Dec. 25, 2017 – West Bend, WI – West Bend Police have released the name of the woman accused of stealing the baby Jesus figurine on Sunday from the Amity Rolfs Nativity. Police arrested
Maya M. Patrykus, 21, at approximately 2:10 a.m. on Dec. 24, 2017 after an officer saw a female walking in the 100 block of N. Main Street, carrying a baby Jesus figurine.
On Sunday, West Bend Police released the following:
An officer attempted to stop and speak to the female. Police said the woman then dropped the figurine and ran. After a short foot pursuit the officer stopped the female.The baby Jesus figurine she was carrying was from the Nativity at Old Settlers Park in downtown West Bend.The figurine she was carrying was a replacement for one damaged Dec. 17, 2017.
The Downtown West Bend Association said the second figurine was a plastic doll wrapped in swaddling clothes. One of the staffers from the DWBA brought it in to replace the original figure stolen from the manger.
According to Sgt. Brian Scharinger with the West Bend Police Department, Patrykus, was placed in the Washington County Jail, on charges of theft and obstructing an officer.
Scharinger said investigators were not able to connect the woman with the criminal damage of the baby Jesus figurine that occurred on Dec. 17.
The family of Maya Patrykus has issued a statement to WashingtonCountyInsider.com.
Our daughter, and our family, join in the condemnation of her behavior involving the nativity scene. It is, in a word, reprehensible.
Maya is a junior in the UW system. She has no criminal record.
That she was intoxicated at the time is no excuse. All we can do now as a family is beg the forgiveness of our community, focus on getting Maya the help she needs, and move forward.
Thank you.
Maya’s statement:
“I sincerely apologize to the community, and specifically to those who put their time and effort into building the nativity scene. I am truly sorry.”
