Lake Charles, La., Dec 18, 2012 / 02:12 am
A vandal with a sledgehammer who attacked statues at two parishes in Sulphur, La. was discovered in the adoration chapel at one of the churches.
Sulphur police chief Lewis Coats said the suspect told authorities, "God ordered him to destroy the statues."
Both Our Lady of Prompt Succor and Our Lady of LaSalette parishes lost about a dozen statues in the attack, which occurred overnight between Dec. 14 and 15. The Blessed Sacrament was spared desecration at both parishes.
A parishioner in LaSalette's adoration chapel was approached in the early hours of Dec. 15 by a man identified as Daniel W. Duplechin, who was carrying a sledgehammer. The parishioner then called the police, who had to taze Duplechin after he charged an officer outside the church.