Bail Set At $60K for Man Accused of Stealing Pope John Paul II's Blood

Caption: Joseph Bailey, 32, is charged with burglarizing a church and escaping a police officer. | Cook County Sheriff

A man accused of stealing holy relics from a Lemont church appeared in bond court on Tuesday morning after he was picked up on a warrant.

Joseph Bailey, 33, was charged with burglary and escape after a warrant was issued for his arrest on July 2.

A Lemont detective testified in court last week that after a series of burglaries at St. Cyril and Methodius, police installed security cameras inside the church to see if the suspected burglar came back.

Around June 21, another burglary occurred at the church. Detectives recognized a person of interest on the video, later identified to be Bailey, breaking into the church donations box, according to court testimony.

Bailey is also a suspect in another burglary at the church, in which two holy relics, including Pope John Paul II’s blood and St. Faustina Kowalska’s bone, were taken.

Police said Bailey escaped from a detective who let Bailey go inside his home to retrieve the stolen items.

Cook County Judge Peter Felice set bail at $30,000 on each charge. Bailey’s next court date is July 27