LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- A U.S. census worker found dead in Kentucky tried to fake a homicide while actually taking his own life, investigators said Tuesday.

Bill Sparkman, 51, had life insurance policies with suicide clauses and apparently hoped to secure the money for his family, Kentucky State Police Capt. Lisa Rudzinkski said. Rudzinski, one of the lead detectives in the investigation, spoke to reporters at a news conference, The Lexington Herald-Leader reported.


"We believe it was an intentional act on his part to take his own life," Rudzinski told reporters at a news conference.

Sparkman's naked body was found hanging in a cemetery in Clay County on Sept. 12. The word "fed" had been written on his chest in magic marker and his Census identification taped to his head.

Rudzinski said investigators concluded Sparkman wrote on his own chest because the letters had been written from bottom to top. They also found no signs he had struggled with anyone and no one else's DNA was on evidence recovered at the scene.