ST. GEORGE – Police are searching for whoever is behind a disturbing vandalism spree targeting Latter-day Saint chapels in Washington County with graffiti.
In the latest incidents, St. George Police Capt. Mike Giles said someone spray-painted random symbols and messages at two chapels of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located right next to each other on 820 West Valley View Dr. The chapels on Valley View Drive were found Thursday afternoon.
Church officials believe the tagging on the two chapels was related to another incident at an LDS chapel in Winchester Hills where residents discovered similar graffiti Thursday morning.
Read more: Place of worship targeted by vandals
In all three cases, a five-pointed star, an anarchy symbol and random messages were spray-painted on the chapels and surrounding property.
Police do not know the exact time the three crimes occurred, but Kendall Simpkins, a mechanic for the LDS church, said they all happened sometime between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
Winchester Hills resident Brian Allen said the graffiti is believed to be connected to the satanic holiday, the “Grand Climax,” celebrated between July 20-27. Allen pointed to some of the spray-painted imagery he believes have satanic ties, including an inverted cross painted on a wall and the five-pointed star called a pentagram – known for its ties to the occult and believed by many Christians to be a satanic symbol.
Giles would not confirm Allen’s information but said the tags appeared to be more “generic.”
“I can’t say whether the graffiti had anything to do with a satanic cult or holiday but it looks more generic to me,” Giles said.
Still, the reports will be shared with the gang unit at the St. George Police Department to review for any possible associations with gangs or any other organizations, he added.
The incidents remain under investigation at both the Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office which took the initial report in Winchester Hills.
Police are asking for the public’s help in locating those responsible for the graffiti. Anyone with information or tips about this incident may call the St. George Communications Center at 435-634-5730, the St. George Police anonymous tip line at 435-627-4300 or the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 435-656-6500.
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Vandals targeted two LDS chapels Wednesday night, tagging the buildings and property with random messages and symbolism, St. George, Utah, July 27, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole St. George News Vandals targeted two LDS chapels Wednesday night, tagging the buildings and property with random messages and symbolism, St. George, Utah, July 27, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole St. George News Vandals targeted two LDS chapels Wednesday night, tagging the buildings and property with random messages and symbolism, St. George, Utah, July 27, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole St. George News Vandals targeted two LDS chapels Wednesday night, tagging the buildings and property with random messages and symbolism, St. George, Utah, July 27, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole St. George News Vandals targeted two LDS chapels Wednesday night, tagging the buildings and property with random messages and symbolism, St. George, Utah, July 27, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole St. George News Vandals targeted two LDS chapels Wednesday night, tagging the buildings and property with random messages and symbolism, St. George, Utah, July 27, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole St. George News Vandals targeted two LDS chapels Wednesday night, tagging the buildings and property with random messages and symbolism, St. George, Utah, July 27, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole St. George News One of two churches targeted by vandals Wednesday night who tagged the buildings and property with random messages and symbolism, St. George, Utah, July 27, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole St. George News Vandals targeted two LDS chapels Wednesday night, tagging the buildings and property with random messages and symbolism, St. George, Utah, July 27, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole St. George News Vandals targeted two LDS chapels Wednesday night, tagging the buildings and property with random messages and symbolism, St. George, Utah, July 27, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole St. George News Vandals targeted two LDS chapels Wednesday night, tagging the buildings and property with random messages and symbolism, St. George, Utah, July 27, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole St. George News
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Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, before I got to the bottom I was gonna say, at least they didn’t paint any images of penises. What a shame. Guess it had to happen.
Looks pretty darn satanic to me. You mormons should be getting very very worried at this point. These particular meeting houses may have even been cursed by these occult worshipers. no joke.
Bothered by vandalism? Yep. Worried about a curse? Not in the slightest.
Trust me, this is the real deal. These are real occultist Satanists. If you mormons aren’t scared yet, don’t say i didn’t warn ya.
@comments, thanks for your sincere concern….. er well, at least your concern. We got this covered. No worries despite your alarmism.
That last photo might be a little inappropriate for a news site… but who am I to judge
Why don’t you explain to us why you think that?
By the looks of the paint job, these are the same kids. Non artistic kids. They should be embarrassed of their work being displayed publicly. Probably some deep issues with their drawings not being put on the fridge.
Mom and dad never bought them coloring books. Now it’s gonna take years of therapy.
Yep, strong evidence here…cat is with a c not kat (probably the only reading they’ve done is from candy, kit kat- for example….give these kids some crayons and coloring books, how about a #fundraiser for school supplies
it’s satanic. see the blood moon they’ve drawn under Kat. This is the real deal.
I see the upside down cross too. These little satan worshippers will be caught.
The last image must be in reference to the recent launch by North Korea.
Hey, criminals (who are undoubtedly reading this to see what attention they’re getting)…
Know that you WILL get caught and you WILL get punished. The more you do, the worse it will be. They’re already looking for you. Stop now!
.
Posting all the pictures of the graffiti gives the punks JUST WHAT THEY WANT – NOTORIETY!
Smarten up SGN, and just publish the facts and maybe just one smallish pic.
As they say, “..don’t feed the trolls…”