View Full Version : AP source: Census worker hanged with 'fed' on body
variablebinary
09-24-09, 02:14
Disgusting, not patriotic. Whoever did this should get the death penalty
AP source: Census worker hanged with 'fed' on body
By DEVLIN BARRETT and JEFFREY McMURRAY (AP) – 9 hours ago
WASHINGTON — The FBI is investigating the hanging death of a U.S. Census worker near a Kentucky cemetery, and a law enforcement official told The Associated Press the word 'fed" was scrawled on the dead man's chest.
The body of Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old part-time Census field worker and occasional teacher, was found Sept. 12 in a remote patch of the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural southeast Kentucky. The Census has suspended door-to-door interviews in rural Clay County, where the body was found, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Investigators are still trying to determine whether the death was a killing or a suicide, and if a killing, whether the motive was related to his government job or to anti-government sentiment.
Investigators have said little about the case. The law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss the case and requested anonymity, said Wednesday the man was found hanging from a tree and the word "fed" was written on the dead man's chest. The official did not say what type of instrument was used to write the word.
FBI spokesman David Beyer said the bureau is helping state police with the case.
"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.
Beyer declined to confirm or discuss any details about the crime scene.
Lucindia Scurry-Johnson, assistant director of the Census Bureau's southern office in Charlotte, N.C., said law enforcement officers have told the agency the matter is "an apparent homicide" but nothing else.
Census employees were told Sparkman's truck was found nearby, and a computer he was using for work was found inside it, she said. He worked part-time for the Census, usually conducting interviews once or twice a month.
Sparkman has worked for the Census since 2003, spanning five counties in the surrounding area. Much of his recent work had been in 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.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our co-worker," Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with William Sparkman's son, other family and friends."
Locke called him "a shining example of the hardworking men and women employed by the Census Bureau."
McMurray reported from Lexington, Ky.
ThirdWatcher
09-24-09, 03:53
I know nothing about this case but something just doesn't sound right about it.
88redryder88
09-24-09, 04:42
Thats just a couple counties away from me.:eek: Its crap like this that gives Kentucky a bad name. Prayers out to the family.
Not condoning it at all, mind you, but I still have family that has lived way, way back in the boonies there for a long time. Someone somewhere else had a point when they commented that some of those places, if you show up from the government with an attitude, you're probably not walking back out. We might never know what actually happened.
Kentucky Cop
09-24-09, 14:15
88redryder
Thats also a few counties away from me also. If a Kentucky State Trooper tells you that you might not want to go back there.......I'd listen. The Grey Gods have some balls to work out in the hills where your radio barely gets out and back up is at least 30 minutes away. I feel bad for the family of the victim but, he was warned by I reliable source. Prayers to the family.
Here is the link to the story. Just scroll down a bit to watch the video. Just go to....
www.lex18.com
Ky Cop
http://irjci.blogspot.com/2008/03/southeastern-kentucky-has-become-less.html
Large-scale pot farms? Yeah, I bet they really enjoy the company of G-men.
Doubt this has anything to do with the anti-socialist movement, but you know the fawning O-bots in the media will do everything they can to smear the Tea Party protesters et. al. with this.
MisterWilson
09-24-09, 14:49
I wonder why this wasn't reported in the news sooner?
His body was found on the 12th.
Kentucky Cop
09-24-09, 15:33
Also on the same website www.lex18.com (scroll down a bit on the page)
A man was arrested by Kentucky State Police on tip that he had a marijuana field near his house. Once Troopers arrived, they located an arsenal of weapons and military grade explosives. You should see the mug shot of this guy!:mad: This arrest was made just a few counties away from the census worker murder. Folks, I'm here to tell you, some of the people that live way out in the sticks of Kentucky have their own little meth labs, marijuana fields with booby traps, military explosives, bodies of missing people etc. The list just goes on and on. Its a very unforgiving place out in Eastern Kentucky.
Has anyone seen Deliverance? Just saying.......:(
Also on the same website www.lex18.com (scroll down a bit on the page)
A man was arrested by Kentucky State Police on tip that he had a marijuana field near his house. Once Troopers arrived, they located an arsenal of weapons and military grade explosives. You should see the mug shot of this guy!:mad: This arrest was made just a few counties away from the census worker murder. Folks, I'm here to tell you, some of the people that live way out in the sticks of Kentucky have their own little meth labs, marijuana fields with booby traps, military explosives, bodies of missing people etc. The list just goes on and on. Its a very unforgiving place out in Eastern Kentucky.
Has anyone seen Deliverance? Just saying.......:(
There are parts in SE Oklahoma that are the same way!
There are parts in SE Oklahoma that are the same way!
I can second this. I have a friend that hunts down around that way and has told me on many occasions that if wasn't a family friends property, he'd stay closer to home.
I remember when I was stationed at Ft Campbell that I was warned not to stray too far out in the boonies without backup. The few encounters I had with some rural locals gave me the feeling that was good advice.
I went to EKU, and some of the "local" people I met lived in places where they didnt have indoor plumbing.
Has anyone seen Deliverance? Just saying.......:(
I was hearing dueling banjos in my head while reading this.
I heard the report on NPR today and all I could think of was the fact that he was warned and ignored it. My sympathy goes out to his family but it was one dumbass move.
LockenLoad
09-25-09, 08:00
what should he have done called in for FBI support quit his job? What do you suggest he do after and old retired LEO says be careful, it was a warning but come on, this is a pure case of ignorant animals killing someone for no reason, unless some serious proof comes out he did something very egregious too the people who committed this crime. They don't mind taking Fed dollars in those parts and the census get's them more, stupid ignorant people or he stumbled on a dope patch.
The loons are already trying to blame Fpx, Glenn Beck and 9/12 for it. Disgusting what some people will stoop to.
Nathan_Bell
09-25-09, 08:20
what should he have done called in for FBI support quit his job? What do you suggest he do after and old retired LEO says be careful, it was a warning but come on, this is a pure case of ignorant animals killing someone for no reason, unless some serious proof comes out he did something very egregious too the people who committed this crime. They don't mind taking Fed dollars in those parts and the census get's them more, stupid ignorant people or he stumbled on a dope patch.
Meth heads or bulk weed farmers are most likely the cause.
Guy probably went in sounding like a Federal LEO and when he realized that he was in over his head, he could not get the perpetrators to believe that it is against the law for him to report anything but cencus data. IIRC 5 years Club Fed and $100k fine for a Census Worker to do so.
It may have everything to do with his being a fed employee and yet nothing to do with Obama or the current feelings towards the fed. We had a guy go onto adjoining property to talk with the owner about a lost cattle claim (due to allegations that one of our crews took down a fence). Our employee had been advised not to do so as we had another way of contacting the owner. Unfortunately, the employee decided to do so. The owner wasn't home but his mentally "challenged" son was. He killed the employee and told the cops later it was in revenge for the lost cattle. There were 8 cattle lost and he had 7 feds to go. The worst part is no cattle had been lost at all; the murderer had made that up in his mind.
http://irjci.blogspot.com/2008/03/southeastern-kentucky-has-become-less.html
Doubt this has anything to do with the anti-socialist movement, but you know the fawning O-bots in the media will do everything they can to smear the Tea Party protesters et. al. with this.
Jimmy Jeffery Ja-hossa-Fat, you guys are out of control with your obsession of the government/media being out to get the Tea Party. And I thought the left wing protesters needed to take of the tin foil hats for a while.
If a monkey poops in the woods in Japan, and the poop maybe resembles Nancy Pelosi, it doesn't mean the government is automatically going to blame you for it. In fact, they wont even make the connection, most likely only you will.
As for the OP,
I find this
whether the motive was related to his government job or to anti-government sentiment statement absolutely insane, and a great example of how stupid journalists are in this country.
How exactly are these two statements different? If he was killed for his government job, would that not indicate anti-government sentiment? And if the killers had anti-government sentiment, wouldn't someone with a government job be a likely target? Irrationality and insanity continue to prevail in America.
He went where he shouldn't have. Most people have no clue about the way some live in extremely remote areas and what types of people live in some of these areas. I grew up roundin'(being a rounder) yes, I know most have no idea what this means, in the NC mtns. There are places in there that LE doesn't want to go. These people want to be left alone, period. Not Deliverance. Generally very good, hard working, honest people. But they live by a different code. You are either with them, or they want nothing to do with you and have no probs. making people disappear. If they don't want your body to be found, it won't.
When I was attending the Univ. of Tennessee, my friends and I hiked remote areas frequently. One time my friends came back(I had to study) really late. They had been hiking and stumbled across a pot field way, way off the beaten path. Luckily, they were from TN, had the accent, knew the ways. They backed out b/c they knew the world of sh** they might be in. About five minutes after they found the field, a truck pulled up, four guys jumped out, and held them at gunpoint.
They were blindfolded and wallets confiscated. They had their UT ID's on them so the "farmers" knew they were not LE. They were then questioned. It wouldn't have been hard to figure out they were just college kids in the wrong place. They were given everything back, including money, except their Driver's Licenses. The guys then drove them to where there car was, gave them a big bag of weed, told if their operation was found out, they would be coming for them, and not to take off the blindfolds for 5 min.
Roughly the same area but a I heard it from a guy. Two Revenuers started poking around looking for stills. They were shot, put into their car, and their car buried way off in a holler. This would have been prob. 30 yrs. ago, before my time. I wouldn't doubt if it had occurred. There is simply no way to accurately check extremely remote areas quickly when the perp. knows the area and can count on the silence of the community.
The families that run these areas have the sometimes title of the Hillbilly Mafia and they are just as ruthless if crossed. They have been moonshining for decades and more recently, growing weed. Some these "hillbillies" have global connections but not the indiscriminate habits of most other organized crime. Not saying they're angels, not condoning killing, but the majority of people that live in these areas are good, honest, hard-working people. It's a shame for whole areas to be condemned or laughed at due to ignorance.
He went where he shouldn't have. Most people have no clue about the way some live in extremely remote areas and what types of people live in some of these areas. I grew up roundin'(being a rounder) yes, I know most have no idea what this means, in the NC mtns. There are places in there that LE doesn't want to go. These people want to be left alone, period. Not Deliverance. Generally very good, hard working, honest people. But they live by a different code. You are either with them, or they want nothing to do with you and have no probs. making people disappear. If they don't want your body to be found, it won't.
When I was attending the Univ. of Tennessee, my friends and I hiked remote areas frequently. One time my friends came back(I had to study) really late. They had been hiking and stumbled across a pot field way, way off the beaten path. Luckily, they were from TN, had the accent, knew the ways. They backed out b/c they knew the world of sh** they might be in. About five minutes after they found the field, a truck pulled up, four guys jumped out, and held them at gunpoint.
They were blindfolded and wallets confiscated. They had their UT ID's on them so the "farmers" knew they were not LE. They were then questioned. It wouldn't have been hard to figure out they were just college kids in the wrong place. They were given everything back, including money, except their Driver's Licenses. The guys then drove them to where there car was, gave them a big bag of weed, told if their operation was found out, they would be coming for them, and not to take off the blindfolds for 5 min.
Roughly the same area but a I heard it from a guy. Two Revenuers started poking around looking for stills. They were shot, put into their car, and their car buried way off in a holler. This would have been prob. 30 yrs. ago, before my time. I wouldn't doubt if it had occurred. There is simply no way to accurately check extremely remote areas quickly when the perp. knows the area and can count on the silence of the community.
The families that run these areas have the sometimes title of the Hillbilly Mafia and they are just as ruthless if crossed. They have been moonshining for decades and more recently, growing weed. Some these "hillbillies" have global connections but not the indiscriminate habits of most other organized crime. Not saying they're angels, not condoning killing, but the majority of people that live in these areas are good, honest, hard-working people. It's a shame for whole areas to be condemned or laughed at due to ignorance.
On one hand it sounds like your condoning the murder of this guy because he went into the wrong area? On the other your saying you don't support murder?
I'm confused?
Look I understand a lot of what your saying. I come from a very similar area myself, and because of my experiences growing up, I feel I can go anywhere I want without fear of trampling on peoples space. But what your condoning is organized crime that results in murder. I can tell you one thing, if I ever stumble across a pot field in a National Park, just because that person was there first doesn't given them more of a right to be on the land then me!
I take your statements pretty personally, because your basically saying no one except a certain group of locals has a right to access an area. I have several friends that smoke jump all over the North American continent, and they have had to go through military training on detecting bobby traps, in backwoods areas because of these Aholes! Every time they fight a fire to protect your property, not only are they putting their lives at risk by fighting the fire, but also because of ignorant criminals like the one's your defending.
Sorry buddy, I realize this is a reality, but I don't condone it simply because the people are "hard working". Anyone that will do harm to another for the purpose of making a profit is an enemy in my book.
There are parts in SE Oklahoma that are the same way!
I think every state has its own little slice of "Deliverance."
Kentucky Cop
09-25-09, 15:36
I never thought about smoke jumpers going into these particular areas. Good point! I think he was just playing both side's of the fence on his response. Surely he isn't condoning the murder.....
Here in Kentucky, KSP Bell Jet Rangers along with the National Guard go into these area's with FLIR and Blackhawks to conduct interdiction raids. Again, as you pointed out, its no joke when you get "dropped" into some of these unknown areas. I bet your friends have seen some interesting areas during their tours. I would love to see pics!:D
Ky Cop
Kentucky Cop
09-25-09, 15:38
I think every state has its own little slice of "Deliverance."
" I AM HEARING BANJO MUSIC AGAIN"!:eek:
dc-We are familiar with your method of discussion. Let's go through your post.
First off, you say I am condoning murder. I said, "not condoning killing." My point is easily seen to be that the majority of people in these remote areas are good people. These areas also have criminal elements that many people seize upon to paint the entire population as backwards idiots. Hence some of the Deliverance comments which illustrate the mentality of most people as it relates to the population in question. If you feel I am condoning murder you are either simply mistaken, misreading, or trying to stir the pot.
Second- Nat'l Park was never discussed by me. I specifically said they were way, way off the beaten path. It was most likely the "farmers" land.
Third-You say you take my comments personally. Why? My previous comments in this post point out your inaccuracies. Their land is their land and no one else has any right to be on it, period. An exception would be in an emergency or criminal investigation.
Fourth-You say I am defending criminals. How so? I only speak of the vast majority of the honest citizens that live there in positive terms.
So, to summarize, you are simply looking to start an argument by putting words in my mouth and fabricating several lies about my post. You are also deliberately starting sh** for some unknown reason. Why would you attempt to skew the drift of my text when it is there for all to read? I have never written something negative about you, I don't know you. But I do know what you type of person you seem to be. Thanks for letting everyone see your true colors. You can't get away with making up BS when everyone can read for themselves.
Heavy Metal
09-25-09, 16:35
Meth heads or bulk weed farmers are most likely the cause.
Guy probably went in sounding like a Federal LEO and when he realized that he was in over his head, he could not get the perpetrators to believe that it is against the law for him to report anything but cencus data. IIRC 5 years Club Fed and $100k fine for a Census Worker to do so.
I do certain 'gubment stuff in uniform' in southern WV. If I am going in certain areas to do a criminal investigation, I go with a Conservation Officer and he brings plenty of extra longguns. I make sure I know what condition the Mini-14 behind my seat and the 870 behind his seat is in and where the spare mags/shells are just in case.
In fact, I was looking for my CO bud this evening to go serve an arrest warrant in just such an area. Looks like that one will have to wait a few days.
Heavy Metal
09-25-09, 16:36
" I AM HEARING BANJO MUSIC AGAIN"!:eek:
Dude, in Wayne Co, WV in my previous life with my agency, I came upon a property and 'Dueling Banjos' was playing in the distance.
I took it as a sign and left.
Nathan_Bell
09-25-09, 16:55
I do certain 'gubment stuff in uniform' in southern WV. If I am going in certain areas to do a criminal investigation, I go with a Conservation Officer and he brings plenty of extra longguns. I make sure I know what condition the Mini-14 behind my seat and the 870 behind his seat is in and where the spare mags/shells are just in case.
In fact, I was looking for my CO bud this evening to go serve an arrest warrant in just such an area. Looks like that one will have to wait a few days.
THat comment just made me recall a story my cousin who was a WVA trooper and now a city cop down that way. The punchline was "Things that most of the country would call police brutality are considered just trying to get someone's attention around here"
Mo_Zam_Beek
09-25-09, 17:04
..........
Heavy Metal
09-25-09, 17:36
THat comment just made me recall a story my cousin who was a WVA trooper and now a city cop down that way. The punchline was "Things that most of the country would call police brutality are considered just trying to get someone's attention around here"
When I was waiting(hoping) my CO bud would show up at the State Police Barracks this evening, two gents were there waiting for him too hoping they could get the spurs for their 'fightin' roosters' back. Apparently, the CO busted them for Cock Fighting. It is illegal in WV(but it is ok over the border in KY).
I must say, the two gents helped me out. On a gut feeling, I asked them about the fine individual I had the warrant for and they gave me good intel on how to find him. He had slipped out of the first of my two counties of responsibility and is now on the far side of county two. Apparently, they(the Cock Fightin' Boys) do not like him for some reason.
dc-We are familiar with your method of discussion. Let's go through your post.
First off, you say I am condoning murder. I said, "not condoning killing." My point is easily seen to be that the majority of people in these remote areas are good people. These areas also have criminal elements that many people seize upon to paint the entire population as backwards idiots. Hence some of the Deliverance comments which illustrate the mentality of most people as it relates to the population in question. If you feel I am condoning murder you are either simply mistaken, misreading, or trying to stir the pot.
Second- Nat'l Park was never discussed by me. I specifically said they were way, way off the beaten path. It was most likely the "farmers" land.
Third-You say you take my comments personally. Why? My previous comments in this post point out your inaccuracies. Their land is their land and no one else has any right to be on it, period. An exception would be in an emergency or criminal investigation.
Fourth-You say I am defending criminals. How so? I only speak of the vast majority of the honest citizens that live there in positive terms.
So, to summarize, you are simply looking to start an argument by putting words in my mouth and fabricating several lies about my post. You are also deliberately starting sh** for some unknown reason. Why would you attempt to skew the drift of my text when it is there for all to read? I have never written something negative about you, I don't know you. But I do know what you type of person you seem to be. Thanks for letting everyone see your true colors. You can't get away with making up BS when everyone can read for themselves.
I'm not trying to pick a fight, that is how I interpreted your post. I still do. It is nothing personal, I just don't agree with the way you stated and made your argument. I re-read the post to see if maybe I miss read it, I still don't feel that I did.
I do not feel the majority of members interpret my post the way you do. Anyone I have talked to here(read PM'd and/or spoken with) would never think I felt the way you seem to think I do.
I respect your opinion and the right to hold it but you are wrong. I stand by my post. I have family in LE and a brother that is a Fireman. I would never condone any action that put them, or any other LE/Fireman, in harms way.
I realize you have been jumped on for your opinions before. I have never piled on. No need for you to get onto me for a perceived wrongly held ideal. It is non-existent. My words represent themselves.
Have a great weekend. I have a beer to finish and a wife to pretend I am listening to.:p
HiggsBoson
09-25-09, 23:25
I do certain 'gubment stuff in uniform' in southern WV. If I am going in certain areas to do a criminal investigation, I go with a Conservation Officer and he brings plenty of extra longguns. I make sure I know what condition the Mini-14 behind my seat and the 870 behind his seat is in and where the spare mags/shells are just in case.
I grew up in WV, and I know one of the deputies in Wayne County. You're a braver man than I, extra longguns or not. Conservation Officers are not much loved in that part of the state.
A certain quote from O Brother Where Art Thou? comes to mind...
CHILD
You men from the bank?
PETE
You Wash's boy?
CHILD
Yassir! And Daddy tolt me I'm to
shoot whosoever from the bank!
He pokes his rifle at the three men, who raise their hands.
DELMAR
Well, we ain't from no bank, young
feller.
CHILD
Yassir! I'm also suppose to shoot
folks servin' papers!
DELMAR
Well we ain't got no papers.
CHILD
Yassir! I nicked the census man!
DELMAR
There's a good boy. Is your daddy
about?
Heavy Metal
09-25-09, 23:28
I grew up in WV, and I know one of the deputies in Wayne County. You're a braver man than I, extra longguns or not.
Wayne County was the previous job I had with my Agencyu. It was state-wide.
One of the two Counties now makes Wayne look like a piker.
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