Homeless woman arrested for removing head from East Islip church’s Jesus statue

Surveillance video and help from the community led to the arrest Wednesday of a homeless woman accused of removing the head from a Jesus statue at St. Mary’s Church last week, police confirmed.

Following an investigation by detectives with the police department’s Hate Crimes Unit, authorities located and arrested 41-year-old Deyonna Subert outside 221 W. Main St. in Bay Shore at 6:39 a.m. on Wednesday.

“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 stressed that the vandalism did not turn out to be a hate crime, but more of a random act committed by a woman who will now receive mental health services.

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

The incident occurred Friday about 11:15 p.m. at the Roman Catholic Church on East Main Street, where investigators said the Jesus statue was damaged on the church grounds.

Subert was charged with second-degree criminal mischief, police said. She will be held overnight at the Suffolk Police’s Fourth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at Suffolk First District Court in Central Islip.

“All houses of worship are sacred places for our community to congregate and worship peacefully,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, reacting to the arrest. “I thank the SCPD for their diligence as the department will remain vigilant for all religions institutions throughout the county.”

_{Top photo: taken by Eric Micallef}

Prior coverage

Lowlife scammers pounce after sacred statue beheaded at E. Islip church

Diocese prays for justice after statue vandalized at East Islip church

Head removed from statue of Jesus at East Islip church, cops investigating