A South Carolina man allegedly posted his Black neighbors’ home and address on Facebook, threatened to scare them with a cross, and then set one on fire in his backyard. Nearly three years later, his case has moved from a local harassment charge to federal court, where it remains unresolved.
A federal grand jury indicted 31-year-old Worden Evander Butler in April on charges of interfering with his neighbors’ housing rights and using fire to commit a federal felony. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, Butler had written that he would give his “racist neighbors … a good scare for the health. With a cross in the lawn” before allegedly carrying out the threat.
The incident happened in Conway on Nov. 24, 2023, and involved Butler’s next-door neighbors, Shawn and Monica Williams. Butler had also posted photos of their home, vehicles, and mailbox on Facebook, according to the indictment.
The cross-burning was not the first confrontation
The Williamses had already reported problems with Butler and his then-girlfriend, Alexis Hartnett, before the cross appeared in the backyard. According to a Horry County police report, Butler allegedly entered the couple’s property during one confrontation and directed racial slurs at Monica Williams…