Neighbor charged with murder in disappearance of Redlands couple at nudist resort
A 62-year-old man arrested last week at a Southern California nudist resort in connection with the disappearance of his neighbors has been charged with two counts of murder, authorities announced Tuesday.
A 62-year-old man arrested last week at a Southern California nudist resort in connection with the disappearance of his neighbors has been charged with two counts of murder, authorities announced Tuesday.
Human remains believed to be those of 73-year-old Stephanie and Daniel Menard, 79, were found Friday under Michael Royce Sparks’ house at Olive Dell Ranch in Redlands following an hours-long SWAT operation, according to investigators. Sparks was arrested a day earlier at the San Bernardino County nudist resort on suspicion of murder in the disappearance of the Menards one week earlier.
The remains, which have not been identified by the coroner, were found by a fire department confined space search-and-rescue team in bags in a concrete basement under Sparks’ house following the SWAT operation. A tip from someone at the ranch led authorities to the residence, which was destroyed by an armored SWAT vehicle during the standoff with the armed suspect.
Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73. Redlands Police Department via APSparks was found underneath home and armed with a rifle, which misfired in a suicide attempt, said Redlands Police Chief Rachel Tolber. Sparks’ arrest came after several attempts to contact Sparks inside his home. When there was no response, law enforcement officers used an armored SWAT vehicle to tear down the house.
Tolber said Tuesday that the remains found under the home are believed to be those of the Menards. It was not immediately clear how long the remains were under the house.
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