Human remains found under home of neighbor arrested in murder of missing Redlands couple

The neighbor of an elderly couple reported missing from a nudist ranch in San Bernardino County was arrested and charged with murder.

Redlands police arrested 62-year-old Michael Royce Sparks on the Olive Dell Ranch Thursday. He was charged with murder in the disappearance of Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73.

Carl Baker, a spokesperson for the Redlands Police Department, said during a press conference on Friday that officers believe that the couple is dead and that their bodies are at the site of Royce’s home.

Friday afternoon, police announced that human remains were found under the home of a Sparks.

Sparks surrendered voluntarily following lengthy negotiations that started after officers were in the area going door-to-door.

“We received information from a source that a person who was involved in their disappearance was here on the property,” Baker said. “At that point, we locked down the property and we began the investigation and the attempt to locate and contact him. We did ultimately go to his home. We tried several attempts to contact him with no contact whatsoever.”

Baker said they used a tech cat from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department to get into the home. He said Sparks was found under the home.

“At about 9:30 p.m., we did locate him and after some negotiation with him, he did surrender voluntarily,” Baker said.

He added that officers used cadaver dogs and a search team to find the Menards. Their bodies are believed to be somewhere on the property.

The couple was last seen Saturday at their home on Keissel Road at around 10 a.m. Their car was found down the street from their home with the keys still inside.

The couple’s dog Cuddles was also reported missing. Baker said during the press conference there were no updates in the search for the dog.

Sparks was booked at the West Valley Detention Center

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