Census worker suicide staged as homicide

2009-11-25 15:34:03 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Law, News)

Wired PR News reports the death of a census worker appearing to be a homicide has been ruled a suicide.

Police state the death of a census worker was made to look like a homicide.

Frankfort, Kentucky (WiredPRNews.com) – Kentucky police have stated the September death of a census worker, that appeared to be a murder, was a suicide. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), investigators suggested on Tuesday that the victim, Bill Sparkman, may have devised the ruse so his adult son would receive a substantial insurance payout.

As noted in the report, Sparkman’s death was initially suspected to be a homicide, after his body was found strung to a tree with his ankles and wrists bound. However, after an investigation, officials found signs that Sparkman likely committed suicide and staged the setting to make it appear to be a murder. Dr. Cristin Rolf, deputy state medical examiner, is quoted by the AP as stating, “Underneath the tape there was no trauma, and that’s what I always want to look for… If there is ever a homicide, a healthy person would put up a good fight and you would see injury and trauma to the neck and to the arms.”

Stephen Buckner, a spokesperson for The Census Bureau is quoted as stating of Sparkman’s death, “The death of our co-worker, William Sparkman, was a tragedy and remains a loss for the Census Bureau family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”

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