In Southern California, a man, Michael Royce Sparks, has been charged with two counts of murder with special circumstances in the deaths of his neighbors, Stephanie Menard, 73, and her husband Daniel, 79, in a nudist community. The couple was reported missing in Redlands. Sparks, 62, is held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. It is not clear if he has a lawyer as online court records do not provide that information.
Sparks was arrested after being found under a home at Olive Dell Ranch, a nudist resort and RV park in the desert community. Human remains were found in bags in a concrete bunker under the home, located about 60 miles east of Los Angeles. Authorities suspect the remains belong to the missing couple, but they have yet to confirm this information. There is no information on how the couple may have been killed or the potential motive.
According to Jacquelyn Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office, there are no indications of additional victims in this case. The couple was last seen at their home on August 24 and were reported missing by a friend. Their pet dog, a shih tzu named Cuddles, was also missing.
