Three arrested for graphic messages at Jacksonville Catholic Church

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Police have arrested three young adults believed to be behind the recent vandalism at Holy Family Catholic Church.

Last Tuesday Action News Jax told you three people were captured on surveillance video defacing a statue of the Holy Family. Police said a phallic image and the words “Hail Satan” had been drawn on the statue depicting Jesus, a pair of breasts on the statue of Mary, and a pentacle star on the statue of Joseph.

Action News Jax has learned three suspects have now been arrested and charged in the incident. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says Freeman Servant Yardley, 24, Blessing Yardley, 22, and Promise Yardley, 18, are all charged with felony criminal mischief. The relationship of the suspects is not explicitly stated in the police report.

The suspects are being held at the Duval County jail on a $15,000 bond. Their next court date is March 29.

ORIGINAL STORY | Police are looking for a suspect accused of defacing a religious statue at a local Catholic Church.

On Feb. 23, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to Holy Family Catholic Church on Baymeadows Boulevard where a religious statue had been reportedly vandalized.

Officers say the white statue depicting the Holy Family was found defaced with black marker. The words “Hail Satan” and a phallic image were written on the statue of Jesus. The suspect drew breasts on the Virgin Mary and a pentacle star on Joseph’s forehead.

Holy Family Catholic Church shared screenshots from surveillance video, which they say captured the defacing of the statues.

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