Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Neighbor Charged With Murder of Couple Who Went Missing From California Nudist Resort
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 8 months ago on
September 4, 2024

Authorities discover human remains in concrete bunker at California nudist resort, suspect charged with murder. (GV Wire Composite/David Rodriguez)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SAN BERNARDINO — A man was charged Tuesday with the murder of two of his neighbors in a Southern California nudist community.

Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was charged with two counts of murder with special circumstances in the deaths of Stephanie Menard, 73, and her husband, Daniel, 79, court records show. The couple had been reported missing in the desert community of Redlands.

Sparks is being held without bail and is due to appear in court Wednesday. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer and online court records did not list one.

Suspect Found Under Home at Nudist Resort

Sparks was arrested last week after he was found under a home at Olive Dell Ranch, which is described on its website as a residential RV park and family-friendly nudist resort. Authorities said they discovered human remains a day later in bags in a concrete bunker underneath the home some 60 miles east of Los Angeles.

Jacquelyn Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office, said the remains were believed to be those of the couple but authorities could not immediately confirm that. She declined to comment on how they were believed to have been killed or a possible motive.

Rodriguez said authorities did not believe there were any other victims in the case.

The couple were reported missing by a friend who said they were last seen at their home on Aug. 24. Their pet dog, a shih tzu named Cuddles, was also missing.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Greg Cronin Fired as Coach of Anaheim Ducks After 2 Seasons

DON'T MISS

Spring Allergies Are Back. Here’s How to Check Pollen Levels and Keep From Sneezing

DON'T MISS

US Small Manufacturers Hope to Benefit From Tariffs, but Some Worry About Uncertainty

DON'T MISS

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill More Than 90 People in 48 Hours, Palestinians Say

DON'T MISS

US and Iran Advance Nuclear Talks to Expert Level After Rome Meeting

DON'T MISS

Putin Announces an Easter Ceasefire as Russia and Ukraine Swap Hundreds of POWs

DON'T MISS

NBA Playoff Guide: Who Plays When, How to Watch, What the Odds Are

DON'T MISS

Americans Haven’t Found a Satisfying Alternative to Religion

DON'T MISS

Supreme Court Blocks, for Now, New Deportations Under 18th Century Wartime Law

DON'T MISS

Senator Slams ‘Margaritagate’ Stunt During Deportee Visit

UP NEXT

Spring Allergies Are Back. Here’s How to Check Pollen Levels and Keep From Sneezing

UP NEXT

US Small Manufacturers Hope to Benefit From Tariffs, but Some Worry About Uncertainty

UP NEXT

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill More Than 90 People in 48 Hours, Palestinians Say

UP NEXT

US and Iran Advance Nuclear Talks to Expert Level After Rome Meeting

UP NEXT

Putin Announces an Easter Ceasefire as Russia and Ukraine Swap Hundreds of POWs

UP NEXT

NBA Playoff Guide: Who Plays When, How to Watch, What the Odds Are

UP NEXT

Americans Haven’t Found a Satisfying Alternative to Religion

UP NEXT

Supreme Court Blocks, for Now, New Deportations Under 18th Century Wartime Law

UP NEXT

Senator Slams ‘Margaritagate’ Stunt During Deportee Visit

UP NEXT

Fresno County Pushes Valley to Highest Rates of Domestic Violence Calls in CA

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill More Than 90 People in 48 Hours, Palestinians Say

1 hour ago

US and Iran Advance Nuclear Talks to Expert Level After Rome Meeting

1 hour ago

Putin Announces an Easter Ceasefire as Russia and Ukraine Swap Hundreds of POWs

1 hour ago

NBA Playoff Guide: Who Plays When, How to Watch, What the Odds Are

1 hour ago

Americans Haven’t Found a Satisfying Alternative to Religion

1 hour ago

Supreme Court Blocks, for Now, New Deportations Under 18th Century Wartime Law

2 hours ago

Senator Slams ‘Margaritagate’ Stunt During Deportee Visit

2 hours ago

Fresno County Pushes Valley to Highest Rates of Domestic Violence Calls in CA

2 hours ago

LA Rams Can Bolster a Contending Roster With Another Strong Showing in NFL Draft

2 hours ago

Mijo Proves Love Is Blind and That One Eye Is More Than Enough

3 hours ago

Greg Cronin Fired as Coach of Anaheim Ducks After 2 Seasons

ANAHEIM — Greg Cronin was fired Saturday as coach of the Anaheim Ducks after two seasons, general manager Pat Verbeek announced. “He i...

55 minutes ago

55 minutes ago

Greg Cronin Fired as Coach of Anaheim Ducks After 2 Seasons

57 minutes ago

Spring Allergies Are Back. Here’s How to Check Pollen Levels and Keep From Sneezing

1 hour ago

US Small Manufacturers Hope to Benefit From Tariffs, but Some Worry About Uncertainty

1 hour ago

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill More Than 90 People in 48 Hours, Palestinians Say

1 hour ago

US and Iran Advance Nuclear Talks to Expert Level After Rome Meeting

1 hour ago

Putin Announces an Easter Ceasefire as Russia and Ukraine Swap Hundreds of POWs

1 hour ago

NBA Playoff Guide: Who Plays When, How to Watch, What the Odds Are

1 hour ago

Americans Haven’t Found a Satisfying Alternative to Religion

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend