Arlington Heights woman charged with arson at Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines
CHICAGO (CBS) – A woman is charged after setting fire to a chapel at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines early Tuesday morning.
The woman, identified as Virginia Roque-Fermin, 41, of Arlington Heights, was charged with one felony count of arson.
Shrine officials said she entered the campus of the shrine around 2:30 a.m. and set fire to the outdoor Chapel of the Resurrected Christ.
Des Plaines police and fire were dispatched to the scene. Crews were able to put out the fire and police arrested Roque-Fermin who was also accused of damaging parts of the shrine.
Arriving officers at the scene saw her quickly walking away from the shrine after the fire started. They noticed soot on the front of her clothes and took her in for further investigation, according to police.
Video footage from the shrine shows her carrying objects - including statues, buckets, chairs, and planter pots - toward the area of the shrine before starting the fire. She continued to carry objects towards the fire to stoke the flames, police said.
"Although we are very saddened by the painful vandalism the Shrine has undergone, we are thankful for the Des Plaines Police and Fire Department for their rapid response to the incident," the news release said.
The shrine posted several photos of the scene on its Facebook page which appeared to show extensive damage to the area.
The shrine was erected to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, or the Virgin Mary, who is a beloved religious figure dear to many Catholics in Mexico.
The Archdiocese of Chicago has been made aware of the incident. The shrine will continue to welcome visitors to the campus, although they will be asked to keep clear of the affected areas.
The total damage caused by the fire is an estimated $78,000.
Roque-Fermin is scheduled to appear in bond court Wednesday.
