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Indiana Jesus statue beheaded twice in two weeks
Image source: WXIN-TV

Indiana Jesus statue beheaded twice in two weeks

Members of a church in Indianapolis have found their Jesus statue decapitated for the second time in two weeks.

"It makes me sad that somebody would do something like that," Brad Flaskamp, pastor of Cottage Avenue Pentecostal Fellowship, told WXIN-TV. "I was hoping it was just a random act to destroy it in the first place."

The church has stood in the 800 block of the south side of Indianapolis for nearly a century, though the vandalized Jesus statue has only been in place for five years, according to the local news site. Church members just reattached the head on Saturday after the first vandalization, but by Sunday morning, the statue had been beheaded again.

This time, though, whoever vandalized the statue took the head with them.

"I can tell you that I don’t think it’s kids," Flaskamp said. "It would have to be a kid that can wield a sledge hammer."

The church administration has no idea who might be behind the crime, either. The church's secretary, Sue Myers, said all she knows is it's being done by someone who's "got some really deep problems." And her grandson, Tony, who is a member of the church, said it's someone who "just has fun destroying other people’s things."

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police, according to WXIN, have opened an investigation into the ordeal, but because of the nature of the crime, the officers will likely need someone to come forward with information because they know so little about the crime.

"It is a difficult case to investigate," Sgt. Kendale Adams said. "However, our detectives are very good about trying to connect the dots and get information from those in the community."

At this point, the congregation just wants the statue repaired. In fact, Flaskamp said if the vandal returns the Jesus head and admits wrongdoing, he won't even call the police.

"I’d say, 'We love you, we’d love to have the statue head back and we’d love to have you in our church,'" he said. "We’d welcome them, we’d forgive them — that’s what it’s all about."

And Flaskamp is trying to have a good sense of humor about it in the meantime. "Someone needs Jesus, that’s for sure," he joked, adding, "And not just his head, that’s the truth."

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