Census worker's death ruled a suicide

Investigators: Ky. census worker committed suicide

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Authorities are saying a Kentucky census
worker found hanging from a tree with "fed" scrawled on his chest
committed suicide and staged his death to look like a homicide.

A news release from Kentucky State Police said Tuesday that Bill
Sparkman died at the same location where his body was found Sept.
12 near a cemetery in a heavily wooded area of southeastern
Kentucky.

A man who found the body in the Daniel Boone National Forest
said the 51-year-old was bound with duct tape, gagged and had an
identification badge taped to his neck.

Investigators say Sparkman acted alone in manipulating the scene
to conceal the suicide.

The news release says Sparkman had recently taken out two life
insurance policies that would not pay out for suicide.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)