After remaining a mystery for over a year, a stolen statue of the Virgin Mary has been recovered and returned to its rightful place at Divine Mercy Parish in South Milwaukee. The figure, a sizable piece standing 5-feet tall and tipping the scales at several hundred pounds, was reported missing in August 2023. According to WISN, Amanda Decker, the church's director of worship had expressed concerns about the possibility of vandalism or sacrilege.
Wisconsin authorities were able to crack the case when, on August 22, South Milwaukee Police received an anonymous tip pointing to an 18-year-old as the perpetrator of the heist. Following his confession on Tuesday, he showed law enforcement the location of the secreted statue, found in a Milwaukee storage locker. His father, aged 39, was present shortly afterward, and he surrendered the religious artifact to the police, stated WISN.
In a public statement on Facebook, the South Milwaukee Police Department shared their satisfaction on the operation's success: "We’re glad to have returned it to where it belongs," the department expressed. Meanwhile, two suspects have been identified, and they are currently collaborating with ongoing investigations, as noted by FOX6. The specific details regarding the location of the find were not disclosed by officials.
Details about the crime and its implications are still emerging, but South Milwaukee Police are keeping these matters private to maintain the integrity of their investigation, according to CBS58. As the investigation progresses, the roles of the young man and his accomplice will become clearer.
