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UPDATE 12/27/2024: Police in St. Mary’s County have charged Thomas Campbell Bowling Von-Goetz, 56, of Avenue, in connection with two incidents at local churches during the Christmas holiday. Court documents describe a series of disruptive and threatening actions that allegedly endangered parishioners and interrupted religious services at Holy Angels Church and St. Francis Xavier Church.
On December 24, 2024, at approximately 5:12 p.m., Von-Goetz entered Holy Angels Church, located on Colton Point Road in Avenue, during a Catholic Mass, walked up the aisle and stopped to stare at the deacon before dropping an onion on the ground and leaving the building.
A parishioner who witnessed the event, went outside to ensure Von-Goetz had left the area. However, Von-Goetz allegedly began throwing tangerines at him and other parishioners. He attempted to strike them with the fruit, further escalating the situation. The disruption delayed the continuation of the service.
As a result of this incident, Von-Goetz was charged with:
According to witnesses, the deacon and several parishioners intervened, escorting Von-Goetz out of the church. As they did, Von-Goetz allegedly swung the whiskey bottle at them and continued yelling threats, including, “I want to kill Catholics.” He reportedly encouraged parishioners to meet him in the church hall, further intensifying the situation.
Von-Goetz admitted to pouring whiskey into the church’s holy water, contaminating and destroying it. He later justified this act by saying he wanted to “blind Satan.” The damage rendered the holy water unusable and caused monetary loss valued at less than $100.
Von-Goetz faces the following charges from this incident, including:
Continued below.
smnewsnet.com
On December 24, 2024, at approximately 5:12 p.m., Von-Goetz entered Holy Angels Church, located on Colton Point Road in Avenue, during a Catholic Mass, walked up the aisle and stopped to stare at the deacon before dropping an onion on the ground and leaving the building.
A parishioner who witnessed the event, went outside to ensure Von-Goetz had left the area. However, Von-Goetz allegedly began throwing tangerines at him and other parishioners. He attempted to strike them with the fruit, further escalating the situation. The disruption delayed the continuation of the service.
As a result of this incident, Von-Goetz was charged with:
- Assault – Second Degree
- Disturbing the Peace/Disorderly Conduct
According to witnesses, the deacon and several parishioners intervened, escorting Von-Goetz out of the church. As they did, Von-Goetz allegedly swung the whiskey bottle at them and continued yelling threats, including, “I want to kill Catholics.” He reportedly encouraged parishioners to meet him in the church hall, further intensifying the situation.
Von-Goetz admitted to pouring whiskey into the church’s holy water, contaminating and destroying it. He later justified this act by saying he wanted to “blind Satan.” The damage rendered the holy water unusable and caused monetary loss valued at less than $100.
Von-Goetz faces the following charges from this incident, including:
Continued below.
UPDATE: Avenue Man Put Whiskey in Holy Water to ‘Blind Satan’: Charged in Christmas Church Disturbances
Von-Goetz admitted to pouring whiskey into the church’s holy water, contaminating and destroying it. He later justified this act by saying he wanted to "blind Satan." The damage rendered the holy water unusable and caused monetary loss valued at less than $100.
smnewsnet.com
