Boston Churches Covered In Red Substance, Police Ask For Help

BOSTON — After at least three Catholic Churches in Boston reported someone covered statutes and property in a similar red substance, police are asking for the public's help in finding out what happened. Church staff from Most Precious Blood Church and Saint Anne's Church in Hyde Park and Saint Gregory's Church in Dorchester all reported they found a red substance on statutes on church properties during the past month, police said.

The latest was reported Wednesday, at Saint Gregory’s Church in Dorchester. Someone at that church reported someone defaced the religious statue on the church’s property, covering the statue in an unknown red substance. It was the fourth time this month, according to police.

On March 13, someone at Saint Anne’s Church in Hyde Park reported a red substance on a statue in front of the church, similar to the substance he had previously found on a bench in front of the church. The man told police a parishioner notified him of a prior, unreported incident in which an unknown black woman went into Most Precious Blood Church during closing and attempted to spray an unknown substance on the statues inside of the church. The woman, when confronted, told them that she was just praying before exiting the church and left in a white sedan.

And March 11, someone at Most Precious Blood Church reported a red substance on a statue on the church’s property. The victim further stated that he observed the same red substance on a bench in front of 90 West Milton Street in Hyde Park at Saint Anne’s.

Police are investigating but ask anyone with information to contact the Boston Police Civil Rights Unit at (617) 343-4527.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).