Story Published:
Jun 10, 2009 at 10:06 PM PDT
Story Updated:
Jun 11, 2009 at 7:20 AM PDT
The church's front entry was closed after the bizarre incident.
SEATTLE -- Prosecutors have filed charges against the man accused of vandalizing a church while naked and spattering his HIV-positive blood through the house of worship on Saturday.
Daniel M. Saunders has been charged with second-degree burglary and second-degree malicious mischief.
Saunders is accused of causing more than $100,000 in damages at the Unity Church of God in Christ and contaminating the interior with his HIV-positive, hepatitis C-tainted blood.
Officers found Saunders wandering, naked, outside the church at 8302 Renton Avenue South on Saturday afternoon. Saunders had a number of deep cuts on his arms and legs and was bleeding, according to the statement of probable cause.
The 46 year old was standing near a white pickup truck with busted windows and blood spatters on the inside and outside, the document said.
Officers said the church had also been heavily damaged. Inside, they found the floor covered with shattered glass from busted windows and blood stains on the walls and ceiling.
When questioned by police, Saunders said he had broken the church's window by diving through it. He added he had broken into the church because he was "going home," the statement said.
Officials believe Saunders was high on PCP during his unholy rampage, which went from room to room. A picture gallery was torn from the walls, a trophy case was broken open, mirrors were shattered and blood was smeared on walls, fixtures and furniture, according to prosecutors.
"Just to see (the pictures) torn up on the floor. It was really, really really devastating to us," said Rev. James Hicks, the pastor of the church. "The thing is that he cut himself, and he had blood all over the trophy case, blood where the mirror was, blood around the doors."
Hicks said church members started cleaning up the mess until they learned that the man's blood was tainted.
"They said, 'We don't suggest that you do this cleanup,'" he said.
The church's services have been moved to an off-site location for at least a month due to the bio-hazard threat.
The bizarre incident left church members in shock, but the incident may have been more than a mere coincidence. Records show Saunder's brother had killed himself there on church property on the first Sunday of June 29 years ago.
Church members said they have already forgiven the man, whose brother had hung himself from a tree.
"I don't think it's a coincidence, And I believe that my neighbor said he heard him saying, 'I love you, I love you,' and he heard all that tearing up and commotion," said church member Angelia Hicks-Maxie.
"The Bible says things work together for the good. And we don't understand it, but our business is forgiveness and soul-saving. And (in) some strange way, God will get the glory out of this," said church member Bill Williams.
And the reaching out has gone both ways.
"His (Saunders') brother actually called," Hicks said, "and apologized on behalf of his brother. So the forgiveness - the emotions - are already starting. The healing can begin."
Saunders is being held at the King County Jail.
During his first court appearance, Saunders' bail was set at $10,000. But prosecutors have requested an increased bail due to immediate recidivism as Saunders had just been released from jail the day before the incident.