kentucky-bore will not stand and be counted.

[Dickie Dee]

The New York Times
September 25, 2009
Witness Says Census Worker Was Naked, Bound
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BIG CREEK, Ky. (AP) -- A part-time census worker found hanging in a rural Kentucky cemetery was naked, gagged and had his hands and feet bound with duct tape, said an Ohio man who discovered the body two weeks ago.

The word ''fed'' was written in felt-tip pen on 51-year-old Bill Sparkman's chest, but authorities have released very few other details in the case, such as whether they think it was an accident, suicide or homicide.

Jerry Weaver of Fairfield, Ohio, told The Associated Press on Friday that he was certain from the gruesome scene that someone killed Sparkman.

''He was murdered,'' Weaver said. ''There's no doubt.''

Weaver said he was in the rural Kentucky county for a family reunion and was visiting some family graves at the cemetery on Sept. 12 along with his wife and daughter when they saw the body.

''The only thing he had on was a pair of socks,'' Weaver said. ''And they had duct-taped his hands, his wrists. He had duct tape over his eyes, and they gagged him with a red rag or something.''

Two people briefed on the investigation said various details of Weaver's account matched the details of the crime scene, though both people said they were not informed who found the body. The two spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.

''And they even had duct tape around his neck,'' Weaver said. ''And they had like his identification tag on his neck. They had it duct-taped to the side of his neck, on the right side, almost on his right shoulder.''

Authorities have refused to say if Sparkman was at work going to door-to-door for census surveys before he died.

Both of the people briefed on the investigation confirmed Sparkman's Census Bureau ID was found taped to his head and shoulder area. Weaver said he couldn't tell if the tag was a Census ID because he didn't get close enough to read it. He could see writing on Sparkman's chest, and could read that it said ''fed.''

Authorities said Thursday that a preliminary cause of death was asphyxiation, pending a full medical examination. Even the details behind that were murky. According to a Kentucky State Police statement, the body was hanging from a tree with a rope around the neck, yet it was in contact with the ground.

Weaver, who works for a family topsoil business in Fairfield, said the body was about 50 yards from a 2003 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck. He said Sparkman's clothes were in the bed of the truck.

''His tailgate was down,'' Weaver said. ''I thought he could have been killed somewhere else and brought there and hanged up for display, or they actually could have killed him right there. It was a bad, bad scene.

''It took me three or four good nights to sleep. My 20-year-old daughter ended up sleeping in the floor in our bedroom.'' he said.

Clay County Sheriff Kevin Johnson declined to comment on the investigation because the department is only playing a supporting role but said patrols have increased in the Daniel Boone National Forest since the body was found.

The Census Bureau has suspended door-to-door interviews in the rural county pending the investigation.

State Trooper Don Trosper said it was clear this wasn't a natural death but said all other possibilities were being considered.

''This case has many facets,'' he said. ''To investigate cases, you have to rule out different scenarios. We are not able to rule out many scenarios at this time, and that's what makes this a difficult case.''

Although anti-government sentiment was one possibility in the death, some in law enforcement also cited the prevalence of drug activity in the area -- including meth labs and marijuana fields -- although they had no reason to believe there was a link to Sparkman's death.

''Now they're taking their meth lab operations into the rural, secluded areas,'' the sheriff said. ''We've had complaints in the area, but not that particular location.''

------

Associated Press Writer Devlin Barrett in Washington contributed to this report. Alford reported from Frankfort.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

With over a third of the people there under the poverty line (a little less than half for those under 18), this area is almost like a third world country.  Even Detroit is better off than Clay County.  Detroit.

[BlueTsunami]

Feds should napalm the whole state so someone can say "Kentuckys burnin'!" and I'll be all like "Smells like chicken"

[Bloodwake]

With over a third of the people there under the poverty line (a little less than half for those under 18), this area is almost like a third world country.  Even Detroit is better off than Clay County.  Detroit.

It was also this bad during the best years of the Clinton economy.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Big bump, I know, but I thought this was interesting. It was suicide, apparently.

Investigators: Ky. census worker committed suicide
By BRUCE SCHREINER and ROGER ALFORD (AP) – 28 minutes ago

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Kentucky census worker found naked, bound with duct tape and hanging from a tree with "fed" scrawled on his chest killed himself but staged his death to make it look like a homicide, authorities said Tuesday.

Bill Sparkman, 51, was found Sept. 12 with a rope around his neck near a cemetery in a heavily wooded area of the Daniel Boone National Forest in southeastern Kentucky. Authorities said his wrists were loosely bound, his glasses were taped to his head and he was gagged.

Kentucky State Police Capt. Lisa Rudzinski said an analysis found that "fed" was written "from the bottom up." He was touching the ground, and to survive "all Mr. Sparkman had to do at any time was stand up," she said.

"Our investigation, based on evidence and witness testimony, has concluded that Mr. Sparkman died during an intentional, self-inflicted act that was staged to appear as a homicide," Rudzinski said.

Authorities said Sparkman alone manipulated the suicide scene. Rudzinski said he "told a credible witness that he planned to commit suicide and provided details on how and when."

Authorities wouldn't say who Sparkman told of his plan, but said Sparkman talked about it a week before his suicide and the person did not take him seriously.

Sparkman had recently taken out two accidental life insurance policies totaling $600,000 that would not pay out for suicide, authorities said. If Sparkman had been killed on the job, his family also would have been be eligible for up to $10,000 in death gratuity payments from the government.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jbzG_BlkG2Hfc818EPRRn1bBlP6gD9C63JGG0

[Joe Molotov]

He died to give us the opportunity to nuke Kentucky, and we didn't take it.  He was an hero. :'(

[FlameOfCallandor]

Huffington post am cry  :'(

[Madrun Badrun]

That's a pretty bad ass way to go.

[Diunx]

The most badass way to commit suicide is drug overdose.

[Madrun Badrun]

No that's for pussies. 

[Diunx]

Not really, shooting yourself is for pussies, going out with an epic high is for winners.

[Great Rumbler]

Definitely not the ending to the story that any of us envisioned, that's for sure.

[FlameOfCallandor]

Definitely not the ending to the story that any of us envisioned, that's for sure.

That's because most of you guys are fuckwits that were hoping he was murdered by some Glenn Beck wannabe.
Good jon liberals.

[brawndolicious]

That's because every single possible detail pointed at that ya dumbfuck.

[The Fake Shemp]

It's sad when am nintenho is the voice of reason.

[FlameOfCallandor]

What details pointed to him being murdered? None, other than the imaginations of liberals across the globe furiously fapping over the idea.

[tehjaybo]

I still don't believe it.

[FlameOfCallandor]

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[youtube=560,345]CNB1EUJg1-w[/youtube]

[close]

[The Fake Shemp]

What details pointed to him being murdered? None, other than the imaginations of liberals across the globe furiously fapping over the idea.

Are you kidding? This is worse than the Polanski defense.

This is as dumb as:

"Man, you stupid liberals really jumped the gun by claiming the murder of a black family by men dressed in white garb burning a cross on their lawn was racially motivated. What would have given you that idea!?"

The mere fact that the man staged his suicide to look like he was murdered by anti-government rednecks kind of disproves your entire worthless point.

[FlameOfCallandor]

It's okay guys, I accept your apology for jumping to the conclusion.

[brawndolicious]

What details pointed to him being murdered? None, other than the imaginations of liberals across the globe furiously fapping over the idea.

Yes or no: Two months ago, did you believe that his death was MOST LIKELY a suicide?

Every reasonable person of any fucking political belief would say no, cause the details released by the police basically meant that it would have been impossible for him to do this on his own.

[FlameOfCallandor]

uh... people in this thread were speculating suicide.

[brawndolicious]

yes/no?

[Human Snorenado]

uh... people in this thread were speculating suicide.

bullshit, just went back over it and NO ONE was speculating suicide you fucking mouth breathing disgrace.

[Great Rumbler]

Not to defend FOC, since God knows he doesn't deserve it, but there were people in this thread actively shaking their heads that the police were still pursuing the possibility of his death being a suicide.

[Joe Molotov]

uh... people in this thread were speculating suicide.

bullshit, just went back over it and NO ONE was speculating suicide you fucking mouth breathing disgrace.

That's because the liberal media hadn't instructed you to speculate that yet.

[brawndolicious]

Not to defend FOC, since God knows he doesn't deserve it, but there were people in this thread actively shaking their heads that the police were still pursuing the possibility of his death being a suicide.

well obviously ruling out suicide is a normal part of the police investigation so it was wrong for anybody to criticize the police for investigating that.  But still, EVERYBODY suspected murder.  Nobody suspected Sparksman of committing a suicide designed to look like a murder and a political statement against the government.  Especially when you have posters like bloodwake and tehjaybo talking about how Sparksman was a great guy who was really involved in his community and everything.

BTW, sorry about all of this for you two who actually knew him.  Do you know how his family is right now?

[tehjaybo]

BTW, sorry about all of this for you two who actually knew him.  Do you know how his family is right now?

About as good as someone who has just lost their father, and are now being told that he killed himself could be.

Read: Completely devastated.

[T234]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if a few federal agents wound up dead while investigating this, and the FBI dropped it completely to avoid further deaths.

Are you kidding? If some inbred fuck is distinguished mentally-challenged enough to murder a single agent, the bureau will level the entire state of Kentucky.

We're talking scorched earth, motherfucker.

I fear no agent of the state.

My great-grandfather nearly killed half a dozen IRS agents. The FBI came back four cars strong. These same men told the newspaper "I wouldn't go back there for love nor money nor duty."