Vandal sought after cutting down wooden cross at Santiago Retreat Center in OC's Silverado Canyon

SILVERADO CANYON, Calif. (KABC) -- A vandal was being sought after using a chainsaw to cut down a 14-foot-wooden cross at a Christian retreat center in Orange County's Silverado Canyon, authorities said.

The cross was found destroyed on Thursday, June 29, at the Santiago Retreat Center in Silverado Canyon, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

The cross had been dedicated during a retreat last month.

"What we found was that someone took a chainsaw, had sawed it down and then had tumbled it over into the creek bed," said Santiago Retreat Center Executive Director Mark McElrath.

He told Eyewitness News he was heartbroken when he and his team learned the news, but he was also confused.

"We're marveling at the motivation for somebody to do this, which would take so much work to accomplish because we know how hard it is to put it up," he said.

Investigators are looking into the matter as a possible hate crime, a Sheriff's Department spokesperson told the OC Register.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise funds.

Meanwhile, McElrath is inviting the person responsible to come back to the retreat center when they're ready.

"For us, the restorative justice is, well, the cross needs to be put back up," he said. "If you're not quite there yet, please don't tear it down again, and if you are there, we'd love to have you at the retreat center. Come out and help us do what we do."

The center said any money it raises beyond the cost to rebuild the cross will go toward a scholarship fund for future campers.

No description of the suspect was available.