Parker County church defaced with ‘demonic symbols, profanity’

A Baptist church between Weatherford and Springtown was targeted by vandals with black spray paint and defaced with “demonic symbols, profanity and racial slurs,” according to authorities.

The graffiti was reported 3 p.m. Monday on two exterior walls of Friendship Baptist Church, according to a Parker County Sheriff’s Office news release.

The graffiti included vulgar and offensive messages, one reading “God isn’t real.”

“This is very troublesome,” said Sheriff Larry Fowler in a prepared statement. “It is disturbing when someone defaces a house of worship in a hate crime. This incident is at the top of the list for unspeakable acts.”

The release did not indicate suspects or leads on possible suspects. The graffiti charge is enhanced to a state jail felony because the targeted building is a place of worship and the amount of damage exceeds $750, the release said.

About two months ago, someone put rocks and gravel in the shape of a pentagram near the same place on the church property, the release said.

Mark David Smith

This story was originally published September 12, 2016 at 7:58 PM with the headline "Parker County church defaced with ‘demonic symbols, profanity’."