Hopkinsville man pleads guilty to destroying church statue

PADUCAH, Ky. – A Hopkinsville man pleaded guilty to destroying a church statue in Hopkinsville on Monday.

According to a release sent by the Western District of Kentucky, court documents show that Marley R. Taylor, 27, of Hopkinsville, destroyed a statue of Mary holding baby Jesus at a Catholic church on January 28 and 29 of 2025.

Taylor used an axe to chop off both statues’ heads and admitted he intentionally decapitated the statues because he believes that people pray to the statue as an act of worship.

The statue was hand-carved from marble and imported from Italy.

Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of damage to religious property, which is a federal charge.

Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10, 2026.

According to court documents, if the plea deal is accepted, Taylor may serve a penalty of not more than three years in prison and pay $35,935 in restitution.

A federal district court judge will determine Taylor’s sentence.

Taylor will not receive parole in the federal system.