Coroner: Census worker died at tree in Ky. forest

State News

October 29, 2009

Anonymous The Richmond Register Thu Oct 29, 2009, 09:05 AM EDT

LEXINGTON — A part-time census taker died at the tree in a Kentucky forest where his body was found with a rope around his neck and the word “fed” scrawled on his chest, officials said Wednesday.

The naked body of Bill Sparkman, 51, was found hanging from the tree yet in contact with the ground in a remote patch of the Daniel Boone National Forest on Sept. 12. Authorities had previously not said whether Sparkman died there or elsewhere and then taken to the secluded area near a family cemetery in rural southeast Kentucky.

Clay County Coroner Jim Trosper and state medical examiner executive director Mike Wilder confirmed the death location to The Associated Press, but gave no other details.

Authorities have kept a tight lid on the investigation into the death of the teacher and part-time census worker. They have confirmed asphyxiation caused his death, but Wilder said a manner of death still couldn’t be determined until the investigation is complete. Homicide, suicide and an accident were all being considered, he said.

Jerry Weaver, one of the people who found the body during a family gathering at the cemetery, said Sparkman had been gagged and his hands and feet were bound with duct tape. The word “fed” was written on his chest in what appeared to be felt-tip marker, Trosper said.

Wilder said his office was largely finished with its part of the investigation now that Sparkman’s body has been released for cremation, although it was still waiting to evaluate some forensic evidence. No report would be issued until law enforcement finished conducting interviews to learn exactly how he died, Wilder said.

“Any kind of investigation where there is a question as to the manner of death, you just have to cover every base,” Wilder said. “We can’t do any more, but we’re not going to elaborate on a manner of death without the law enforcement end collaborating on what the findings are.”

Capt. Lisa M. Rudzinski, commander of the state police post in London, said Tuesday that investigators were making progress and expected some resolution in a matter of weeks rather than months.

Census officials have suspended door-to-door work in the county until the investigation is complete.

Text Only

State News

End of the line
The second day of competition at the state tennis meet was not kind to Model Laboratory athletes.

May 18, 2012 1 Photo
State lawmakers call for constitutional convention
With U.S. Sen. Rand Paul leading the cheers, the state Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for a limited constitutional convention to pass a federal balanced budget amendment.
The vote was 22-16 — Republican Sen. Julie Denton of Louisville joined the 15 Democrats in opposing the measure — on the measure sponsored by Senate President and Republican candidate for governor David Williams. The vote followed Paul’s speech to the body and his earlier remarks to the Senate State Government Committee.

February 23, 2011
Company that blundered pollution reports will again test mining sites
The same people blamed for inaccurate pollution reports from mining sites operated by ICG Coal will be responsible for collecting samples under that company’s corrective action plan submitted to the state.
ICG and Frasure Creek Coal entered a consent decree with the state's Energy and Environment Cabinet in December after environmental groups discovered reams of inaccurate pollution reports by the two companies.

February 17, 2011
Immigration bill delay may be about political leverage
The House Local Government Committee conducted a second day of hearings on a Senate immigration bill Wednesday without taking a vote, but the delay may be about political leverage as much as it is about philosophical objections.
The hearing also got testy, when the sponsor, Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, objected to critics who have characterized the measure as racially motivated and after suggestions by one Democrat committee member that another supporter of the bill used “self-righteous and venomous” language in his testimony.

February 10, 2011
House passes immigration bill
The Democrat House overwhelmingly passed its version of immigration control Tuesday while Senate leaders tried and fell short for now to garner enough votes to pass a bill to require a prescription for cold remedies used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
The House voted 90-6 to pass HB-3, which would require employers who contract with the state and public agencies to verify the immigration status of new hires using the federal EVerify system. Those who violate the law would be prohibited from securing state contracts for one year after the first offense. A second or subsequent offense would bar contracting with the state for five years.

February 9, 2011
Payday lenders targeted for interest rates
Mary Love doesn’t look the part. A retired pastor and former employee of UPS Logistics from Oldham County, Love, 65, found herself retired, divorced and trying to live off “a small pension.” Soon, she found herself in a “debt trap.”
It began when one month she was a bit short and her rent was due. She visited a “payday lender,” and wrote a $230 check that the lender held for two weeks. She walked out with $200. But two weeks later she owed the lender $230 and still couldn’t make ends meet. This time she wrote a check for $460 and left with $400.

February 8, 2011
State settles case with Medicaid administrator
The third-party administrator for a Medicaid managed care program has agreed to pay more than $2 million in damages for falsely reporting patient results in order to secure a $700,000 bonus payment.
The settlement was the result of a nine-month investigation by the office of Attorney General Jack Conway acting on tips from a whistleblower inside AmeriHealth Mercy, the administrator for Passport Health Plan, the state-funded managed care program which serves clients from Louisville and 15 surrounding counties that has come under scrutiny by the state auditor and lawmakers. The over-reporting of positive health outcomes occurred in 2009, and the state Medicaid fraud statute allows the state to assess the company triple damages, Conway said.

January 27, 2011
Republican primary for governor grows
The Republican primary for governor grew by one on filing deadline day as expected, but Gov. Steve Beshear is getting a free pass in the Democratic primary.
Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw and her running mate, retired naval officer and high school teacher Bill Vermillion, filed candidacy papers Tuesday morning, promising a competitive race despite a late entry and delayed fundraising start.

January 26, 2011
Williams-Farmer ticket is official
FRANKFORT — Kentucky Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, and his running mate, Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer, made it official Monday. They filed paperwork to run for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.

January 19, 2011
Poll: Majority favors state smoking ban
Though advocates of anti-smoking laws don’t believe a statewide smoking ban will pass in the General Assembly this year, they see public support for it and have come to the conclusion that it is time to get the discussion started.

January 14, 2011
More State News Headlines

State News

Search Results

Coroner: Census worker died at tree in Ky. forest

A recent health ranking listed Madison County as the 20th healthiest county in the state. It measured factors such as exercise, access to health care and smoking. Do you smoke cigarettes?

Site Map