Mystery Over Virgin Mary Statue that Began to Cry

The owner of a "weeping" Virgin Mary statue said the strange occurrence began when her cousin was murdered  18 months ago.

Maria Cardenas has described the mysterious crying as a "miracle" and says she shares the tears she collects from the figure with anyone that visits her.

Although Cardenas said she "doesn't understand why she's doing it", she believes it could be linked to the death of her cousin, Jessie Lopez.

Cardenas, from Fresno, California, received the statue as a Mother's Day gift 10 years ago.

But when Lopez was murdered 18 months ago, Cardenas says tears began to well up in the sculpture's right eye and stream down her face.

The statue's caretaker, who didn't want to be identified, told Action News: "We've had priests come from all over to look at her, and all they say is that it's a miracle."

"We're not hiding her, but at the same time, we don't want anything to happen to her," said the caretaker.