Census worker hanged with the word 'fed" was scrawled on the dead man's chest

[JS80]

AP source: Census worker hanged with 'fed' on body

WASHINGTON ? The FBI is investigating the hanging death of a U.S. Census worker near a Kentucky cemetery, and a law enforcement official told The Associated Press the word 'fed" was scrawled on the dead man's chest.

The body of Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old part-time Census field worker and occasional teacher, was found Sept. 12 in a remote patch of the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural southeast Kentucky. The Census has suspended door-to-door interviews in rural Clay County, where the body was found, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Investigators are still trying to determine whether the death was a killing or a suicide, and if a killing, whether the motive was related to his government job or to anti-government sentiment.

Investigators have said little about the case. The law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss the case and requested anonymity, said Wednesday the man was found hanging from a tree and the word "fed" was written on the dead man's chest. The official did not say what type of instrument was used to write the word.

FBI spokesman David Beyer said the bureau is helping state police with the case.

"Our job is to determine if there was foul play involved ? and that's part of the investigation ? and if there was foul play involved, whether that is related to his employment as a census worker," said Beyer.

Beyer declined to confirm or discuss any details about the crime scene.

Lucindia Scurry-Johnson, assistant director of the Census Bureau's southern office in Charlotte, N.C., said law enforcement officers have told the agency the matter is "an apparent homicide" but nothing else.

Census employees were told Sparkman's truck was found nearby, and a computer he was using for work was found inside it, she said. He worked part-time for the Census, usually conducting interviews once or twice a month.

Sparkman has worked for the Census since 2003, spanning five counties in the surrounding area. Much of his recent work had been in Clay County, officials said.

Door-to-door operations have been suspended in Clay County pending a resolution of the investigation, Scurry-Johnson said.

The U.S. Census Bureau is overseen by the Commerce Department.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our co-worker," Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with William Sparkman's son, other family and friends."

Locke called him "a shining example of the hardworking men and women employed by the Census Bureau."

Crazy stuff. I will be interested in who did this.

 

[her209]

ACORN was contracted to do the census, right?

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: her209
ACORN was contracted to do the census, right?

Yes, but then they were dropped after they were finally exposed. Revenge maybe?

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: her209
ACORN was contracted to do the census, right?

Yes, but then they were dropped after they were finally exposed. Revenge maybe?

Yes, THAT is the most plausible reason.

Tip for you: Never, ever, EVER play clue.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: eskimospy

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: her209
ACORN was contracted to do the census, right?

Yes, but then they were dropped after they were finally exposed. Revenge maybe?

Yes, THAT is the most plausible reason.

Tip for you: Never, ever, EVER play clue.

Is that why I was so bad at it?


Hell for all we know, the killer is trying to tell us they he took them to dinner first. Or maybe it is an acronym?


Or just maybe, the person was trying to spell out who did it as they were dying, but they expired before they could add the "K."

 

[Drako]

"Investigators are still trying to determine whether the death was a killing or a suicide, and if a killing, whether the motive was related to his government job or to anti-government sentiment."

LOL. Golly, I wonder if he killed himself.

 

[JSt0rm]

He watched Glann beck and realized he was part of the fed and did his duty to kill himself.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Drako
"Investigators are still trying to determine whether the death was a killing or a suicide, and if a killing, whether the motive was related to his government job or to anti-government sentiment."

LOL. Golly, I wonder if he killed himself.

He hung himself then spray painted the words "fed" on himself.

 

[dahunan]

Suicidal Federer fan?

 

[UberNeuman]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Drako
"Investigators are still trying to determine whether the death was a killing or a suicide, and if a killing, whether the motive was related to his government job or to anti-government sentiment."

LOL. Golly, I wonder if he killed himself.

He hung himself then spray painted the words "fed" on himself.

It was a pun... Since he was hung, he was "fed up."

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: eskimospy

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: her209
ACORN was contracted to do the census, right?

Yes, but then they were dropped after they were finally exposed. Revenge maybe?

Yes, THAT is the most plausible reason.

Tip for you: Never, ever, EVER play clue.

Is that why I was so bad at it?


Hell for all we know, the killer is trying to tell us they he took them to dinner first. Or maybe it is an acronym?


Or just maybe, the person was trying to spell out who did it as they were dying, but they expired before they could add the "K."

But the anti-choice activist who was killed a few weeks ago outside a school was killed for political reasons. Right? This is just one of those media games. They love to hint around about radical killings because it makes good news, regardless of party affiliation.

Funny how that story never got a conclusion... or did it and it just wasn't sensational enough.

Yellow Journalism is alive and well in our country. Too bad most people are too busy arguing over where it is red or blue to see its true color.

 

[jpeyton]

Kentucky. 'Nuff said.

 

[spidey07]

Maybe suicide making a statement for death to the FED? Gorgeous park BTW.

 

[cubeless]

stumbled on a weed farm looking for migrant worker tents?

 

[BoomerD]

I don't see it in the bit of info in the OP.

Was he white? black?

Could he have stumbled onto a moonshine operation?

Drug operation?


I always shake my head at deaths that are blamed on suicide, where the person shot themselves in the back of the head with a rifle...while their hands are tied.

 

[Balt]

My money is on hardcore tax protesters being responsible.

Or maybe he just found a meth lab.

 

[JKing106]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
I don't see it in the bit of info in the OP.

Was he white? black?

Could he have stumbled onto a moonshine operation?

Drug operation?


I always shake my head at deaths that are blamed on suicide, where the person shot themselves in the back of the head with a rifle...while their hands are tied.

He was white.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: JKing106

Originally posted by: BoomerD
I don't see it in the bit of info in the OP.

Was he white? black?

Could he have stumbled onto a moonshine operation?

Drug operation?


I always shake my head at deaths that are blamed on suicide, where the person shot themselves in the back of the head with a rifle...while their hands are tied.

He was white.

Picture on HuffPo.

This is sad news. He was also a single father, and was working two jobs. I hope they find who did this, if it was murder, and I see that as most probable.

Edit: Sorry, pics on front page of HuffPo.

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: Balt
My money is on hardcore tax protesters being responsible.

why go after a census peon? why not at least an IRS peon?

 

[alphatarget1]

whiskey tango foxtrot.

 

[JKing106]

This happened two weeks ago. If this was a simple suicide (not belittling the man's death,) then the investigation wouldn't be still going on, and the FBI wouldn't still be involved.

 

[Craig234]

My guess as the most likely: some radical right consumer of anti-government right-wing media did this, in a frothing act 'against the federal government'.

Similar to the guy who shot up the Universalist church, after reading several books by right-wing authors like Ann Coulter.

Note for the right who read things into what's said that weren't said: this is not saying that any more than a few people who fit this description commit terrible acts like this.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Originally posted by: Craig234
My guess as the most likely: some radical right consumer of anti-government right-wing media did this, in a frothing act 'against the federal government'.

Similar to the guy who shot up the Universalist church, after reading several books by right-wing authors like Ann Coulter.

Note for the right who read things into what's said that weren't said: this is not saying that any more than a few people who fit this description commit terrible acts like this.

Anne should have written a book on forcing children into prostitution and how to avoid taxes and you would be praising her.

 

[JSt0rm]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Anne should have written a book on forcing children into prostitution and how to avoid taxes to the USSR and you would be praising her.

fixed

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil

Originally posted by: Craig234
My guess as the most likely: some radical right consumer of anti-government right-wing media did this, in a frothing act 'against the federal government'.

Similar to the guy who shot up the Universalist church, after reading several books by right-wing authors like Ann Coulter.

Note for the right who read things into what's said that weren't said: this is not saying that any more than a few people who fit this description commit terrible acts like this.

Anne should have written a book on forcing children into prostitution and how to avoid taxes and you would be praising her.

Your idiocy is the sort I'm talking about. Who are the biggest tax evaders, again, by the way - and the people who bought themselves trillions in tax cuts from Bush corruption?