2 months ago
18
Human remains
have been found beneath the home of a neighbour charged with the murders of a California couple who disappeared from a nudist resort, according to authorities.
According to
Redlands Police Department
, they accessed the area underneath the home of murder suspect
Michael Sparks
, located at
Olive Dell Ranch
in Colton on August 30. They began retrieving bags of evidence from Sparks' home.
Stephanie and Daniel Menard
have been missing since August 24, the date they were last seen.
Sparks has been charged with murder, though the motive for the alleged killings remains unclear.
The police department confirmed that human remains were among the retrieved evidence, which is now being examined by the local coroner’s office. The removal process was halted when the space began to show signs of potential collapse, leading to the evacuation of all personnel.
Carl Baker, spokesperson for the City of Redlands, stated that investigators are "confident" the Menards are deceased and that their remains were located on Sparks' property, according to a FOX News report. Sparks, who had been hiding beneath his home, was found on the night of August 29 after not responding to police for several hours.
The Menards were reported missing by a friend on August 25, and their last known sighting was at their home at the resort on August 24. Their unlocked vehicle was discovered nearby, and Stephanie Menard’s purse, along with both of their cell phones, was found inside their home. Their small white Shih Tzu, Cuddles, is also missing.
Olive Dell Ranch, where the incident occurred, describes itself on its website as "Southern California’s favorite nudist resort for families and couples," offering a space to enjoy the nudist/naturist lifestyle for both day visits and overnight stays.
