Swastikas spray-painted on Prov. home

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - An elderly Providence woman said she was devastated Monday, after someone spray-painted swastikas on her Admiral Street home.

"It took all the joy out of Christmas," said Connie Persechino. "It was like somebody put a knife in my heart."

Persechino said landscapers discovered several hateful symbols on her home on December 11th. They had been spray-painted on the garage door, the side of the garage, and the front door.

Persechino has had the garage siding replaced, and the front door painted. However, crews have not been able to remove the swastika spray-painted on the metal garage door. She planned to have the door replaced on Tuesday.

The vandalism has left Persechino's daughter, and her neighbors, stunned.

"She's elderly, an italian woman who doesn't really go anywhere except the senior center. And to have to wake up one morning and find something like this, it's devastating to her," said Persechino's daughter Lucille Tikoian.

Stephen DeNuccio, Persechino's neighbor, called the vandalism a hate crime.

"She was singled out," DeNuccio said. "There are white garages next door, and there were no swastikas on them."

Persechino said she has filed a police report. She has lived in the home for 60 years, and said she has never had a problem until now.

"It was terrible for someone to do this to me, especially at this time of the year," Persechino said.