Kentucky Census Worker Found Hanged With 'Fed' Written On Chest

Details are still sketchy and the answers are few.  The victim's body was apparently discovered on Sep. 12, though reports of the story have only reached the media (AP) this evening.  It is way too early to speculate given the possibility of suicide, though one wonders what would be the purpose of a self-inscribed message of 'Fed' without an accompanying suicide note, which has not been found in this case.

From ABC:

A U.S. Census worker found hanged from a tree near a Kentucky cemetery had the word "fed" scrawled on his chest, a law enforcement official said Wednesday, and the FBI is investigating whether he was a victim of anti-government sentiment.

The law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss the case and requested anonymity, did not say what type of instrument was used to write the word on the chest of Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old part-time Census field worker and teacher. He was found Sept. 12 in a remote patch of the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural southeast Kentucky.

The Census Bureau has suspended door-to-door interviews in rural Clay County, where the body was found, pending the outcome of the investigation. An autopsy report is pending.

Investigators have said little about the case. FBI spokesman David Beyer said the bureau is assisting state police and declined to confirm or discuss any details about the crime scene.

"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.

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Later in the article (quotes are from a retired Kentucky state trooper):

"I told him on more than one occasion, based on my years in the state police, 'Mr. Sparkman, when you go into those counties, be careful because people are going to perceive you different than they do elsewhere,'" Acciardo said.

"Even though he was with the Census Bureau, sometimes people can view someone with any government agency as 'the government.' I just was afraid that he might meet the wrong character along the way up there," Acciardo said.

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DB here.  It doesn't sound like suicide, but only fools speculate so we won't engage.  Violence is not the answer, however, and if this were an act borne of anti-government fervor, then an innocent Census employee lost his life needlessly.  This was a guy trying to make a living who had been supplementing his income since 2003 with the Bureau.  I do not care how angry you are at Washington and our captured and corrupted system, we will not make change by fighting each other.  This is the trap.  Do not fall prey.

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Update: Rachel Maddow discusses the case.

Comments

[James H]

Uh oh. Fox News, Glenn Beck, Republicans, Tea Baggers, Town Hall protesters...you knew this would happen. I'm sure someone soon will connect "fed" with Federal Reserve, but right now they're just assuming it's "Fed" as in Federal Government. When they figure out it could also mean "Federal Reserve" ... yep, it's Ron Paul's fault, it's Rand Paul's fault, etc. Bank on it. Unless we get some other info real quick, that's going to be the story. There's the paranoid "Right Wing," but the "Left Wing" is just as paranoid. Trust me, I know people. They get the same kinds of junk mail and fliers as right wingers get. Yeah, this could blow up big time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkT3ZX4Hpb0

[DailyBail]

Just when our anger is starting to get some legitimacy, one wacko killing and all of our arguments will be de-legitimized....this is really dumb.

[mark mchugh]

I agree with James H. There's no reason to assume that "fed" means federal reserve. My first thought is that this poor soul knocked on the door of some militia group (vigilantly protecting the middle of nowhere from anything that could be perceived as progress). Anyone who asks them a question is presumed to be FBI. This is another twisted American sideshow.

My prayers and deepest sympathy to the family of the victim.

[James H]

Crack reporter Rachel Maddow is all over this. OMGosh!, if this is a murder, it could be the result of (horrors)..."anti-government sentiment." Get the memo, folks, this is what happens when you harbor "anti-government sentiment." Wait for the Tim McVeigh comparisons. They're coming. We'll probably see Dateline retrospective by early next week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-WSt0yrius

[James H]

I must have read this before writing my comment about McVeigh, but here's an excerpt from the AP write-up of this incident:

"The most deadly attack on federal workers came in 1995 when the federal building in Oklahoma City was devastated by a truck bomb, killing 168 and injuring more than 680. Timothy McVeigh, who was executed for the bombing, carried literature by modern, ultra-right-wing anti-government authors."

Thank goodness we have professional, mainstream reporters to provide us with this invaluable "context" to the story. Yet another iteration of the memo: "anti-government" sentiment is prelude to murder. Got it?

I just hate that the bailout socialists (D section) will make political hay out of this in order to weaken the other bailout socialists (R section).

[DailyBail]

I think you're both right...the likely meaning was unrelated to the Federal Reserve...twisted American sideshow as Mark said...

I just hate that the bailout socialists (D section) will make political hay out of this in order to weaken the other bailout socialists (R section).

Yep.

[S. Gompers]

Poor guy just trying to do his job. My condolences are with the family.

[ano mous]

DB: "we will not make change by fighting each other." Those who perpetrate the system have cupability. I don't advocate killing the innocent or the hapless, but their spokesman said, "you're either with us or against us." We make our choices. There are other options...the one I favor is making our own way which simply does not include them. Their infrastructure then cannot be allowed to be used against our people, can it? I feel the country is ripe for a huge shift in the mentality and conciousness awareness of the masses.

James H: Maddow "crack reporter"? I highly doubt her "investigations" are anything but scripted.

"one wacko killing and all of our arguments will be de-legitimized"? Do you think anger will be vented in a way that does not incorporate some violence? Who are your arguments trying to convince? The power elites want to keep what they have. The hoi polloi can go to hell for all they care.

[DailyBail]

@Ano mous

Your sarcasm detector whiffed big time on James' comment about Rachel Maddow...read his post again...

Violence against the innocent is NOT the answer...

[GoKaptur!]

Apparently he never watched 'Deliverance'.

[DailyBail]

you're on a roll...