Stephanie Menard,Daniel Menard Obituary, Death; – Authorities have announced that the individual accused of murdering a couple from Southern California, who were initially reported as missing, has been formally charged in relation to their deaths. Michael Royce Sparks, aged 62, faces two counts of murder along with two special circumstance allegations.
“From the outset of this investigation, we were struck by the response of community members, friends, and family who came forward to express their concerns regarding the Menards,” stated San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson during a press conference on Tuesday.
Sparks is scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday, and the District Attorney may consider pursuing the death penalty in light of the charges.
As reported by Redlands Police Chief Rachel Tolber, a family member informed officers that Sparks had confessed to the killings. “While our teams were on the scene, a police dispatcher received information from a family member indicating that [Sparks] was involved in the disappearance and had admitted to killing two individuals, while also threatening suicide,” Tolber explained.
Sparks was taken into custody late Thursday, just days after Stephanie Menard, 73, and Daniel Menard, 79, were reported missing from their residence at the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort. The search for the couple concluded at Sparks’ residence, where human remains were subsequently recovered.
Police had returned to the property on Monday, and by the afternoon, they reported that all personnel had cleared the search area. The site has now been secured for public safety, and code enforcement is anticipated to issue a red tag for the property on Tuesday.
The Menards and their dog were last seen on August 24, prompting a swift response from authorities to locate them. Sparks was booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
He voluntarily surrendered after being discovered beneath his home, which had been demolished by a police armored vehicle using a hydraulic battering ram. “He was in possession of a rifle and attempted to take his own life when police located him,” stated a spokesperson for the City of Redlands.
