His body was allegedly found with the word “fed” scrawled across the chest, which was all the evidence the nutroots needed to conclude that “the right’s” long, long-awaited murderous rampage had finally begun. Minor details after the fact: (a) Cops haven’t ruled out suicide, (b) they won’t confirm the “fed” bit, and (c) there were unspecified “errors” in this original AP story.
The FBI is investigating the hanging death of a U.S. Census workernear a Kentucky cemetery, and a law enforcement official told TheAssociated Press the word ‘fed” was scrawled on the dead man’s chest.
Thebody of Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old part-time Census field worker andoccasional teacher, was found Sept. 12 in a remote patch of the DanielBoone National Forest in rural southeast Kentucky. The Census hassuspended door-to-door interviews in rural Clay County, where the bodywas found, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Investigatorsare still trying to determine whether the death was a killing or asuicide, and if a killing, whether the motive was related to hisgovernment job or to anti-government sentiment.
Investigators have said little about the case. The law enforcementofficial, who was not authorized to discuss the case and requestedanonymity, said Wednesday the man was found hanging from a tree and theword “fed” was written on the dead man’s chest. The official did notsay what type of instrument was used to write the word.
FBI spokesman David Beyer said the bureau is helping state police with the case.
“Ourjob is to determine if there was foul play involved — and that’s partof the investigation — and if there was foul play involved, whetherthat is related to his employment as a census worker,” said Beyer.
Beyer declined to confirm or discuss any details about the crime scene.
LucindiaScurry-Johnson, assistant director of the Census Bureau’s southernoffice in Charlotte, N.C., said law enforcement officers have told theagency the matter is “an apparent homicide” but nothing else.
Censusemployees were told Sparkman’s truck was found nearby, and a computerhe was using for work was found inside it, she said. He workedpart-time for the Census, usually conducting interviews once or twice amonth.
Sparkman has worked for the Census since 2003, spanningfive counties in the surrounding area. Much of his recent work had beenin 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.
“Weare deeply saddened by the loss of our co-worker,” Commerce SecretaryGary Locke said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are withWilliam Sparkman’s son, other family and friends.”
Locke called him “a shining example of the hardworking men and women employed by the Census Bureau.”