FBI Takes Lead Role In Cross Burning Investigation

The FBI has taken the lead role in the investigation into a cross burned outside the home of a white West Wheatfield Township family that took in a black foster child.

Joe and Candy Walbeck found the 6-foot-tall cross in the yard of their Chestnut Street home on Nov. 15. The Walbecks, who took in 16-year-old Shaquille Howard several years ago, have said no one in the predominantly white rural community had ever given them a problem before.

The cross was found the morning after Howard's United High School football team lost a playoff game, but Howard, Joe Walbeck and the coach have said they were unsure if that had anything to do with it.

“I’ve learned to deal with stuff like this over time from my high school principal and football coaches,” said Howard. “They taught me that if you can overcome adversity then you’ll make it far in life.”

Joe Walbeck told Channel 11 News reporter Alan Jennings that he can’t imagine why this would have happened.

"It’s just crazy. Something like this happened maybe 30 years ago or something you could see it back then, but now I thought everybody’s got over this kind of stuff, you know," said Walbeck.

State Trooper John Matchik said charges could range from trespassing to ethnic intimidation.

So far, there are no suspects in the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

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