'Shower Jesus' an eBay miracle

An Internet casino on Wednesday added a Lawrenceville man's water-stained plaster panel bearing what he calls the likeness of Jesus to its collection of "weird" items, including the famed Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich.

Jeffrey Rigo, 30, an Internet network engineer, noticed the water stain next to his shower June 11, removed the panel and auctioned the item on eBay.

Rigo rejected several bids and required future bidders to be pre-approved by him after two potential buyers, whose ability to pay was in question, drove the price over $320,000.

There were no additional bids until Tuesday when goldenpalacecasino.com offered Rigo's original asking price of $1,999.99.

Drew Black, spokesman for the Antigua-based casino, said the company is interested in collecting "weird" items that grab the public's attention.

"This water stain from the shower just fit right in with the other purchases we've made,'' Black said. "For us, it's a no-brainer. The public is interested in these things, and we get the exposure."

The company is planning a traveling museum that will appear in cities nationwide, Black said. Among the items the casino has purchased that might be on display are a pretzel shaped like the Virgin Mary holding a baby Jesus, a pregnancy test that Black said belonged to Britney Spears and a potato shaped like the head of Who guitarist Pete Townsend.

After Rigo discovered the water stain, he used a rotary tool to cut out that section of wall and found a water leak. He then made a box, filled it with plaster and placed the "Shower Jesus" inside to dry.

Rigo couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.

In November, goldenpalacecasino.com paid $28,000 for a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich auctioned on eBay by a Florida woman who said the sandwich -- missing a bite -- bears the image of the Virgin Mary. The sandwich is on display at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Black said.