“Angel Of Hope” Statue Recovered From Philadelphia Scrap Yard; Two Suspects Identified And Charged

May 19, 2022

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Trenton Police Department, Detective Lieutenant Bethesda Stokes stated that Today, May 19, 2022 the Angel of Hope statue was recovered from a scrap yard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Trenton’s “Angel of Hope” monument was reported stolen from St. Michaels at the corner of North Warren & Perry Steets sometime over the weekend of May 6, 2022. A young homeless boy who picks up bibles from the church bookstore was the first to notice the statue was missing around 11:00 a.m. according to NJ 101.5

Police said from video surveillance footage obtained by the NJSP, Property Crimes Unit Detective Sergeant Kurfuss, Detectives Feliciano, Furman, Wood, Villanueva and Technical Services Unit Detective Michael Nazario of the Trenton Police Department were able to track down the vehicle used and individuals responsible for the theft. Two suspects have been identified and Charged with the offense. The investigation is ongoing.

Thanks to the collaborative effort of the NJSP, Mercer County Prosecutors Office and Mercer County Sheriffs Department the Angel of Hope will be returned to its rightful home overlooking the city.

The Angel of Hope was erected by Mayor Donal J. Connolly, Citizens Committee 1947-1959 and the City of Trenton. The monument was dedicated to the people of Trenton on October 27, 1986.