New terrifying update in disappearance of couple who vanished from nudist ranch

More human remains have been found in the home of a man accused of murdering an elderly couple after they disappeared from a nudist resort.

The home, owned by 62-year-old Michael Royce Sparks, is next door to the California nudist ranch where Stephanie Menard, 73, and Daniel Menard, 79, lived before they disappeared. Both are presumed dead.

After the pair failed to show up at the church on August 25, a four-day search ensued, ending Thursday when police received a tip pointing to Sparks.

His home was damaged after a heated confrontation in which the suspect was armed and had barricaded himself inside.

Among the rubble, officers found a bunker with human remains. Police now say more remains have been found, as Sparks remains in custody on suspicion of murder.

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The house in question belongs to 62-year-old Michael Royce Sparks and is located right next to the nudist ranch in California

“This morning, a cadaver dog from the Sheriff’s Department was deployed to the scene where the suspect was arrested,” Redlands police wrote in a statement at 11 a.m. Monday, the fifth day of their search of Sparks’ home.

The dog alerted the area where the suspect was arrested and indicated that at least one body was present.

‘RPD currently has several resources on scene to determine if the structure is safe before crews enter to search for bodies.’

Two hours earlier, officers in the town eight miles from where the pair were last seen, the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort, had said they planned to “complete the search for evidence at the scene where the suspect was arrested.”

The statement said police on Friday recovered the remains of two people they said were “believed to be Dan and Stephanie Menard.”

“Other evidence” was also found, police said, but no further details were provided.

They said they would have to wait for a coroner’s autopsy to identify the remains and determine the cause of death, which they predicted would happen “sometime this week.”

“During the search, there was no sign of the couple’s dog, Cuddles,” officers added of the couple’s still-missing Shih Tzu.

The house was left in ruins after police forced their way in on Thursday after the suspect barricaded himself inside. Officers found a bunker underneath. Human remains were found inside.

The house is located next to where the couple lived, in the Olive Dell Ranch nudist colony (seen here)

It is still unclear whether the newly found remains are of another individual. Investigators have already determined that the bodies found before the weekend were likely the couple’s.

Earlier Saturday, police in the San Bernardino County city, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from LA, had suspended all work at the building after “signs of possible collapse” were observed.

Heavy machinery and equipment were then brought in to remove the rubble, clearing the way for Sunday’s discovery.

DailyMail.com has contacted Redlands police for more information after police confirmed the discovery was made in the mysterious bunker where Sparks was holed up during Thursday’s confrontation.

There, the suspect armed himself with a gun and refused to let officers in. Police then deployed a drone and then a battering ram to destroy the house.

Investigators said officers were able to make an arrest after Sparks attempted suicide, but was spared when his weapon misfired.

No motive has been released for the man who also lived in the parking lot commonly described as Southern California’s “favorite family-friendly” nudist resort, but fellow residents told KTLA the trio had a longstanding feud.

Authorities had already confirmed that human remains had been found in the suspects’ home on Friday after the house was reduced to rubble following the prolonged police standoff

An unnamed person told KTLA that Sparks never liked the couple, though others said they were surprised to learn he was a suspect in the case. Their beloved dog, Cuddles, is still missing.

Unidentified insiders added that Sparks never liked the couple, while others said they were surprised to hear he was a suspect in the case.

“I don’t really know him that well, but he’s a very gentle man,” said Jim Hynd, another neighbor who lives in the nudist colony. “He’s probably the last person you would think would do something like that.”

The elderly couple were also said to have had health problems, with Daniel suffering from both dementia and diabetes, and Stephanie needing a cane to walk.

On the day the Menards disappeared, investigators say the couple’s car was found unlocked not far from their home in the nudist community. Stephanie’s purse and walking stick were also found inside the home.

Her and her husband’s mobile phones were also found.