Neighbor held in disappearance of couple from California nudist resort. Both believed to be dead
LOS ANGELES — Police used a tank-like vehicle equipped with a battering ram to drive into a Southern California home and arrest the neighbor of a couple living in a nudist community who were reported missing earlier this week, officials said Friday.
Redlands Police spokesman Carl Baker said officers believe the bodies of Stephanie Menard, 73, and her husband Daniel, 79, are inside the home, but they must first fortify the house to make it safe for the search.
Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was booked into jail Thursday night on investigation of murder after he was found under the house at Olive Dell Ranch, which is described on its website as a residential RV park and family-friendly nudist resort. The rustic community is located in a hilly area about 60 miles (96 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.
“We are confident that they are deceased and that they are still on the property,” Baker said, without providing any information about a possible motive.
Baker did not know if Sparks had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Online jail records showed he was ineligible for bail and was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
A friend reported the couple missing on Sunday and said they were last seen at their home Saturday morning. Their dog, a shih tzu named Cuddles, was also missing.
The couple’s unlocked car was found later Sunday, not far from their home, and their phones, along with Stephanie Menard’s purse, were still inside the home. Daniel Menard was described as a diabetic with dementia.
Tammie Wilkerson, a friend of the couple, told KABC-TV that the Menards were friendly people who were committed to the community.
“They’re very sweet people,” Wilkerson said. “There’s not a mean bone in their body, which makes this very confusing.”
The arrest followed rapid developments that began when police were in the park on Thursday continuing their investigation, canvassing the area and knocking on doors.
“We received information from a source that there was an individual on the property that was involved in their disappearance,” Baker said. “At that point we put the property on lockdown.”
Police went to the suspect’s home, but attempts to contact him were unsuccessful and the tactical vehicle was brought in, Baker said. News video showed the home was badly torn open, leaving debris everywhere.
The suspect was arrested around 9:30 p.m. after he voluntarily surrendered, Baker said.