William Bill Sparkman Suicide? Census Worker Sparkman Suicide in Kentucky?

Remember William "Bill" Sparkman, the part time census worker found hanging from a tree, naked and bound with the word "Fed" written across his check in black marker? Police are looking closely at suicide in this case. See update 11-14-09 below.

William Bill Sparkman

On September 12th Mr. Sparkman was found hanged, with his feet "in contact with the ground," in the Daniel Boone National Forest near Manchester, Kentucky. Immediate reports speculated that he was taking a census in the area, although no confirming evidence that he was working has come forward. The FBI did join the investigation as it is a federal crime to attack a federal worker, during or because of, his job. Now, police are considering suicide.

Liberals immediately saw this as a crime probably committed by backwoods red necks, spurred on by Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Bachmann and WorldNetDaily.

Jerry Weaver, the man who found Mr. Sparkman said his eyes covered with duct tap, he was wearing only a pair of socks and was gagged with something that looked like a red rag.

And they even had duct tape around his neck. And they had like his identification tag on his neck. They had it duct-taped to the side of his neck, on the right side, almost on his right shoulder..."

Nevertheless, police are pulling back on the idea of homicide and say there are several reasons why suicide may be a possibility:

There were no defensive wounds on Sparkman's body, and while his hands were bound with duct-tape, they were still somewhat mobile, suggesting he could have manipulated the rope, the officials said.

NewsBusters says the media has gone silent, now that suicide is a possiblity. Few are talking about Mr. Sparkman these days, as there may be no one to blame.This is a very sad story. William Sparkman was a substitute teacher and has battled non-Hodgkins Lymphoma for years. He was single and had an adopted son. That I.D. tag on his neck is exceedingly weird.

Update 11-24-09:
Authorities today said that Mr. Sparkman committed suicide, and he worked alone in the act of making his death appear to be murder. Read the story here.

Others talking about Mr. Sparkman:

The Other McCain
The Jawa Report
Riehl World Report