The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now working with the Haverhill Police Department to find out who stole the baby Jesus figure from a nativity scene outside the Sacred Hearts Parish Church in Massachusetts and replaced it with a real pig's head early Christmas morning, reports CNN.
The government agency said the switch happened sometime after the midnight mass ended at 1:30am and before volunteers returned at 5:30am on December 25.
On Friday, authorities held a press conference to discuss the disturbing act. They asked for the public's assistance in looking for whoever is responsible for the vandalism, which they said may be treated as a hate crime if investigations find that the offensive theft was "motivated by prejudice towards a religion."
Detective Robert Pistone of the Havervill Police said, ""We're also asking for the assistance of any local farms, any butcher shops if they have sold any whole pigs."
Pistone said that the head, which appeared to have been recently chopped off, was unlike any of those sold at butcher shops as it was covered with hair.
"It's just a really hurtful commentary on society," Pastor John Delaney, who runs Sacred Hearts Church, said. "And for someone to do this sad deed is really shocking."
According to Delaney, the church has experienced previous acts of vandalism. The pastor recalls that someone had cut off the two hands of the church's Jesus statue before.
Police have noted that the recent incident resembles a crime that happened several years ago, when someone left several pig heads at another church in Haverhill.
Meanwhile, members of the Sacred Hearts Church felt upset by the theft.
"They're heartbroken, they're horrified, they're outraged by this act that really speaks to us on this most solemn day of hurt," Delaney said.
