The Des Plaines police have released a report detailing an act of arson at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines.
Virginia Roque-Fermin was arrested in the incident which caused over $78,000 in damage.
“Ofc Garcia advised there was smoke coming from the Shrine and attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. DPFD arrived on scene,” the Des Plaines Police report reads. “I arrived on scene and observed a female subject, later identified as Virginia Roque Fermin, wearing a grey sweatshirt, purple leggings, and red shoes hastily walking west bound from the Altar/Shrine area. I asked her if she had witnessed who started the fire and she stated no. Virginia attempted to continue walking towards her vehicle. I asked if she lit the shrine on fire to which she stated, ‘I don't know.’”
Roque-Fermin is being held on a $200,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court in Skokie on June 8.
“Virginia attempted to avoid answering my questions by walking away from me, at which time I grabbed her arm, told her to stop. I asked her again if she knew who lit the Shrine on fire to which she started speaking Spanish. I called Ofc Garcia to my location for translation. See Ofc Garcia's supple report under the same RD#. I observed Virginia to have soot on the front of her grey sweatshirt,” the report further reads.
The police report provided more details on the accused. Police reported as they arrived on the scene they found Roque-Fermin's Nissan with an open Bible on the dashboard. Des Plaines Police later pulled video footage from the area allegedly showing Roque-Fermin entering the shrine and starting the fire.
“During the investigation, a female who was later identified as Virginia Roque Fermin, was determined to be the person who started the fire via video footage,” the police report reads. “Besides the damage caused by the fire, I observed that 2 religious statues had been knocked over at the Calvary area located N/W of the shrine of Guadalupe. I took overall, mid-range, and close up photographs of the knocked over statues at the Calvary and the damages at the Grotto and Risen Christ areas."
The report added that a search incident on the offender's vehicle was conducted which was parked directly south of the Calvary area. Prior to the search, "overall, mid-range, and close up photographs of the Nissan” were taken.
According to the report, the officer observed that there was a "Burnt hole in the upper part of the driver's seat. • Soot smears in the rear driver's side passenger seat area • Piece of mulch that appears to match the mulch around the shrine area on the floor of the rear driver's side passenger seat • Open bible on the middle of the front dashboard of the Nissan”
“I photographed Roque Fermin who was observed to have soot on her gray Nike hooded sweatshirt near her breast area and the right pant leg of her purple leggings at the front of her thigh and on the right side of her right knee. I observed traces of soot on her palms and fingers,” the report reads.
Additionally, several criminal damage/vandalism to the grotto and Risen Christ areas which included “• Damaged/destroyed flowers/flower pots on the ground of both areas and on the east side of the altar • 4 religious statues that had been glued to the top of donation boxes were torn off, moved, and then burned/destroyed in the fire • Garbage cans were removed and burned/destroyed in the fire • Destroyed burned roof of the Risen Christ area • 2 destroyed/burned security cameras attached to the roof area of the Risen Christ • Burned/damaged candle stand that was moved to the area where the fire was started. Several destroyed/burned chairs that were moved to the area where the fire was started • Burned/damage by fire of the Risen Christ area's metal stands, bricks, and floor.”
Seen as well was a green "Kingsford" lighter located inside of a damaged flower pot on the east side of the altar. The report also mentioned that "The victim related that the lighter had not been there before and that people who lighted candles took them with them upon their departure. The lighter was recovered as evidence as a tool that was possibly used to start the fire. A pink rock/stone was found on one of the benches south of the Risen Christ areas. The victim related that the stone had not been there before. Roque Fermin was later observed in camera footage carrying the stone around while starting/feeding the fire. The stone was recovered as evidence.”
The report also mentioned that the officer then left the scene and returned to the DPPD station.
"Upon arrival, I photographed the recovered ‘Kingsford’ lighter. Using sterile swabs, I collected a DNA sample of the exterior of the lighter. I then photographed the recovered pink rock/stone. I also photographed Roque Fermin's hooded sweatshirt with soot stains with and without scale.”
Roque-Fermin, a 41-year-old resident of Arlington Heights, was charged with one felony count of arson in connection with the fire, Yahoo! News reported. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines remains open to pilgrims, but areas affected by the fire are to be avoided. A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated by the shrine's staff to raise $50,000 for the reconstruction of the damaged outdoor chapel.
The shrine, a pilgrimage site for Catholics, is owned by the Archdiocese of Chicago, which is seeking donations to repair the damage and restore the shrine to its normal operation, according to Fox News.
Video recovered from the scene shows a woman feeding the fire with items from around the shrine.
Alerts Sign-up