CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Questions still remain after a Christmas tree was stolen at Matoaca United Methodist Church and then returned after the holiday.
"Sometime that Wednesday night or early Thursday morning we discovered it was gone," said Cynthia Nunnally, a member of the church.
When it disappeared, Nunnally said no one knew what exactly happened to the tree.
Nunnally and the tree.
"We assumed it was stolen and figured somebody needed a tree," said Nunnally. "We were hoping that's what it was, not vandalism."
Nunnally told CBS 6 reporter Chelsea Rarrick she doesn't understand why someone would steal from a church.
"You don't believe that somebody would do it," she said.
However, after accepting the tree was gone, Nunnally said it somehow appeared back in the same spot on Sunday morning.
"The lady that's in charge of it came out, looked at it and came back in so surprised and said that's the same tree!" Nunnally said.
The star on the top of the tree was missing, but Nunnally said whoever took the tree left behind a Santa ornament.
Nunnally said they weren't happy to hear of the stolen tree, but wants to tell the person who did this that they aren't upset and hope they were able to have a special Christmas with their family.
"We forgive them," she said, "We hold no grudge against them. Our church doors are open."
