Death of Bill Sparkman
Encyclopedia
William Edwin "Bill" Sparkman, Jr. (c. 1958 – September 12, 2009) was an American
schoolteacher and Field Representative for the United States Census Bureau
found dead in September 2009 under suspicious circumstances. After more than two months of investigation the official police pronouncement was that his death was a suicide, staged by him to look like a homicide, so that his family could collect life insurance.
, and was the oldest of three sons to a high school principal and a furniture company executive. Sparkman was an altar boy as a child. In high school he wrote for the local weekly newspaper, The Mulberry Press, and was the football team manager. An Eagle Scout
, he worked for the Boy Scouts of America
as an adult, overseeing the programs in Polk
and Hillsborough
counties. This work later took him to Atlanta, Georgia
, then London, Kentucky
in 1993.
Once in Kentucky he raised his adopted son alone, joined a local Methodist Church, and for nine years worked at an elementary school
as a volunteer and instructional assistant. In 2005 Sparkman began part-time work with the United States Census Bureau
and studied education with Western Governors University
, an online college. In 2007, after medical treatment of an ingrown toe nail, Sparkman's doctor identified a cyst which led to his diagnosis of Stage-3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He continued teaching while receiving chemotherapy
treatments from November 2007 to March 2008, during which time he completed his academic coursework and was invited to speak at the commencement ceremony
at Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah
. After graduation he pursued a position as a middle school
math teacher.
, within the Daniel Boone National Forest
. He had been reported missing from work three days earlier while working on the American Community Survey
for the U.S. Census, for which he worked in a five county area. Sparkman was reportedly found with a rope around his neck, tied to a tree while in contact with the ground, nude but for socks on his feet, with the word "fed" written on his chest in felt-tip marker, (which was variously reported in the media to have either been written upside-down or from an upside-down point of view and therefore assumedly by Sparkman himself, the police were later revealed to have concluded) , his census ID taped to the side of his neck, gagged, with duct tape
around his hands and feet and over his mouth and eyes. Kentucky State Police
criticized many media reports of the death as speculation, such as printing that he was hanging from a tree when he was actually tied to a tree with a rope around his neck.
Preliminary findings of the local coroner asserted Sparkman died from asphyxiation, and the Census Bureau's regional office in Charlotte, North Carolina
said law enforcement called it "an apparent homicide." On October 6, Sparkman's body was released to his family, but the State Medical Examiner's Office stated it was not resolving the case. It had only established the cause of death, not the manner of death, and it was still learning "bits and pieces of information". The Kentucky State Police agreed the case was "perplexing". The Los Angeles Times
reported that "the case so far is notable for the lack of details divulged by law enforcement officials". In late October, officials reported the case was close to resolution and they were careful in "not rushing a decision".
John Berry
, director of the Office of Personnel Management
, stated his resolve to "come down on these perpetrators as hell hath no fury."
On November 23, investigators declared the death a suicide. According to reports, Sparkman, who had previously battled non-Hodgkins lymphoma, is suspected to have believed that his cancer had returned, and just prior to his death had taken out life insurance policies for $600,000 which would have been paid to his financially struggling son in the event of death and which would not pay out for suicide or death from cancer.
if Sparkman was killed because of his job representing the federal government
, though killings of census workers are "very, very infrequent."
Regional Director Wayne Hatcher of the Census Bureau's Charlotte
regional office, which has jurisdiction over a five-state area that includes Kentucky, held a small memorial service at the cemetery in Clay County on October 11. He said other employees have reacted to the death by requesting to work in teams during census gathering. While law enforcement conducted its investigation of the death, the United States Census Bureau
suspended its work in Clay County.
's The Rachel Maddow Show
, Maddow
speculated that a dislike among area residents of the U.S. Federal Government
may have contributed to Sparkman's death. Some scholars disagree, saying there isn't "an outpouring of anti-government sentiment in the region", and that "distrust of government" in the area is comparable to the rest of the country. However, another Associated Press
report stated it "has a reputation for mistrusting government, dating back to the days of moonshiners and 'revenuers'", and that it is a top marijuana producer where federal agents have held drug and corruption raids numerous times. Among those convicted for drug and corruption charges are a former mayor, former city council
men, an assistant police chief, a county clerk, a magistrate, and an election commissioner, and the county's school superintendent
and circuit court
judge were indicted for voter fraud in March 2009. The Christian Science Monitor
also reported on possible connections to nearby drug activities and anti-government motives. Clay County is one of the poorest counties in the United States and residents fear this incident will add to its negative stereotype, despite its progress in education and efforts against crime.
Some suggested Sparkman's death may have been related to recent controversies over the upcoming federal census. Earlier in 2009 several leading conservatives and Republican
political figures spoke out against ACORN
's involvement in census surveys and boycotted over concerns that the census could be used against citizens. Some libertarians
faulted the census for contributing to the expanding government and Latino
activists were boycotting it to push for immigration reform.
The Los Angeles Times
reported that in the absence of public findings by investigators, some writers in the liberal blogosphere
concluded that this death was the result of anti-government rhetoric during the Presidency of Barack Obama
.
The Kentucky State Police, who conducted the investigation, noted that there had been wide misinformation and speculation from the media coverage of this incident. Robert Stivers, the Republican state senator
from Clay County, believes the Sparkman's death has been "sensationalized" because of his status as a Federal Census Bureau worker. In late October, the KSP commander over the case said baseless media speculation "has been a detriment to the investigation" by requiring investigators to examine those claims.
On December 11, an episode of the TV show Law & Order entitled "FED" featured a murder victim based on Sparkman, found shirtless with the word "FED" written on his chest. However, this victim was a conservative campaign employee who was plotting against an ACORN-like organization.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
schoolteacher and Field Representative for the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
found dead in September 2009 under suspicious circumstances. After more than two months of investigation the official police pronouncement was that his death was a suicide, staged by him to look like a homicide, so that his family could collect life insurance.
Biography
Sparkman was raised in Mulberry, FloridaMulberry, Florida
Mulberry is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,230 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,228 . Mulberry is home to Badcock Home Furniture. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical...
, and was the oldest of three sons to a high school principal and a furniture company executive. Sparkman was an altar boy as a child. In high school he wrote for the local weekly newspaper, The Mulberry Press, and was the football team manager. An Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
, he worked for the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
as an adult, overseeing the programs in Polk
Polk County, Florida
Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
and Hillsborough
Hillsborough County, Florida
As of the census of 2000, there were 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 951 people per square mile . There were 425,962 housing units at an average density of 405 per square mile...
counties. This work later took him to Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, then London, Kentucky
London, Kentucky
-Education:All of the following schools are administered by the Laurel County School District.-Primary schools:* * * * * * * * * * * * -High schools:* * -Colleges:* Laurel Technical College* * -Notable natives:...
in 1993.
Once in Kentucky he raised his adopted son alone, joined a local Methodist Church, and for nine years worked at an elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
as a volunteer and instructional assistant. In 2005 Sparkman began part-time work with the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
and studied education with Western Governors University
Western Governors University
Western Governors University is a private, nonprofit, American online university with nearly 30,000 students across the United States and in military bases overseas, as of December 2011. It is a competency-based university...
, an online college. In 2007, after medical treatment of an ingrown toe nail, Sparkman's doctor identified a cyst which led to his diagnosis of Stage-3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He continued teaching while receiving chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
treatments from November 2007 to March 2008, during which time he completed his academic coursework and was invited to speak at the commencement ceremony
Commencement speech
A commencement speech or commencement address is a speech given to graduating students, generally at a university, although the term is also used for secondary education institutions. The "commencement" is a ceremony in which degrees or diplomas are conferred upon graduating students...
at Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. After graduation he pursued a position as a middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
math teacher.
Discovery of the body
Sparkman's body was discovered on September 12, 2009 by people during a family reunion paying a visit to Hoskins Cemetery in rural Clay County, KentuckyClay County, Kentucky
- Demographics :As of the census of 2011, there were 21,000 people, 8,556 households, and 6,442 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile . There were 9,439 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
, within the Daniel Boone National Forest
Daniel Boone National Forest
Daniel Boone National Forest is the only national forest completely within the boundary of Kentucky. Established in 1937, it was originally named the Cumberland National Forest, after the core region called the Cumberland Purchase Unit...
. He had been reported missing from work three days earlier while working on the American Community Survey
American Community Survey
The American Community Survey is an ongoing statistical survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, sent to approximately 250,000 addresses monthly . It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census...
for the U.S. Census, for which he worked in a five county area. Sparkman was reportedly found with a rope around his neck, tied to a tree while in contact with the ground, nude but for socks on his feet, with the word "fed" written on his chest in felt-tip marker, (which was variously reported in the media to have either been written upside-down or from an upside-down point of view and therefore assumedly by Sparkman himself, the police were later revealed to have concluded) , his census ID taped to the side of his neck, gagged, with duct tape
Duct tape
Duct tape, or duck tape, is cloth- or scrim-backed pressure sensitive tape often sealed with polyethylene. It is very similar to gaffer tape but differs in that gaffer tape was designed to be cleanly removed, while duct tape was not. It has a standard width of and is generally silver or black...
around his hands and feet and over his mouth and eyes. Kentucky State Police
Kentucky State Police
The Kentucky State Police is a department of the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The department was founded in 1948 and replaced the Kentucky Highway Patrol...
criticized many media reports of the death as speculation, such as printing that he was hanging from a tree when he was actually tied to a tree with a rope around his neck.
Cause of death
Authorities eventually determined that Sparkman's death was a suicide, staged to look like a homicide. Initially, police determined that Sparkman's death was not natural, but hadn't ruled whether it was a homicide, a suicide, or an accident. After over two weeks of cautious investigation by the Kentucky State Police, Sparkman's 19-year-old son, Josh Sparkman, expressed frustration and called it "disrespectful" that suicide or accident were still being considered. In the ensuing days, Josh further stated to the news-media his certainty that this was a homicide, noting that his father's truck had been "ransacked" and items stolen, such as Sparkman's census laptop and a family wedding ring, items not discovered by investigators.Preliminary findings of the local coroner asserted Sparkman died from asphyxiation, and the Census Bureau's regional office in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
said law enforcement called it "an apparent homicide." On October 6, Sparkman's body was released to his family, but the State Medical Examiner's Office stated it was not resolving the case. It had only established the cause of death, not the manner of death, and it was still learning "bits and pieces of information". The Kentucky State Police agreed the case was "perplexing". The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
reported that "the case so far is notable for the lack of details divulged by law enforcement officials". In late October, officials reported the case was close to resolution and they were careful in "not rushing a decision".
John Berry
John Berry (administrator)
Morrell John Berry is an American administrator and director of the United States Office of Personnel Management.Berry was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, to parents who worked for the federal government...
, director of the Office of Personnel Management
Office of Personnel Management
The United States Office of Personnel Management is an independent agency of the United States government that manages the civil service of the federal government. The current Director is John Berry.-History:...
, stated his resolve to "come down on these perpetrators as hell hath no fury."
On November 23, investigators declared the death a suicide. According to reports, Sparkman, who had previously battled non-Hodgkins lymphoma, is suspected to have believed that his cancer had returned, and just prior to his death had taken out life insurance policies for $600,000 which would have been paid to his financially struggling son in the event of death and which would not pay out for suicide or death from cancer.
Census impact
One co-worker has speculated that Sparkman's naivete combined with his being a federal employee may have contributed to his death. According to FBI investigators, it is a federal crimeFederal crime
In the United States, a federal crime or federal offense is a crime that is made illegal by U.S. federal legislation. In the United States, criminal law and prosecution happen at both the federal and the state levels; thus a “federal crime” is one that is prosecuted under federal criminal law, and...
if Sparkman was killed because of his job representing the federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
, though killings of census workers are "very, very infrequent."
Regional Director Wayne Hatcher of the Census Bureau's Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
regional office, which has jurisdiction over a five-state area that includes Kentucky, held a small memorial service at the cemetery in Clay County on October 11. He said other employees have reacted to the death by requesting to work in teams during census gathering. While law enforcement conducted its investigation of the death, the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
suspended its work in Clay County.
Media reaction
Because of Sparkman's status as a Federal Census Bureau worker and the word "fed" written on his corpse, this incident drew national attention. On MSNBCMSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
's The Rachel Maddow Show
The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)
The Rachel Maddow Show is a news and opinion television program that airs weeknights on MSNBC at 9:00 p.m. ET. It is hosted by Rachel Maddow, who gained popularity with her frequent appearances as a liberal pundit on various MSNBC programs. It is based on her former radio show of the same name...
, Maddow
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Anne Maddow is an American television host and political commentator. Maddow hosts a nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC. Her syndicated talk radio program, The Rachel Maddow Show, aired on Air America Radio...
speculated that a dislike among area residents of the U.S. Federal Government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
may have contributed to Sparkman's death. Some scholars disagree, saying there isn't "an outpouring of anti-government sentiment in the region", and that "distrust of government" in the area is comparable to the rest of the country. However, another Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
report stated it "has a reputation for mistrusting government, dating back to the days of moonshiners and 'revenuers'", and that it is a top marijuana producer where federal agents have held drug and corruption raids numerous times. Among those convicted for drug and corruption charges are a former mayor, former city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
men, an assistant police chief, a county clerk, a magistrate, and an election commissioner, and the county's school superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
and circuit court
Kentucky Circuit Courts
The Kentucky Circuit Courts are the state courts of general jurisdiction in the U.S. state of Kentucky.The Circuit Courts are trial courts with original jurisdiction in cases involving capital offenses, felonies, land disputes, contested probates of wills, and civil lawsuits in disputes with an...
judge were indicted for voter fraud in March 2009. The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor is an international newspaper published daily online, Monday to Friday, and weekly in print. It was started in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist. As of 2009, the print circulation was 67,703.The CSM is a newspaper that covers...
also reported on possible connections to nearby drug activities and anti-government motives. Clay County is one of the poorest counties in the United States and residents fear this incident will add to its negative stereotype, despite its progress in education and efforts against crime.
Some suggested Sparkman's death may have been related to recent controversies over the upcoming federal census. Earlier in 2009 several leading conservatives and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
political figures spoke out against ACORN
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now was a collection of community-based organizations in the United States that advocated for low- and moderate-income families by working on neighborhood safety, voter registration, health care, affordable housing, and other social issues...
's involvement in census surveys and boycotted over concerns that the census could be used against citizens. Some libertarians
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
faulted the census for contributing to the expanding government and Latino
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
activists were boycotting it to push for immigration reform.
The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
reported that in the absence of public findings by investigators, some writers in the liberal blogosphere
Blogosphere
The blogosphere is made up of all blogs and their interconnections. The term implies that blogs exist together as a connected community or as a social network in which everyday authors can publish their opinions...
concluded that this death was the result of anti-government rhetoric during the Presidency of Barack Obama
Presidency of Barack Obama
The Presidency of Barack Obama began at noon EST on January 20, 2009 when he became the 44th President of the United States. Obama was a United States Senator from Illinois at the time of his victory over Arizona Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential election...
.
The Kentucky State Police, who conducted the investigation, noted that there had been wide misinformation and speculation from the media coverage of this incident. Robert Stivers, the Republican state senator
Kentucky Senate
The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators...
from Clay County, believes the Sparkman's death has been "sensationalized" because of his status as a Federal Census Bureau worker. In late October, the KSP commander over the case said baseless media speculation "has been a detriment to the investigation" by requiring investigators to examine those claims.
On December 11, an episode of the TV show Law & Order entitled "FED" featured a murder victim based on Sparkman, found shirtless with the word "FED" written on his chest. However, this victim was a conservative campaign employee who was plotting against an ACORN-like organization.