The man accused of murdering a married California couple in their 70s who went missing from their home at a nudist resort was found lurking under a house, along with human remains.
Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73, were last seen on August 24, police said. As previously reported by Law&Crime, their automobile was discovered unlocked down the road from their home on the same day. Stephanie Menard’s pocketbook was discovered in the house, as well as both of the couple’s smartphones.
Cuddles, the family’s tiny white Shih Tzu, was also missing.
The pair lived at the Olive Dell Ranch in San Bernardino, an RV park located about 50 miles east of downtown Los Angeles and billed as a “favorite nudist resort for families and couples.” Neighbors claim that the couple would not have up and left, with one friend telling local ABC affiliate KABC that “there’s no way Stephanie or Dan could have walked away from that car.”
Police also discovered that Daniel Menard suffers from dementia and diabetes, while Stephanie Menard walks with a cane.
Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was detained on Friday when armed authorities raided an adjacent property, using heavy-duty equipment such as a battering hammer before moving in. According to court documents, Sparks has been charged with two counts of murder with extraordinary circumstances, which makes him eligible for the capital penalty in California if convicted. According to records, Sparks was still in detention on Wednesday.
Sparks was allegedly not present during the raid, but he was later discovered beneath a house, according to The Associated Press. One day later, human remains were allegedly discovered in a concrete bunker beneath the house. According to the Associated Press, a representative for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office stated that the remains were thought to be those of Menards but could not confirm it immediately.
Authorities said they don’t believe there are any more victims in the case.
Friends of the Menards say the couple is involved in a lawsuit against the ranch and has been subjected to harassment and fear related to their disappearance, according to KABC.
According to The Associated Press, Sparks was expected to appear in court on Wednesday. It was not immediately known if he had an attorney.