Census worker’s murder may have been staged for life insurance benefits

posted by Michael Hanson

The Associated Press reports that the recent death of a Census Bureau employee may have actually been part of a scheme to cash in a life insurance policy.

According to the AP, which relied on unnamed officials who were close to the case, members of law enforcement are considering the possibility that the death of Bill Sparkman was actually a suicide that was made to look like a homicide. His supposed motive in doing so would have been to make sure his son, Josh Sparkman, could still get the death benefits associated with a life insurance policy.

"The money is not the concern," Josh Sparkman told the AP. "I just want to know what happened to my dad."

Bill Sparkman's body was found on September 12 in a wooded area in Kentucky. He was found hanging from a tree, though his feet were touching the ground. He was also bound and gagged, and had the word "fed" scrawled on his back, leading some to the fear that he was murdered for being a federal employee.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, life insurance policies may come with a "suicide exclusion provision." The provision prevents the payment of a death benefit if the insured person committed suicide within a certain amount of time from the purchase of the policy.