Splattered Green Paint Gone From National Cathedral

The green paint splashed inside the National Cathedral last week is gone, and both vandalized chapels are open to the public again.

Restoration crews worked for days to remove the paint from an organ and delicate woodwork and statues.

Police arrested 58-year-old Jiamei Tian last week inside the Children's Chapel of the National Cathedral. Investigators are looking into whether she is connected to vandalism at three other landmarks.

The first act of vandalism acts was discovered July 26 when a visitor found paint splattered at the Lincoln Memorial.

A similar green paint was later discovered at the Luther Place Memorial Church at Thomas Circle and on a National Mall statue memorializing Joseph Henry, the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

At Luther Place, the paint was found in several places: On a statue of Martin Luther, on the exterior of the building and on an organ inside. The damage was discovered Sunday after the church's noon service. Luther Place Assistant Minister Kathryn Perry recalls seeing Tian sitting in one of the church's pews before the church was vandalized.

Tian since has been released to a halfway house.