US Nudist Colony Resident Arrested, Charged with Murder of Two Elderly Neighbors
Michael Royce Sparks, a 62-year-old resident of a nudist community in California, has been arrested for the murder of his neighbors, 73-year-old Stephanie Menard and 79-year-old Daniel Menard. The couple was reported missing on August 25 after friends failed to find them, leading to the discovery of their unattended car and personal belongings at their home. After receiving a tip, police attempted to contact Sparks but found him uncooperative, which resulted in a standoff involving a drone and an armored vehicle.
During the standoff, Sparks was found armed in a bunker beneath his property after law enforcement destroyed his house. Attempts to apprehend him included Sparks reportedly trying to harm himself with a firearm, but it misfired. Following his arrest, a cadaver dog led authorities to bags containing human remains in the bunker, which are believed to belong to the Menards.
Sparks now faces two counts of murder and could potentially receive a life sentence without parole if convicted. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday. The remains are currently undergoing examination by the San Bernardino County Coroner’s office for identification.
A resident of a California nudist ranch has been arrested after a tense standoff.
Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was taken into custody last week at Redlands’ Olive Dell Ranch and charged with the murder of neighbors 73-year-old Stephanie Menard and her husband, 79-year-old Daniel Menard.
The Menards were initially reported missing on August 25 after a friend could not locate the pair.
The friend grew concerned after the pair failed to show up for a regular potluck.
According to KNBC-TV, the Menards’ unlocked car was discovered near their home, and Stephanie Menard’s purse and the couple’s cell phones were discovered inside the residence.
The Menards’ dog, Cuddles, was also found to be missing.
A tip from an unknown party alerted authorities to Sparks, and law enforcement soon arrived at his home.
KTLA-TV reports officers attempted to contact Sparks within his home but found him uncooperative.
Police deployed a drone and an armored vehicle against the house, ultimately leaving it collapsed and destroyed.
Sparks was soon found under the property, armed with a rifle and inside a concrete bunker.
Redlands Police Chief Rachel Tolber said Sparks turned the firearm on himself as law enforcement officers closed in, but a misfire kept him from taking his own life.
Video shows law enforcement’s destruction of Sparks’ house.
Authorities say they have found more human remains at the home of 62-year-old Michael Sparks, who was arrested last week in connection to the disappearance of a couple who went missing from a nudist community.
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After Sparks was cleared out, a cadaver dog made a gruesome discovery.
The dog alerted authorities to bags in the bunker, which were found to contain human remains upon further investigation. Authorities believe the remains to be those of the Menards.
“As far as we know, the remains that we’ve recovered are those of Dan and Stephanie and there are no others,” Redlands Police Department spokesman Carl Baker told KTLA-TV.
The remains are being examined by the San Bernardino County Coroner’s office in an attempt to positively identify the bodies.
Sparks has been charged with two counts of murder as well as a charge of a special circumstance allegation of double murder. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison without parole.
Sparks’ first court date is set for Wednesday.
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