Neighbor Positioned ‘Underneath’ Dwelling Arrested for Homicide of Lacking Nudist Resort Couple

On Friday morning, the Redlands Police Division introduced Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was arrested for homicide and booked at West Valley Detention Heart.

Sparks was apprehended on Thursday night time on the Olive Dell Nudist Ranch in Redlands — the place the Menards and the suspect referred to as residence — after police conducting a search of the ranch “acquired info from a supply that an individual who was concerned of their disappearance was right here on the property,” PIO Carl Baker revealed in a press convention Friday.

Per Baker, police tried “a number of tried to contact [Sparks] with no contact whosoever,” earlier than a Tac Cat from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Division was used to breach the house. Video from FOX 11 reveals an arial view of the division knocking via the entrance of the house, leaving it in shambles.

“There was vital harm accomplished to the suspect’s residence after we broke in to go looking it,” confirmed Baker, saying they have been working to safe the scene earlier than sending cadaver canines to the placement at this time.

“We shall be utilizing these to try to find the victims Dan and Stephanie. We’re assured they’re deceased and that they’re nonetheless right here on the property,” he added, “We imagine the our bodies are on the positioning of his residence.”

Final night time, distant video tools was then used to go looking the house, earlier than Sparks was positioned “beneath the house” and authorities “negotiated with him to exit.” He finally “surrendered voluntarily,” stated Baker, who would solely verify Sparks was the couple’s neighbor, whereas not revealing another particulars about their relationship.

The Menards had been final seen by a neighbor on Saturday morning, round 10am, by a buddy. Per police, their car was discovered unlocked down the highway from their residence, with the keys nonetheless inside. Their cell telephones had been each nonetheless inside their home, as was Stephanie’s purse.

Associates expressed concern for the couple, as Stephanie allegedly used a cane to stroll and her husband was identified with each dementia and diabetes. Per neighbors, the pair had been allegedly a part of a lawsuit in opposition to the nudist ranch and complained somebody was harassing them about it.

The couple’s small shih tzu Cuddles was additionally reported lacking; per Baker, there is no replace on the canine’s location at the moment.