$1,000 Reward in Church Info Leading to Taggers Arrest

Sunday, March 23, 2008 $1,000 reward in church graffiti Info leading to vandals’ arrest
GARDNER— A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for vandalism last week at seven churches and a high school. “People are very outraged about it,” Police Lt. Gerald J. Poirier said yesterday. Six churches in Gardner and a church in Phillipston were vandalized, as was Narragansett Regional High School in Templeton. Among the messages spray-painted were “Jesus Is Dead” and “brainwashed zombies.” Disparaging references to the Virgin Mary and symbols including an upside-down cross were painted on the buildings.
“We are actively pursuing leads at this moment,” Lt. Poirier said yesterday afternoon. He said the Gardner Knights of Columbus Council 396 is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the Good Friday desecration. Kenneth Peters of American Power Washing and Cleaning of Weymouth saw news reports of the vandalism Friday night. Yesterday, his day off, he drove to Gardner to help remove the offensive graffiti. “I just wanted to do a good deed,” he said yesterday, noting he wanted to make sure families could go to Easter services today without being greeted by the hateful messages. He helped clean four of the buildings in Gardner yesterday afternoon. Some of the buildings vandalized had already been cleaned by other volunteers by the time he arrived from Weymouth yesterday, Mr. Peters said. His equipment includes high-pressure water guns and graffiti-removing detergent. “I did the best I could,” he said.

Churches Hit by Anti-Christian Graffiti

Churches hit by anti-Christian graffiti
March 21, 2008
GARDNER, Mass.—Seven churches and a school in the Gardner area were defaced by anti-Christian graffiti which police said was aimed at people attending church on Good Friday.
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The vandal used expletives involving the name of Jesus and Mary and painted several upside down crosses. The messages included "Jesus is dead" and "You brainwashed zombies."
Gardner Police Lt. Gerald Poirier said the vandalism was spotted first at Sacred Heart Church Catholic church at about 11 p.m. on Thursday night. The other vulgarities were seen Friday morning at Gardner churches of various denominations, including Episcopal, Methodist and Baptist churches, as well as a Congregational church in Phillipston.
Narragansett Regional High School in Templeton was also vandalized, Poirier said.
"People got up, they were seeing this stuff, it was terrible," Poirier said. "Whoever did this planned it on Good Friday for the biggest impact and shock value."
The graffiti was all done in black spray paint and appears to be the work of one person, police said. Poirier said police have some leads, but no arrests had been made of late Friday afternoon.