SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis. — It was an unexpected surprise for Amanda Decker when the South Milwaukee Police Department returned the Divine Mercy Parish’s missing Blessed Virgin Mary statue.

What You Need To Know

  • In Aug. 2023, the Divine Mercy Parish had its Blessed Virgin Mary statue stolen

  • The South Milwaukee Police Department were able to locate the suspect who stole the statue, which has now been returned to the parish

  • The suspect is a male juvenile who had the statue in his father's storage unit

Decker is the director of worship and evangelization at the parish.

“We were in shock,” Decker said. “We weren’t expecting her to come back so soon.”

The statue was stolen just over a year ago. It was returned with a few scratches, chipped paint and a hand was missing, but Decker said it can be repaired. 

“A neighbor across the street said, 'Hey, did you take your statue for repairs or something?’ and we said, 'We don’t know,'” Decker said. “The statue stands about 5-feet tall and probably a couple hundred pounds, so this wasn’t an easy feat to take that and get it.”

The South Milwaukee Police Department opened an investigation into the missing statue.

Captain Dan Fournier said a year later, the department received an anonymous tip on a possible suspect who stole the statue. 

“Once we identified the suspect, it was a bit of a cat and mouse game trying to locate him and be able to talk with him,” Decker said. “Once we were able to do that yesterday, we got the information from him that the statue was in fact still in his possession, at his father’s storage unit.”

Fournier said the suspect is a male juvenile. He said the case will be reviewed by the district attorney’s office, but Decker said the parish is not looking to press charges.

She said they’re just happy the Blessed Virgin Mary Statue was returned. 

“When something like that happens, it’s always hurtful,” Decker said. “When someone takes something that’s not theirs, you feel a bit violated and hurt. As one of the things as Christians, we know that our God, we go to Him when we experience an injustice. Instead of having a heart of hate or malice or anger or revenge, we have that piece of the Lord to be patient and steadfast and just wait.”

She said that’s what happened after many prayers not only from the parish, but the community: The statue is back home.

Decker said the Blessed Virgin Mary will return inside of the parish while a replacement donated anonymously takes the spot outside.