the beheaded statue of Christ at St. Mary’s church in East Islip. #ChristisKing pic.twitter.com/QtONIUU2Dh

— SUFFOLK COUNTY PBA (@SuffolkPBA) May 20, 2026

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