Vandals target Jesus statue

Owner Jeff Hooper called it ‘devastating.’ DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray said such an act was ‘very disrespectful.’

The comments were made in reference to vandalism at DeKalb Memorial Gardens. During the night Sunday, someone poured a red liquid on the statue of Jesus, causing extensive damage to the Italian marble structure that cost $25,000 when it was purchased in 1962.

‘It’s a shame. I don’t know if it was done as a Halloween prank or if it is a hate crime. We just don’t know yet,’ said Sheriff Ray. ‘We’re investigating. It’s a shame. It’s very disrespectful.’

Added Hooper, ‘It is kind of devastating. It’s the only thing they touched in the entire cemetery.’

Hooper says he is awaiting word from his insurance company and it is unclear if the statue can be repaired or will have to be replaced. ‘We’re kind of in limbo,’ he said Monday.

It is unclear what liquid was used to damage the statue. Speculation is that it was water with red food coloring or possibly transmission fluid.

‘Marble is so porous, it soaks up anything,’ Hooper said.

Anyone with information about this event can call the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department at (615) 597-4935 or the sheriff’s department crime line at (615) 464-6400.