Evidence Shows Census Worker Murdered

We still do not know many details on who killed part time U.S. census worker, Bill Sparkman, who was found hanged in a rural Kentucky cemetery. One thing seems clear, however - this was MURDER and not a case of suicide as some had tried to put out initially. Moreover, the fact that Sparkman was a federal worker does seem to have played a part in his murder. The next question becomes whether or not Sparkman was a victim of the anti-government hysteria being fanned by Glenn Beck and other demagogues who are stirring up the birther and teabagger nutcases. If he was a victim of this type of hate, who will be next? Gays? Jews? Those perceived to be Hispanic immigrants? Something truly needs to be done to shut down the growing hatred being spewed by the far right. Here are highlights from the New York Times that certainly suggest that this was no ordinary murder:

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BIG CREEK, Ky. (AP) -- A part-time census worker found hanging in a rural Kentucky cemetery was naked, gagged and had his hands and feet bound with duct tape, said an Ohio man who discovered the body two weeks ago. The word ''fed'' was written in felt-tip pen on 51-year-old Bill Sparkman's chest, but authorities have released very few other details in the case, such as whether they think it was an accident, suicide or homicide.

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Jerry Weaver of Fairfield, Ohio, told The Associated Press on Friday that he was certain from the gruesome scene that someone killed Sparkman. ''He was murdered,'' Weaver said. ''There's no doubt.'' Weaver said he was in the rural Kentucky county for a family reunion and was visiting some family graves at the cemetery on Sept. 12 along with his wife and daughter when they saw the body. ''The only thing he had on was a pair of socks,'' Weaver said. ''And they had duct-taped his hands, his wrists. He had duct tape over his eyes, and they gagged him with a red rag or something.''

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''And they even had duct tape around his neck,'' Weaver said. ''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.'' Authorities have refused to say if Sparkman was at work going to door-to-door for census surveys before he died. Both of the people briefed on the investigation confirmed Sparkman's Census Bureau ID was found taped to his head and shoulder area.

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The Census Bureau has suspended door-to-door interviews in the rural county pending the investigation. State Trooper Don Trosper said it was clear this wasn't a natural death but said all other possibilities were being considered.

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This is a truly horrible thing. Those responsible need to be caught and it will be interesting what motivated them. Obviously, Sparkman's job as a census workers does seem to have involvement.