Coroner Confirms Census Worker Found With 'Fed' on Chest

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By Ed O'Keefe

Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 25, 2009; 2:23 PM

The Census Bureau employee found dead earlier this month had the word "fed" written on his chest, according to the coroner that examined him.

"He did have the word 'fed' on his chest," said Jim Trosper, the Clark County, Ky. coroner who examined the body of William Sparkman. The 51-year-old part-time Census Bureau field worker was found Sept. 12 in the Daniel Boone National Forest in southeastern Kentucky. A rope was wrapped around his neck and tied to a tree; his feet were in contact with the ground, according to the Kentucky state police and the FBI.

Trosper would not elaborate on his office's investigation.

Kentucky State Police refused to comment Friday on Trosper's statement, maintaining that any suggestion Sparkman was targeted because he worked for the federal government is speculation.

It is a federal crime to attack a federal worker during or because of the job.

The Census Bureau said Thursday it had no information suggesting Sparkman was targeted because of his government work. In response to questions about agency procedures, it distributed excerpts of a field worker training manual that include detailed instructions on what employees should do to keep safe.