A community in Arkansas is reeling after a suspect entered its local abbey Thursday, stole its holy relics, and bashed the altar with a sledgehammer.
The Subiaco Abbey in Subiaco, Arkansas, was desecrated by a man wielding a conventional hammer, sledgehammer, and ax, according to a report.
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Using the tools, he bashed the altar, which contained at least three relics, the mortal remains of a saint, the report noted.
The suspect tampered with the tabernacle and removed its cross before fleeing.
“By piecing together the testimony from multiple witnesses who had seen a strange man on campus earlier, we were fairly confident that we had seen him previously in our Church,” the Subiaco Abbey said in a statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, our Academy students were locked down while the investigation proceeded.”
Officials arrived on the scene, and the investigation did not take long before 31-year-old Jerrid Farnam was taken into custody on charges of vandalism and theft.
“Ironically, after the deputies had left, the gentleman in question decided to return to the Church,” according to the abbey. “The Logan County deputies were called and they quickly returned. One of our monks spoke to the gentleman, and it became clear he was the one who had done the damage. He was arrested, his vehicle towed, and further investigations are ongoing.”
The three stolen relics were discovered inside Farnam’s vehicle, according to the report.
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“Due to the desecration of the altar, Abbot Elijah and the monastic community will undertake the ‘Public Prayer after the Desecration of a Church.’ In accordance with the prescriptions, the altar of the church has been stripped bare and all customary signs of joy and gladness have been put away,” the Subiaco Abbey said.
