Hanged Census Worker Bill Sparkman Was a "Naive" School Teacher

By: Sammy Rose Saltzman
Topics: Daily Blotter

(AP Photo/The Times-Tribune)

Photo: Bill Sparkman with 7th grade student, Jessie Roberts during a lesson about sound waves in 2008.

MANCHESTER, Ky. (CBS/AP) Bill Sparkman, the census worker and substitute teacher who was found hanged in rural Kentucky on Sept. 12 with the word "fed" scrawled into his chest, was described by those who knew him as an "innocent" person who always saw the good in others.

Gilbert Acciardo, a retired trooper who directs an after-school program at the elementary school where Sparkman worked, said he became suspicious and went to police when Bill Sparkman didn't show up for work for two days. Authorities immediately investigated, he said.

"He was such an innocent person," Acciardo said. "I hate to say that he was naive, but he saw the world as all good, and there's a lot of bad in the world."

Apparently Bill Sparkman found some of it. Police will not say how the word "fed" was scrawled into his chest or whether it was done before or after he was murdered. They did tell his mother Henrie Sparkman that the body should be cremated.

Bill Sparkman had worked for the Census since 2003 in five counties in the surrounding area, conducting interviews once or twice a month. Much of his recent work had been in Clay County, officials said.

The Census Bureau has yet to begin door-to-door canvassing for the 2010 head count, but thousands of field workers are doing smaller surveys on various demographic topics on behalf of federal agencies. Next year, the Census Bureau will dispatch up to 1.2 million temporary employees to locate hard-to-find residents.

Mary Hibbard, a teacher in Manchester, said she recognized Bill Sparkman on the news as the census worker who visited her house this summer for about 10 minutes. Hibbard said he asked some basic questions including the size of her house, how many rooms it had and how much she paid monthly for electricity.

"I know he has a Christian background," she said. "You come to my house, we're going to talk religion."

The 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.

Locke called him "a shining example of the hardworking men and women employed by the Census Bureau."

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MORE ON CRIMESIDER
September 24, 2009 - Census Worker Hanged: Body Not Fit for Viewing Cops Tell Mother
September 24, 2009 - Census Worker Bill Sparkman Hanged in Clay County Kentucky with "Fed" Scrawled on Chest

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by penrod59 September 29, 2009 9:15 AM EDT: blog4, did you expect any other reaction from these knee-jerk haters? I read today that Ted Kennedy's senile-at-birth son Patrick warned people about potential violence (from conservatives, naturally) over the health care issue, and used his own uncles' assassinations as examples of extremist violence. He forgot to mention that both of his uncles were murdered by left-wing extremists, not conservatives.; Reply to this comment


by blog4free September 27, 2009 10:20 PM EDT: Well, thebob-bob is foaming at the mouth hoping and praying that he can use this poor man's death to try and smear conservatives. To me, that speaks a lot about him and others like him and howtruly pathetic and desperate they are.

Since, apparently, he has appointed himself judge, jury and executioner in this case, and has found "right wing Republicans" guilty with only precursory details that the police have decided to distribute, I wonder... if this doesn't pan out the way he hopes and dreams it will if hell be back on here retracting his statements? I doubt it. He'll only spew more of his idiotic, baseless hatred.

I wonder if the "increasing uncivil behavior violence" he refers to is the recent assaults committed by SEIU thugs against conservatives at tax protests including an assault against a racially motivated attack on a black conservative? Maybe he's referring to the left wing anarchists at the G-20 summit? Wait.. maybe he's referring to the left wing nut job that shot and killed the pro-life protester in Michigan. Funny, I don't see him denouncing any of that. That's because he's a hypocrite.

Apparently, speculation, innuendo and hate are all you have to offer Bob. Have a nice day.... As*hole.; Reply to this comment


by ShadowCaver September 25, 2009 11:56 PM EDT: Few comments... this is sad, terribly sad - that some sick SOB(s) would do such a horrendous act against another human. These animals that done this have no soul - and when found I hope are punished appropriately. Sincere condolences to Mr. Sparkman's friends and family. Lastly - why title this article in this manner? Using the term "naive", is that really the best term to use here? Why focus so much on this word, taken from one of his coworkers? Why not use friendly, innocent, etc.? Heck, the guy's exact words were "I hate to say that he was naive, but he saw the world as all good, and there's a lot of bad in the world." - he doesn't really use the word naive to directly describe Bill...; Reply to this comment


by veteran22 September 25, 2009 6:35 PM EDT: That wild-eyed Michelle Bachmann must be proud of her handiwork. They will not denounce anything, they are as cowardly and as heartless as the murderers of this good man. Win at all costs is their creed, even if the cost is a civil war.

Mr. Sparkman's last moments on this earth must have been terrifying and agonizing. My prayers are with his family. Ms. Bachmann has the nerve to call herself a Christian...and we shall know them by their love. Does this hateful murder seem like an act of love?; Reply to this comment


by thebob-bob September 25, 2009 2:08 PM EDT: A federal employee gets hanged in a conservative part of Kentucky the day after the leading Conservative firebrand calls for a rising up against the federal government's involvement in ...government? He has Fed scrawled on his chest.

The right wing Republicans have two choices: They could denounce the hanging and remind their followers that murdering federal employees is not a supportable activity or they can start screaming that the "liberal" media is attacking them and trying to blame them for the attack. Hmm?

They protest to much. The responsibility for the increasing uncivil behavior violence lays squarely at their feet.

Fear, Hatred, Distortion, Distraction and Division is all they have to offer.; Reply to this comment