Shivangi Sinha
In September 2009, attendees of a family reunion at Hoskins Cemetery in Kentucky were shocked to discover a dead body tied to a tree. The word “Fed” was written on the chest, making it appear like a murder scene. The police were contacted and identified the body as Bill Sparkman, a Florida resident who was a school teacher and worked part-time as a United States Census Bureau representative. After gathering evidence and examining the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death, the police concluded that he had committed suicide. Oxygen’s ‘Accident, Suicide, or Murder’ episode titled ‘A Father’s Secret’ details Bill’s life and the factors that drove him to take his own life.
Bill Sparkman Started His Career as a Journalist
Born on August 12, 1958, William E. “Bill” Sparkman Jr. was the son of William E. Sparkman, Sr. and Henrie Sparkman. He grew up in Mulberry, Florida, alongside his two brothers, Thomas K. Sparkman and Jonathan C. Sparkman. As the son of a high school principal and a furniture company executive, Bill had many ideals and inspirations to look up to. He was known for looking out for others and tending to everyone’s needs. He was an extremely gentle man, diligent in his work, embodying the values instilled in him by his parents.
Bill was always exceptionally smart. While in high school at Mulberry Schools, he attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida, for Calculus classes. He then joined Vanderbilt University, where he became the football team manager. After just one year, he decided to live closer to his family, so he transferred to the University of South Florida and completed his college education there. Starting his professional journey, Bill worked for the Mulberry Press, handling various roles such as sports reporter, sports photographer, and sports layout designer. He even delivered the paper door-to-door to help keep his hometown newspaper alive.
Bill had always been fascinated with the world of Boy Scouts and spent his summers at Eagle Scout camp, where he served three summers as an Ecology Director and two summers as a Programs Director. He gradually secured his footing within the organization and became actively involved in Polk and Hillsborough counties. He served three years as the Associate National Director of the Order of the Arrow in Texas, then lived in Atlanta, Georgia, before finally moving to London, Kentucky, in 1993 as part of the organization.
Bill Sparkman Was Eventuallyan Endeared Teacher in Kentucky
Bill felt settled in Kentucky, and he decided to start a new chapter of his life by adopting a son. He named him Joshua William Sparkman and raised him alone. His interests gradually shifted away from the Boy Scouts, and he began actively engaging in education. He joined Johnson Elementary, initially as a volunteer and later as an Instructional Assistant. Content with his work for about nine years, he eventually felt the urge to do more. In 2005, he joined the United States Census Bureau part-time and enrolled in an online course at Western Governors University. Always looking to improve his prospects, Bill enjoyed dabbling in many things.
In 2007, things came to a halt for Bill when he was diagnosed with Stage-3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. From November 2007 until March 2008, he managed to teach and undergo chemotherapy simultaneously. During this challenging period, he also completed his online course. After beating cancer, it seemed like things would finally settle down for him. He was aiming to be accepted as a permanent teacher, and the community at Johnson Elementary had become like family to him. However, things took a turn for the worse before he could realize his goal of securing a position as a middle school math teacher.
Bill Sparkman’s Mysterious Death Caused a Lot of Media Frenzy
On September 12, 2009, Bill’s body was found by a group of people at Hoskins Cemetery in Clay County, Kentucky. He had been sent to conduct the American Community Survey on September 9 and had been reported missing since then. A rope was tied around his neck, securing him to a tree. He was only wearing socks, and his feet were touching the ground. He had duct tape over his hands and feet, mouth and eyes. His Census ID was taped to the side of his neck. The word “Fed” was written across his chest with a felt-tip marker. Initially, the police assumed this was a homicide case, believing Bill had fallen victim to the prevalent anti-government sentiments in the area where he had last been working.
Bill’s family was adamant that he had been killed, and his son Joshua even alleged that certain items from his father’s car were missing. While the investigating agencies were initially apprehensive, the truth soon emerged. Just before his death, Bill had taken out two life insurance policies totaling $600,000. Additionally, his family was eligible for $10,000 in death gratuity payments from the government if he died on the job. The police closely examined how “Fed” had been written on his chest and determined it was done by someone upside down.
All other evidence collected from the scene contained only Bill’s DNA. In November 2009, the police officially declared his death a suicide. They theorized that he might have received news of his cancer returning and wanted to provide for his son. The sensational case made many headlines, and the police criticized the media for spreading misinformation. However, the loss was real and profound for Bill’s family, leaving a lasting impact on their lives.
Read More: Andrew Sadek’s Death: How Did He Die? Was It Suicide or Murder?
