SC - 2 arrested after neighbors report cross burning in Conway, SC, 30 November 2023

[PeterThomasFan]

CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - Shawn and Monica Williams, like many others, retired in the Grand Strand, but a scary encounter has them questioning if it’s safe to stay.

The Black couple said they walked outside to a burning cross facing their home over Thanksgiving weekend.

“There was a cross burning about eight feet from our fence,” Monica said. “We were speechless because we’ve never experienced something like that.”

The couple moved to Conway, settling into the perfect retirement home, but said their neighbors have made the last two years a living nightmare.
“He’s blatant with the ‘N-word,’” Monica said. “He chased off our surveyors. He’s chased off people from the water and sewer department.”

The couple even installed a fence, hoping to find peace, but it didn’t work. The cross burning was the final straw, so they called Horry County police.

Officers arrested their neighbors, 28-year-old Worden Butler and 27-year-old Alexis Hartnett, and charged them with second-degree harassment.

[...]


In the News:
Dec. 13, 2023 at 6:02 AM EST - ‘We were speechless’: Cross burning in Conway has couple begging for change

Dec. 15, 2023 at 5:18 PM EST - Calls for S.C. hate crime law grow after Conway-area cross burning

Dec. 20, 2023 at 6:18 PM EST - FBI agents search home of couple accused of burning cross in Conway area

Jan. 30, 2024 at 11:00 PM EST - Solicitor requests temporary injunction against home of couple accused of burning cross in Conway

Mar. 6, 2024 at 6:05 AM EST - Suspect in Conway-area cross-burning to appear for hearing

Mar. 6, 2024 at 4:09 PM EST - Hearing postponed for suspect in Conway-area cross-burning

Mar. 10, 2024 at 6:08 PM EDT - Cross burning suspect appears for bond hearing after another arrest

Mar. 11, 2024 at 6:00 AM EDT - A woman accused of burning a cross to scare their neighbor was arrested again

Apr. 9, 2024 at 12:33 PM EDT - Myrtle Beach holds community conversation about hate crimes

Apr. 22, 2024 at 7:20 PM EDT - Solicitor's office responds to cross-burning property owner’s request to alter temporary injunction

Apr. 25, 2024 at 6:12 AM EDT - Trial date set for Conway-area cross-burning suspect

 

[PeterThomasFan]

Apr. 25, 2024 at 6:12 AM EDT

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - Records show the first trial date in the Conway area cross-burning case has been set.

Worden Butler’s jury trial will start on May 14, according to public records.

Worden and his girlfriend, Alexis Hartnett, are accused of burning a cross in November to intimidate their Black neighbors after a property line disagreement.

The two were both charged with second-degree harassment.

It is still unclear when Hartnett’s trial will start.

Although this is the first trial date set in the case, Butler and Hartnett have appeared in court multiple times since the cross-burning.

Trial date set for Conway-area cross-burning suspect

SC - 2 arrested after neighbors report cross burning in Conway, SC, 30 November 2023​

 

[worm]

I’ve been following this locally and it adds to the reasons that I’m glad to not have close neighbors. They did a great job of playing into a stereotype of our state.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Monica and Shawn Williams, who live across the street from where the cross burning reportedly happened, bought property in the neighborhood about two years ago as a retirement home. The Williams, a Black couple, said they have been harassed by two of their neighbors constantly since moving in. Monica Williams said they are the only Black people she knows of who live in the neighborhood, which is located off Highway 544 between Socastee and Coastal Carolina University.

An Horry County Police Department report states police and fire rescue responded to the cross burning on Black Friday, one of the suspects had hand dug a moat around their property and the other suspect was screaming at officers for being on their property.

“It’s definitely racially motivated,” Monica Williams said. “The girlfriend told us she shoots [expletive] for a living and that she’ll do it again if she needs to.”

2 arrested after neighbors report cross burning in Conway area

On Black Friday, a cross was burning in the front yard of a resident’s home in a Conway area neighborhood. Two people were arrested in connection with the reported harassment.

www.myhorrynews.com

 

[AgeofAquaruis]

CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - Shawn and Monica Williams, like many others, retired in the Grand Strand, but a scary encounter has them questioning if it’s safe to stay.

The Black couple said they walked outside to a burning cross facing their home over Thanksgiving weekend.

“There was a cross burning about eight feet from our fence,” Monica said. “We were speechless because we’ve never experienced something like that.”

The couple moved to Conway, settling into the perfect retirement home, but said their neighbors have made the last two years a living nightmare.
“He’s blatant with the ‘N-word,’” Monica said. “He chased off our surveyors. He’s chased off people from the water and sewer department.”

The couple even installed a fence, hoping to find peace, but it didn’t work. The cross burning was the final straw, so they called Horry County police.

Officers arrested their neighbors, 28-year-old Worden Butler and 27-year-old Alexis Hartnett, and charged them with second-degree harassment.

[...]
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In the News:
Dec. 13, 2023 at 6:02 AM EST - ‘We were speechless’: Cross burning in Conway has couple begging for change

Dec. 15, 2023 at 5:18 PM EST - Calls for S.C. hate crime law grow after Conway-area cross burning

Dec. 20, 2023 at 6:18 PM EST - FBI agents search home of couple accused of burning cross in Conway area

Jan. 30, 2024 at 11:00 PM EST - Solicitor requests temporary injunction against home of couple accused of burning cross in Conway

Mar. 6, 2024 at 6:05 AM EST - Suspect in Conway-area cross-burning to appear for hearing

Mar. 6, 2024 at 4:09 PM EST - Hearing postponed for suspect in Conway-area cross-burning

Mar. 10, 2024 at 6:08 PM EDT - Cross burning suspect appears for bond hearing after another arrest

Mar. 11, 2024 at 6:00 AM EDT - A woman accused of burning a cross to scare their neighbor was arrested again

Apr. 9, 2024 at 12:33 PM EDT - Myrtle Beach holds community conversation about hate crimes

Apr. 22, 2024 at 7:20 PM EDT - Solicitor's office responds to cross-burning property owner’s request to alter temporary injunction

Apr. 25, 2024 at 6:12 AM EDT - Trial date set for Conway-area cross-burning suspect

Good Grief the Butler Apple didn't fall from the tree. I can seriously see the 'lovely' couple on a future of episode of Dateline. Either for doing something more awful to the neighbor,or for one spouse doing something awful to the other. I find it appalling they weren't arrested for making threats SMH. MOO

 

[LadyL]

how disgusting
2024 and this is how far some people have not evolved

 

[Trublue21]

You took the words right out of my mouth @LadyL. 100%

 

[PeterThomasFan]

All court documents can be found on the Horry County Public Index.

Click Accept > Enter Case #: 2024CP2600620 or Search Name > Click case number (linked in blue) > Click 'Switch View' button at top (will exapnd all info) > Click on document icon on right

This is the Motion for Temporary Injunction on SCRIBD: Injunction Against Worden Butler, Janet Butler, Alexis Hartnett

 

[ConcernedVA]

How does this happen? These kids are sitting about wondering how to annoy their new neighbors and then one of them goes, I know! A cross burning! It just doesn't seem real. I bet the poor victims couldn't believe their eyes.

 

[LadyL]

How does this happen? These kids are sitting about wondering how to annoy their new neighbors and then one of them goes, I know! A cross burning! It just doesn't seem real. I bet the poor victims couldn't believe their eyes.

not kids though - 27 and 28

 

[maamager]

How does this happen? These kids are sitting about wondering how to annoy their new neighbors and then one of them goes, I know! A cross burning! It just doesn't seem real. I bet the poor victims couldn't believe their eyes.

I feel like if they wanted to simply “annoy” them, they could egg their house or slash their ties. but the burning cross serves a function as a message. I think we all know what the message is