‘About to make them pay’: South Carolina man exposes black neighbors’ address online. Then he burns a cross in his backyard before the Feds step in

A South Carolina man is currently facing federal charges after he allegedly burned a cross in his backyard to intimidate his Black neighbors, following a series of disturbing social media posts. Worden Evander Butler, 31, was indicted by a federal grand jury for interfering with the housing rights of his neighbors and using fire to commit a federal felony. 

The Atlanta Black Star reported that the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the indictment. It noted that shortly after Thanksgiving, Butler took to Facebook to target the couple living next door. In his posts, he explicitly stated that he would give “his racist neighbors … a good scare for the health. With a cross in the lawn.” 

According to the Atlanta Black Star, Butler went further by uploading photos of the victims’ home, their cars, and even their mailbox. The chilling nature of his threats escalated when he posted that he was “summoning the devil’s army and I don’t care if they and I both go down in the same boat” and “I’m about to make them pay.” This November 2023 Conway incident left the victims, Shawn and Monica Williams, seeking a robust legal response to hate-motivated crimes in their state.

A case that only got stricter

The outlet noted that even before this federal indictment, Butler and his girlfriend, Alexis Hartnett, had already pleaded guilty to state charges of second-degree harassment. Horry County authorities noted that there had been a history of harassment leading up to the cross-burning, including an instance where Butler reportedly entered the victims’ property to shout anti-Black racial slurs. 

“We are very grateful for law enforcement to actually get us to this point because, again, the cross-burning itself is just still so surreal to both Monica and I and our family,” Shawn Williams told WCNC, per the Atlanta Black Star. Monica Williams added, “We actually would like to see the hate crime bill passed in the state of South Carolina. That for us would bring everything full circle.”

The outlet noted that the push for such legislation is a long-standing issue in the state, gaining significant momentum after the 2015 mass shooting at a Charleston church. However, even though the House passed the bill twice, it stalled in the state Senate. 

Critics often argue that federal statutes are sufficient, but victims like Shawn Williams point out the limitations of current state laws. He reportedly noted that because there is no specific hate crime law, the previous punishments for Butler and Hartnett were limited to a brief jail stint and a fine.

Hate crimes remain an ongoing problem in the United States. According to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the FBI reported that the overall number of hate crimes fell from 11,862 in 2023 to 10,881 in 2025. However, there is another statistic to note.

Len Kamdang, Director of the Criminal Justice Project and the Byrd Center to Stop Hate at the Lawyers’ Committee, stated, “Black Americans were the targets of nearly half of every race-based hate crime reported, and more than any other group in any category. In fact, anti-Black violence has anchored this country’s hate crime data every single year the FBI has collected it. The numbers move. The pattern does not.”

The national conversation around safety and bias is made more apparent by other recent high-profile incidents. In August 2026, for example, the Manhattan District Attorney announced the indictment of Larry Montes for antisemitic and anti-black attacks after allegedly disrupting services at Central Synagogue. Per the Justice Department press release, Montes allegedly yelled that he was “Hashem” before destroying religious property and assaulting congregants. 

These events, alongside the investigation into the death of Tasia Fortune in Mississippi, highlight the deep-seated concerns regarding safety and the legacy of racial violence. Recently, per CNN, 51-year-old John Ratcliff was arrested on suspicion of her murder. However, as ABC News noted, these repeated instances of Black individuals who have been found handing through the South continue to stir painful memories and skepticism toward law enforcement investigations

FBI Columbia Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jose Charriez addressed the gravity of the South Carolina case, stating, “Racial animosity has no place in our community. This indictment reflects the serious nature of the alleged crimes and our dedication to ensuring the victims see a just resolution.” 

For now, Butler faces up to 10 years in federal prison, which is a stronger legal consequence. In the meantime, the Williams family continues to advocate for state-level change and legislation that specifically addresses the reality of hate crimes.