Woman Arrested in Connection with Arson of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Illinois

Catholic News Agency ^ | 5/24/23 | Joe Bukuras

[marshmallow]

Virginia Roque-Fermin is charged with one felony count of arson in connection with starting a fire that caused tens of thousands of dollars in damages to The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Illinois, May 23, 2023. | Credit: Des Plaines Police Department

Boston, Mass., May 24, 2023 / 14:00 pm A 41-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with causing more than $78,000 in damages in a Tuesday arson attack at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Illinois.

The 60-acre shrine, which receives hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year and is meant to spread devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, operates under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Virginia Roque-Fermin of Arlington Heights, Illinois, was charged with one felony count of Arson, police said.

Des Plaines police responded to the fire at 2:31 a.m. and unsuccessfully tried to extinguish the fire. The Des Plaines Fire Department was able to put out the fire after arriving.

After responding to the fire, police said they saw the woman “quickly walking away” from the fire, which was set at an outdoor chapel where devotional candles are typically lit. Police said they noticed soot on her shirt and took her into custody, according to ABC7 Chicago.

Security footage shows Roque-Fermin throwing statues, buckets, chairs, and planter pots into the fire to stoke the flames, police said. The footage, observed by CNA, shows rosaries being thrown into the fire.

[BenLurkin]

Una brouja mala?

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Mexicans are really, really, really big on Our Lady of Guadalupe. MS-13 gangbangers often have that image tattooed on their backs. A lot of Mexicans keep altars in their home with burning candles and paraphernalia related to Our Lady of Guadalupe. It's doubtful that there is a Mexican home or car which is not equipped with that image.

[Bernard]

is she one of those “Best” that Mexico keeps sending us?

[Chode]

misspelled Vermin...

[Roccus]

Yup!

No evidence of a “hate” crime here.

Only evidence of a single felony, arson.

[No name given]

Just another feminazi angry that her “right” to murder babies was taken away.

[Beowulf9]

What was the purpose of this? I wonder why she did this. It’s totally crazy.

[Chickensoup]

Don’t you understand?

It is just plain hatred.

[El Cid]

Iconoclast?
Just crazy?
She doesn't look like an AntiFA type.

[jmaroneps37]

Satan’s slave.

[roving]

It’s more likely demonic anyway.

[Beowulf9]

I guess I really just don’t get these types. No foresight. Now for a stupid act she has a bill that will ruin her financially.

[jmacusa]

Si. Esta senora is muy loco.

[Chickensoup]

She isn’t going to pay it.

[Beowulf9]

Oh I’m sure but she will have no credit.