US police are investigating the death of a man who was found hanged from a tree in rural Kentucky with the word "Fed" scrawled on his chest.
Bill Sparkman, 51, had been going door-to-door in Clay County collecting census data.
The FBI is investigating whether Mr Sparkman was victim of anti-government sentiment.
The Census Bureau has suspended door-to-door interviews in the area until the investigation is complete.
"Even though he was with the Census Bureau, sometimes people can view someone with any government agency as 'the government'. I just was afraid that he might meet the wrong character along the way up there," said Gilbert Acciardo, a retired policeman who knew Mr Sparkman, and had warned him to "be careful" when carrying out the census.
Mr Acciardo runs an after-school programme at a school where Mr Sparkman was a regular supply teacher. read more
