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Two juveniles are in custody after allegedly vandalizing a church in Meade County.

The Meade County Sheriff’s Office says on April 9 deputies responded to the Saint Theresa of Avila Catholic Church in Rhodelia in regards to a vandalism complaint.

“The deputies met with some of the church staff who were able to provide some videos of two juveniles on the property vandalizing the exterior of the buildings,” said Meade County Sheriff Phillip Wimpee. 

Deputies entered the building and discovered more than $10,000 in damages.

“It appeared that the juveniles had dispersed several fire extinguishers inside the church and destroyed numerous religious artifacts, and some of these religious artifacts are irreplaceable because of the church being so old,” Wimpee said. “The juveniles spread holy oil all over the floor of the building, destroying the carpet, and turned one of the crosses upside down on the altar.”

Deputies processed the scene and collected evidence at the church and in the church’s cemetery where headstones were found to have been damaged.

“The detectives were able to identify two juvenile suspects who were in custody at this time,” Wimpee said. “The suspects are being charged with Burglary in the second degree and Criminal Mischief in the first degree.”

The investigation has been turned over to the Meade County Attorney’s Office and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office for prosecution.