Once again, a Nativity scene in Ohio was the target of vandals. This display is located on the grounds of Paul R. Young’s Funeral Home in Mt. Healthy. The 54-year-old set is very popular and attracts hundreds of sightseers every holiday season. It is composed of several figurines plus live donkeys and sheep. The Christ child figure was stolen on December 28.
Mr. Young studied at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in London, and he himself constructed all the models in his scene with wax, glass eyes, and real hair. The Christ child was the first one he made.
On New Year’s Eve, the police received an anonymous tip. Three days later, two women were arrested: Lavinia Williams and Samantha Miller (both age 22). They were released after being charged with misdemeanors: theft; criminal trespassing; and criminal damage. The child figure was found at Williams’ apartment; its feet had sustained some damage.
She told the police their plan was to keep the figurine a short time and then send it back; they only wanted to "commit a practical joke."
Young plans to make repairs on the child figurine rather than spending more than 200 hours to build a new one. He is considering hiring someone to watch over his Nativity set next year. "I don’t want to go through this again," he said.