Volusia church’s Virgin Mary statue found thrown in the woods, deputies say

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies are on the lookout for the suspect in a vandalism case at a local church last month, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

In a release on Tuesday, deputies said the incident happened after a Sunday evening mass at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in DeBary.

“A parishioner noticed the Virgin Mary statue in the prayer garden was missing,” the release reads. “On a closer look, the church discovered Mary’s statue had been ripped off its slab and thrown in the woods.”

Per investigators, surveillance footage caught an unidentified man committing the vandalism on July 23.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect is urged to contact the VSO at (386) 668-3830 or email CBuettner@volusiasheriff.gov.