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FBI will rename Baltimore office to honor slain agent
Thursday, November 19, 2009

On Monday, FBI officials will gather with the family of slain Special Agent Samuel Hicks in renaming the Baltimore field office in his honor.

The event, meant to be a celebration of Agent Hicks' life, will be a welcome respite for his family, who today will mark the one-year anniversary of his death. Agent Hicks formerly worked as a police officer in Baltimore before he joined the FBI.

Agent Hicks was killed while serving a federal arrest warrant at an Indiana Township home.

A year later, his family members continue to work toward rebuilding their lives.

His wife, Brooke, and their son, Noah, 3, have moved to Jacksonville, Fla., so she could be near friends. She visits with her parents and sister, who live in Maryland, at least once a month.

"They're both learning to take things one day at a time," said her sister, Angela Hohman.

One thing that helps Ms. Hicks is her receipt of letters and cards and awards from people all over the country recognizing her husband.

"She has this stuff she can show Noah some day to show how much his dad was appreciated," Ms. Hohman said. "Even though he'll not be able to remember his dad, at least he'll have these things to hold on to and know about him."

For Agent Hicks' sister, Emily, and mother, Charlotte Carrabotta, what has helped them cope is the creation of a memorial fund in their native Scottdale.

The fund, set up to help the youth there, has helped give them purpose over the last year, said Emily Hicks. They have sold T-shirts, and their former high school, Southmoreland Senior High School, held events earlier this year to raise money, too.

The first donation from the fund was recently given to the Laurel Highlands YMCA for the Building Stronger Kids and Families program.

For Emily Hicks, the pain of losing her brother is just now hitting her.

"I've kind of been going through the motions for the last year. Now, I just miss him," she said.

Ms. Carrabotta said she could not describe the loss of her son in words but that she continued to live the way he'd expect her to.

"Samuel would be upset if we did not go on with our everyday lives," Ms. Carrabotta said. "He expected the best out of everybody, and I have tried to do that.

"I honor him by the way that I live because I would never not want him to be proud of me."

November is difficult for the family.

The Hicks' wedding anniversary was Nov. 8, and Agent Hicks' birthday was Nov. 27.

"[The dedication of the FBI office] is one thing we have had to look forward to," Ms. Hohman said. "That's something we're all very proud of. It's a huge thing, and it's giving her something positive. There's enough sadness."

Agent Hicks was killed as a team of officers arrived at the home of Robert Korbe before 6 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008, to arrest him on drug charges. When officers broke through the front door, Mr. Korbe's wife, Christina, fired a single shot from upstairs.

Agent Hicks, the first person through the door, was killed.

Mrs. Korbe, who is charged with murder of a federal officer, claims she thought it was a home invasion, and she fired the shot to protect her two young children.

She has been held without bond since the shooting. A trial on the nine counts against her likely won't begin until next summer at the earliest.

At Monday's renaming ceremony, FBI Director Robert Mueller will speak, and there will be appearances by Baltimore police officials and FBI agents from the Baltimore and Pittsburgh field offices.

The white stone and red brick building that houses the Baltimore field office will be renamed "Sam Hicks Building."

"On any given day, when an agent enters the building, they will see his name and recognize he gave his life for his country," said Rich Wolf, a spokesman for the Baltimore office.

Paula Reed Ward can be reached at pward@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2620.
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First published on November 19, 2009 at 12:00 am