A resident of a California nudist resort where two of his neighbors disappeared last month has been charged with murder after being detained during a dramatic standoff with police in which he tried to harm himself with a rifle.
Michael Royce Sparks, 62, has been charged with two felony counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73, who were last seen on Aug. 25, the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office said at a news conference Tuesday.
Sparks was arrested at his home on Olive Dell Ranch in Colton on Thursday, the same day the remains of two people were found beneath his property, which is adjacent to the Menard home. The compound is located in the 26000 block of Keissel Road, near Reche Canyon Road, about 13 miles southeast of downtown San Bernardino.
CHARGED WITH MURDER OF A NEIGHBOR OF A CALIFORNIA NUDIST RESORT AFTER A COUPLE DISAPPEARS
Michael Sparks, 62, has been charged with the murder of Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73. (Redlands Police Department)
Police say the remains are being examined by the local coroner's office and are believed to belong to Dan and Stephanie Menard. Redlands Police Chief Rachel Tolber said at the news conference that there is no reason to believe the bodies belong to anyone else.
The cause of death has not been released. Police say they also removed bags of evidence from the scene during a search that concluded Monday.
The couple's dog, named Cuddles, is also missing.
Sparks' arrest was dramatic and followed numerous attempts to contact him.
Redlands police obtained a search warrant to enter Sparks’ property with the help of a drone as SWAT teams tore down the front of his home, causing significant damage and forcing operations to halt at one stage as the space showed signs of a possible collapse, police say.
Search crews eventually found Sparks armed with a rifle hidden in a basement of his home and trying to harm himself. However, the gun misfired and he was eventually taken into custody that night, Tolber said.
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The entrance to Olive Dell Ranch in Colton, where the couple disappeared. (Google Maps)
Sparks became a suspect after a family member told police he confessed to being involved in the couple's disappearance and also their murder, Tolber said. The family member also reported that Sparks had threatened to kill himself.
Sparks was also charged with two counts of special circumstance allegations of more than one count of first- or second-degree murder.
“We know they're dead and we know there are two victims and that's why the special charge we're bringing is multiple victims in a murder case,” District Attorney Jason Anderson said.
“There is no such thing as a free-for-all. We believe we can move forward in this case and prove that Mr. Sparks is responsible for both.”
The Menards were last seen on Saturday, August 24, police say. (Redlands Police Department)
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Neighbors told Fox 11 that on multiple occasions, Sparks said she “hated” the couple who had lived on the property for decades.
A neighbor said there was bad blood between Sparks and the couple after parts of their tree grew on Sparks' property.
The Redlands Police Department says the Menards' dog, Cuddles, has not been found. (Redlands Police Department)
Sparks' arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.
