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

Vandals beheaded a statue of Jesus at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in East Islip over the weekend — an incident now under investigation by Suffolk Police’s Hate Crimes Unit.

While not confirming it was the Jesus statue, police said damage to a statue at the church was reported at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Authorities did not specify the nature of the damage, but Greater Long Island contributor Eric Micallef confirmed the removed head from the church’s Sacred Heart of Jesus statue on Sunday. (See photos and videos.)

One parishioner who attended her granddaughter’s First Holy Communion at the church Saturday said she saw multiple police vehicles outside the church after the service.

“We came out after the service, there were several police cars,” she said. “It seems someone cut the head off of the statue. Such a disturbing thing to do.”

Greater Long Island contacted a spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre but had not heard back as of late Sunday morning.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this report mistakenly said the damage was to Virgin Mary statue. It was later learned the statue was that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Top: Eric Micallef photo