Census Worker murder scenario

I believe there is enough evidence about the death of Bill Sparkman, the Census working found hanging with "fed" scrawled on his body, to advance a theory or scenario about his murder.

I feel I must note that of course this is just a theory. I have no knowledge of this crime beyond what has been shared in public accounts.

Bill Sparkman was obviously murdered. The idea that "drug dealers" murdered him because he stumbled on their operation, as stated below, is ridiculous. If this were the case, we would be discussing a "missing" Census worker. Likely the story would have received no national attention whatsoever. The drug dealers would have killed Sparkman, then, using Google Maps and easily obtained GPS technology, they would have gone out to the middle of nowhere and abandoned his body to the elements, where scavengers and nature would have erased virtually any trace of Sparkman.

What they would NOT have done is lynched Sparkman at a public cemetery and left tons of forensic evidence - including a handwriting sample! - for police to find.

I believe that Sparkman was left bound and nude at the site, not as a deliberate act of murder, but as a public act of disgrace. This crime will ultimately be proven to be an unintentional murder. The crime was a modern day equivalent of a "tar and feathering" or "riding out of town on a rail." Sparkman was intended to be found but I suspect his assailants did not intend him to die.

I surmise that the crime was committed sometime on Sept. 10 or 11, and that the assailants were exposed to 9-11 anniversary coverage on Fox News or some other cable channel. Their heightened state of rage and emotionalism likely was influenced by intoxicants. While drugs may have been used by these assailants, I believe it is more likely alcohol was involved.

I believe they have also been exposed to the frequent conspiracy theories about Census workers, either from Glenn Beck, Alex Jones or similar ilk.

It is possible they are unemployed, as many residents of this region are.

Bill Sparkman knocked on the wrong door at the wrong time and was victimized by these individuals. They beat him, humiliated him and took him to a nearby public place. It is also possible the graveyard had some psychological significance to them, perhaps they did it to further the terror Sparkman must have experienced.

They bound Sparkman at this site, tying a noose around his neck to terrorize him and then left him. Again - I do not believe they intended to kill him.

Sadly, Sparkman's bindings did not allow him to have sufficient air, or perhaps Sparkman blacked out and was strangled by his bindings.

Certainly the individuals - and I do believe it is more than one person - are aware of the extent of their crime now. I believe they regret their actions. They are alone now, but I believe law enforcement is quietly closing in. It is too tight knit a community to get away with a crime like this.

Perhaps they have internet access. Perhaps they have visited this site. If so, they should know that if they turn themselves in, while facing justice for their crimes, they may find more sympathy and compassion than if they attempt to "wait out" law enforcement.

I do not believe in the death penalty. I do not believe this was an act of first degree murder. I believe this was a violent and cruel joke that went too far, and a good and innocent man died.

From what I have read about Bill Sparkman, a good and just man, I believe he would have wanted mercy for his murderers as well.

Body of Census worker murdered by antigovernment extremists released to family

The body of Bill Sparkman, a public servant whose body was found hung with "fed" scrawled on it, has been released to his family.

More details of this crime are also being made public. It is becoming more and more apparent that Sparkman was murdered.

Bill Sparkman, a substitute teacher, had wanted his body either donated to science or cremated. Authorities advised Josh Sparkman to choose the latter option and not have the family view the body because of its condition.

. . .

Mike Wilder, executive director of the State Medical Examiner's Office, said the investigation continues, with "bits and pieces of information" still coming to light.

There were "circumstances" that made the Sparkman case particularly difficult to resolve, but Wilder declined to elaborate.

"The cause of death was pretty well determined. The manner of death is still what is under investigation," Wilder said.

Josh Sparkman said police had released his father's pickup truck, which was found at the scene, and he is now driving it. Although he says police have told him nothing, he remains certain the death was a homicide.

He said many things, including a census laptop and personal items like his grandfather's wedding ring, were missing from the truck and were not on a list of potential evidence that investigators kept. State police Capt. Lisa Rudzinski confirmed the laptop was not found in the truck but declined to comment on the other items.

"They ransacked that truck," Josh Sparkman said. "That's more evidence this is not an accident or suicide. This is a homicide."

Murder and theft. The list of crimes committed by right wing extremists continues to grow.

Sparkman's son certain his father was murdered

The son of the murdered Census worker found with "Fed" scrawled across his body is certain his father was murdered.

"I look at it as disrespectful to be still throwing suicide and accident around," Josh Sparkman told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday. "He didn't do this to himself. That's dishonorable. My dad was a good man. No person on this planet is going to fight cancer like he did, then turn around and kill himself a year or so later."

. . .

Josh Sparkman said police and the FBI have searched his father's home but told him little, even when the body would be released. He has advised authorities that his father wanted to be cremated and police did recently release his father's truck, which Josh Sparkman is now driving.

It seems apparent from this that the truck found at the murder site was Bill Sparkman's truck, although that has not been 100% confirmed.

Our sympathies to Josh Sparkman. If you read this, know this country supports you and your quest to find justice for your father.

"Fed" was scrawled on Sparkman's body with a red felt pen

This is the first I have heard that it was a red pen - I wonder if it was a Sharpie?

The word "Fed," for "federal agent," had reportedly been scrawled on his chest in red felt-tip pen.

It also seems to confirm that the word was "Fed" and not "fed." There had been some speculation that "fed" might have been part of a longer phrase or wording written on his body.

This seems more and more apparent a hate crime - a hate crime against liberalism, a hate crime against Government workers.

Updated: Map of Bill Sparkman murder site?

Anyone have any idea where Bill Sparkman's body was found? Feel free to post an updated map in comments.


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No evidence of drug dealer connection; description of Sparkman murder scene

More information on the hanging murder of Census worker Bill Sparkman:

The police at this time, however, are reporting that they have not yet found any links to Sparkman's death and the drug activity.

. . .

"The only thing he had on was a pair of socks," the witness said. "And they had duct-taped his hands, and his wrists. He had duct tape over his eyes, and they gagged him with a red rag or something. He was murdered. There's no doubt….they even had duct tape around his neck…they had…his identification tag on his neck…duct-taped to the side of his neck on the right side, almost on his right shoulder."

His body was approximately 50 yards from a 2003 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck. The police were not yet saying who the truck belonged to, or whether it was even Sparkman's.

. . .

A former student of Sparkman's described him as "well-loved."

"We at the high school called him 'Sparky,' though he didn't like it too much," the former student said. "He always had a smile on his face, even when students prodded him about the 'toboggan' he would wear to cover his growing hair resulting from his treatment."

In an e-mail sent to other Census Bureau employees by Census Bureau Executive Director Dr. Robert Groves, Sparkman's death was described as "the victim of an apparent crime" and that he had "passed away…at the age of 51…I wanted all Census Bureau staff to know of this incident, and ask you to keep Mr. Sparkman's family in your thoughts and prayers."

. . .

Anyone with any information about this bizarre and unusual case is urged to contact Detective Donald Wilson at (606) 878-6622, or the Kentucky State Police at 800-222-5555.

What day was Bill Sparkman murdered?

A key clue for investigators in solving the hanging murder of Kentucky Census worker Bill Sparkman will be time of death. Was Sparkman killed on Sept. 12, the day the body was found?

Or was he killed earlier?

Sparkman’s long-time friend and co-worker, Gilbert Acciardo, is perplexed at the details surrounding his friend’s death and wants some answers, as he grieves for the loss of a man he says “always had a smile on his face.”
...
Acciardo believes that Sparkman lost his life sometime on Thursday, Sept 10, because he didn’t show up for work that day when expected, at 3:30 PM. Acciardo contacted authorities about Sparkman’s disappearance on Friday.