23-Year-Old Charged In Smashing Of Catholic Church Statues: NYPD

Patch ^ | 9/13/21 | Kayla Levy

[marshmallow]

Police said that the young, Forest Hills resident is the woman who was caught on camera smashing a pair of church statues to pieces in July.

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — A 23-year-old Forest Hills resident was hit with hate crime charges on Friday, after police identified her as the person who smashed a pair of church statues in July, according to the NYPD.

Jacqueline Nikiena was arrested on Friday, Sept. 10 on charges of criminal mischief as a hate crime and aggravated harassment, police said.

Her arrest comes nearly two months after she was caught on camera smashing a pair of statues outside Our Lady of Mercy church in Forest Hills, according to police.

A video of the vandalism shows the person who police believe to be Nikiena smashing two statues — one of the Blessed Mother and one of St. Therese the Little Flower — against the ground. She then dragged the statues into the street and hurled them against the concrete, the video shows, leaving the 84-year-old figures in pieces.

A GoFundMe page organized on behalf of the church surpassed its $25,000 fundraising goal — money that will go towards repairing the statues.

[frank ballenger]

“Making Saints” by Kenneth Woodward is a fascinating volume about how saints get to be “official” saints of the Catholic Church.

Thanks for the tip. I have just ordered it.

[frank ballenger]

RE: my ignorance and confusion over saint names....

Thanks. I actually should have researched it but didn’t due to laziness.

Best

F B

[Vaduz]

She’s a wonder woman it’s a wonder her guts don’t fall out.