Mysterious death of Bill Sparkman investigated on Accident, Suicide, or Murder

Accident, Suicide, or Murder is investigating the strange death of Willaim “Bill” Sparkman, who was found hanging from a tree in a secluded cemetery in Clay County, Kentucky.

Sparkman, a resident of London, KY, was a part-time US Census worker who suddenly disappeared in September 2009. His naked remains were found hanging from a tree three days later.

The 51-year-old was gagged and had duct tape over his eyes and neck; his hands and feet were bound with tape, and he had “fed” scrawled on his chest in large letters from a felt tip pen. His census identification card was taped to his head.

An autopsy ruled that Sparkman had died from asphyxiation caused by hanging.

The Kentucky State Police took control of the case, and the media went into a frenzy. Clay County was characterized as a rural Appalachian county where anti-government sentiment ran high, and people wondered if Sparkman was killed for being a government worker.

Had some twisted individual strung him up after he knocked on their door performing his census work?

The cops said no. They concluded that Sparkman had committed suicide but staged it to look like a homicide so his adopted son, Josh Sparkman, would inherit money from a life insurance plan. The money would be paid out if Sparkman died while working, but not in the case of suicide.

Police said all evidence pointed to Bill Sparkman committing suicide

The Kentucky State Police claimed that the only DNA found on any of the pieces of evidence belonged to Sparkman.

There was a lack of defensive wounds on Sparkman’s remains and no sign of trauma, indicating he had not fought off an attacker. He had not been drugged.

Captain Lisa Rudzinski told reporters that the word “fed” had been written “from the bottom up.” Rudzinski also pointed out that Sparkman’s feet were touching the ground, his legs were bent with his knees just six inches off the ground, so all he had to do to survive “was stand up.”

Bill Sparkman told friend about plan to kill himself

Finally, three days before his body was found, Sparkman had told a friend his detailed plan to hang himself in a Clay County cemetery. The friend had assumed he was joking, so they didn’t tell anyone.

Sparkman had previously contracted and recovered from cancer. He recently told a friend that he thought the cancer had returned and that he expected he would soon die. The autopsy didn’t reveal any sign of cancer.

In a statement, the police said of Josh Sparkman, “Our hearts go out to him. He still lost his father at the end of the day.”

Accident, Suicide, or Murder airs Saturdays at 8/7c on Oxygen.