Ky. authorities to release findings in death of census worker found hanged near cemetery

Probe into Ky. census worker’s death concludes

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Authorities were set Tuesday to release findings from an investigation into the death of a census worker found hanging from a tree with the word “fed” scrawled on his chest.

Kentucky State Police Lt. David Jude said a news conference would be held at 2 p.m. EST. Federal and state investigators who have been working the case since September haven’t yet announced whether Bill Sparkman’s death was a homicide, suicide or accident.

Sparkman’s naked body was found Sept. 12 near a cemetery in a heavily wooded area of southeastern Kentucky. One of the witnesses who found the body in the Daniel Boone National Forest said the 51-year-old was bound with duct tape, gagged and had an identification badge taped to his neck.

Authorities have said “fed” was likely written in pen.

The Associated Press previously reported, citing law enforcement officials who spoke anonymously, that investigators were examining whether Sparkman manipulated the scene in order to conceal a suicide and make a life insurance claim possible for his son. The two law enforcement officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.

Life insurance policies typically do not cover suicides within a certain time period after the policy begins.

Because he was a census employee, Sparkman’s family would have been be eligible for up to $10,000 in death gratuity payments if he was killed on the job, according to the Office of Personnel Management. He was not eligible for a separate life insurance policy through the government because his census work was intermittent, Census Bureau spokesman Stephen Buckner has previously said.

Friends and co-workers have said that even while undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, Sparkman would show up for work smiling with a toboggan cap to cover his balding head. They said the substitute teacher and part-time census worker cherished the values he learned in his youth as he worked toward becoming an Eagle Scout. They said he was punctual and dependable.

Associated Press writer Devlin Barrett in Washington contributed to this report.