Crime & Safety

Homeless Woman Arrested in Connection With Christmas Morning Theft at a Haverhill Church

She was charged with destruction of a place of worship, malicious destruction of property and larceny in incidents at Sacred Heart Church.

Haverhill Police arrested a homeless woman in connection with the Christmas morning theft of the Baby Jesus statue from a Nativity scene at Sacred Heart Church, The statue had been replaced with a real pig’s head. The crèche could be seen from South Main Street in Haverhill.

Police said Amarellis Cermeno, 54, believe she found the pig’s head in a dumpster, where it may have been thrown out after Christmas, as roasting a pig on Christmas is a Latino tradition, according to WHDH.com

Police said Cermeno is homeless and mentally ill, according to WHDH. She was charged with destruction of a place of worship, malicious destruction of property and larceny in the incidents at Sacred Hearts. She will be arraigned on Friday.

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Haverhill Police asked for the public’s help after Christmas in their investigation after the baby Jesus statue was stolen.

Baby Jesus Statue Stolen From a Nativity Scene, Replaced With a Real Pig’s Head

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Haverhill Police released a picture of the pig’s head, which “appeared to be freshly decapitated,” according to an investigator.

A neighborhood woman put her family’s baby Jesus in the empty creche.

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