Human remains have been found in a concrete bunker beneath the home of a suspect arrested in connection with the disappearance of an elderly California couple who vanished from a nudist community.
Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was arrested on murder charges Thursday, days after Stephanie Menard, 73, and Daniel Menard, 79, were reported missing from Olive Dell Ranch in Redlands.
The Menards and their beloved dog, a tiny Shih Tzu named Cuddles, were last seen leaving their home on the nudist ranch around 10 a.m. on Aug. 24, near where their unlocked car was later found.
Authorities confirmed Friday that human remains were found in Sparks’ home after he was captured following a lengthy standoff with police.
“Redlands Fire Department members who are certified in confined space operations entered the area under the suspect’s home and began removing evidence bags that were in the area. At this time, I can confirm that there are human remains under the home,” said Redlands spokesman Carl Baker.
Human remains have been found in the home of a suspect arrested in connection with the disappearance of Stephanie Menard (right), 73, and Daniel Menard (left), 79
Authorities confirmed that human remains were found in the suspects’ home on Friday after the house was reduced to rubble following a lengthy police standoff
The remains have not yet been identified by coroners, but police say they are treating Menard’s disappearance as a homicide.
Video obtained by KABC showed cadaver dogs and search teams digging through the rubble of Sparks’ damaged home.
Police raided the house after people reported that someone was present in the home who was involved in the perpetrators’ disappearance.
According to Redland police, Sparks was found hiding under his home during his arrest.
Michael Sparks, 62, was arrested Thursday on murder charges in connection with the couple’s disappearance
Police removed evidence bags from Sparks’ home and identified human remains
A SWAT-style vehicle equipped with a hydraulic battering ram smashed through the side of Sparks’ property
Authorities approached his home with remote cameras. Footage of the arrest showed a SWAT vehicle carrying a hydraulic battering ram driving through the side of Sparks’ home.
“He did have a gun and was trying to commit suicide when police discovered him,” Baker said.
“The weapon misfired… it didn’t go off.”
The motive for their disappearance is unclear, but neighbors told local news station Sparks that the Menards were neighbors and that there was tension between them.
“When I first moved here, he told me how much he hated them, and he especially hated Dan because he cut the tree down…pruned it,” said Tammie Wilkerson, who also lives in the community.
Community members said Sparks and the Menards were neighbors and there was tension between them
The Menards’ beloved dog, a tiny Shih Tzu named Cuddles, is also missing
The couple were last seen leaving their home on the nudist farm around 10 a.m. on August 24, close to where their unlocked car was later found.
On the day the Menards disappeared, investigators say the couple’s car was found unlocked not far from their home in the Olive Dell Ranch nudist community.
According to police, Stephanie’s purse was found in the house, as well as her and Daniel’s cell phones.
Authorities say Daniel has diabetes and dementia, complicating the case and adding a sense of urgency to the search.
