BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Remains found at home of suspect in California couple’s deaths

  • Couple last seen Aug. 24 at home on Olive Dell Ranch Nudist Resort 
  • Police arrested neighbor on suspicion of murder; couple presumed dead
  • Suspect found in cement bunker on property; human remains found in house

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

ovp test

mLife Diagnostics LLC: Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Male shot by female at Shreveport apartment

Class to create biodiverse backyard

Rules for outbursts at Caddo School Board Meeting

(NewsNation) — Authorities say they have found more human remains at the home of a 62-year-old California man arrested last week in connection to the disappearance of a couple who went missing from a nudist community.

Investigators with the Redlands Police Department on Sunday were searching Michael Sparks’ property at the Olive Dell Ranch Nudist Resort for a fourth day when they found the additional remains.

NewsNation local affiliate KTLA reports authorities are working on identifying these remains, and it is unclear if they are from another victim or victims.

Officials believe the bodies of Stephanie Menard, 73, and her husband, Daniel, 79, are inside Sparks’ residence, said Carl Baker, a spokesperson for the Redlands Police Department.

The Menards were last seen Aug. 24 at their home inside the Olive Dell Ranch. They were reported missing the next day by a friend when they didn’t show up for church.

On Aug. 29, after authorities were tipped off about where the couple, who are presumed dead, were, they tried to locate Sparks. Police used a drone, then a battering ram, to tear through the house, KTLA wrote. 

Sparks was found underneath the house at Olive Dell Ranch, in a cement bunker where a cadaver dog alerted police to bags stuffed with human remains. He was arrested and charged with murder.

Another neighbor, Tammie Wilkerson, told NewsNation that she is staying at a hotel, and wants to move to another plot at the nudist resort after what happened.

“I hate (Sparks) because I’m traumatized now,” Wilkerson said. “We’re all traumatized.” 

NewsNation affiliate KTLA, NewsNation digital producer Cassie Buchman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Crime

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Mostly Cloudy

la

63°F Mostly Cloudy Feels like 63°
Wind
5 mph SW
Humidity
85%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
57°F Partly cloudy skies. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
4 mph NE
Precip
3%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Full Moon