When Census worker Bill Sparkman was found dead earlier this month, he was naked and gagged, with duct tape over his eyes. Duct tape also bound Sparkman’s hands and feet.
That’s according to the man who found him, Jerry Weaver, who spoke to the AP over the weekend. Weaver, who lives in Ohio, was in Clay County, Kentucky for a family reunion, and was visiting some family graves with his wife and daughter when he found Sparkman’s body on September 12th.
Sparkman’s death has still not been officially classified a homicide, but Weaver has no doubts. “He was murdered,” he told the AP.
The word “Fed” was written on Sparkman’s chest, setting off speculation last week that the Census worker and part-time schoolteacher was killed in an act of anti-government sentiment.
Sources also told the AP that Sparkman’s Census Bureau ID was found taped to his head and shoulder area — a detail which may add to that speculation.
And as was reported last week, Sparkman also had a rope around his neck which was attached to a tree, though his feet were touching the ground.
According to Weaver, a 2003 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck, containing Sparkman’s clothes, was about 50 yards from the body.
Weaver called the whole thing “a bad, bad scene.”
There has been no official word as to when the investigation into Sparkman’s death will be completed.