South Milwaukee Virgin Mary statue, stolen months ago, recovered

SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis. - A Virgin Mary statue that was stolen from a South Milwaukee church has been recovered 13 months after it was taken.

The South Milwaukee Police Department announced on Tuesday that the statue, stolen in August 2023, had been returned to Divine Mercy Parish. 

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"She made it home, she answered our prayers," said Amanda Decker, the parish's director of worship. "This statue that we have does need a little bit of repair work, and this will be going in a location inside the church."

It is an outcome South Milwaukee police said seemed impossible at the time, especially without any leads. That is, until they received an anonymous tip.

Divine Mercy Parish, South Milwaukee

"We followed up on that tip right away and spoke with the suspect at the time. He ultimately admitted to taking it but didn't have possession of it," said South Milwaukee Police Capt. Dan Fournier.

It comes just a week after a replacement statue was donated and secured to the ground where the original once stood. The returned statue, which had been around for decades, will now be placed inside.

"It almost seems like a miracle. I think it was a test in patience for us, too, and faith. We know when we pray God hears us," Decker said.

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The statue was soon found in a storage unit. Police said two suspects – both minors – have been identified and are cooperating with the investigation.

"Why they stored it and kept it – we found out the father at that point was trying to protect his son from getting in trouble," Fournier said.

Since the theft, the parish has added cameras on the building.