Additional Coverage:
Police in Redlands have detained 62-year-old Michael Royce Sparks in connection with the disappearance of an elderly couple from Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in San Bernardino County last Saturday. He faces murder charges and is currently held at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
Redlands police spokesperson Carl Baker reported that Sparks was apprehended under his house after a prolonged negotiation around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, and though he surrendered willingly, his cooperation was limited.
Earlier on Thursday, authorities described the couple’s neighbor as a key suspect in their vanishing, though initially not naming him. The missing, Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73, were last spotted at the nudist resort at about 10 a.m. Saturday, accompanied by their Shih Tzu, Cuddles.
A distressing turn in the investigation occurred Friday morning when a cadaver dog signaled the presence of at least one body under Sparks’ residence. Despite the signal, entering the house was delayed as the building had suffered damage during the operation to capture Sparks, leaving it structurally unsound. The entry and search of the house have since been postponed until it can be secured.
During a news conference, Baker expressed a grim outlook, stating confidence that the Menards had met a tragic end and remained on the property. This came after an intensive search involving police dogs and a helicopter.
The search efforts began following a tip-off about the neighbor, which led to the issuance of a search warrant for Sparks’ home. Due to concerns for officer safety, SWAT teams used armored vehicles to breach the house’s walls.
Compounding the mystery, the Menards’ unlocked vehicle was located shortly after their disappearance down the street from their home. Inside their residence, personal items including cellphones and Stephanie Menard’s purse were found, but the couple was nowhere to be seen. A neighbor checking in on why they hadn’t shown up for church discovered signs of a sudden departure.
Community members and friends of the couple, like Sandy Marinelli, have expressed deep distress and confusion over the incident, emphasizing the couple’s kindness and regular church attendance. The situation has left the local community in shock and awaiting further developments as police continue the investigation.