Silver Alert CA - Stephanie Menard, 73, Daniel Menard, 79, & Cuddles, white Shih Tzu, unlocked car found, Redlands, 24 Aug 2024 *arrest*

[GoBuckeyes]

One lady at least thinks she can't stay there, and I don't blame her. But how easy would it be for her to leave? Whether she would be selling, or giving up a lease it will be tricky. It will be difficult to find a buyer, and giving up a lease may involve a hefty penalty.

It's been just a little over a week since they went missing, and just a few days since they and their alleged killer were located. Maybe she'll be able to work through the trauma, stay, and remain a part of the community that S and D loved so much. I thought the planned empty seat at Bingo to honor their memory was a touching gesture.

It sounds like she's not only dealing with the loss of her friends, but (speculating) she's also wondering, "How long were they alive? I could see right into his house. Why didn't I pick up on something. Maybe I could have saved my friends." I think her reaction is very normal with traumatic deaths like these. MOO

Hoping she's got someone she can talk to and she'll be able to realize that he was on a mission. I don't think there's anyone who could have stopped this outcome but the killer. MOO

 

[Dotta]

What will happen to the accused's house?
Will it be demolished,
bunker and all?

I mean,
who would like to live there?
Knowing that under the floor victims of murder were kept

JMO

 

[kuromiiiilove]

What will happen to the accused's house?
Will it be demolished,
bunker and all?

I mean,
who would like to live there?
Knowing that under the floor victims of murder were kept

JMO

If he dug the bunker himself, it’s likely structurally unsound and will be demo’ed.

 

[sasha17]

What will happen to the accused's house?
Will it be demolished,
bunker and all?

I mean,
who would like to live there?
Knowing that under the floor victims of murder were kept

JMO

It still belongs to him right now, according to whatever rental/leasing agreement he had with the park prior to all of this happening. According to the last news release, it'll be marked as condemned by the county inspector this week due to the current condition of it. But what happens to it next will be between him and the owner of the park. I'd imagine the property owner will evict him, clear and fill the land, and make it usable again for another resident to move in their own RV. JMO

 

[Tealgrove]

There are coyotes all over that area, too. Poor pup

Sigh…never thought of that.

 

[nao]

What will happen to the accused's house?
Will it be demolished,
bunker and all?

I mean,
who would like to live there?
Knowing that under the floor victims of murder were kept

JMO

Moo...I would not have a problem living there. Definitely would be a talking point though.

 

[Molly's Mom]

What will happen to the accused's house?
Will it be demolished,
bunker and all?

I mean,
who would like to live there?
Knowing that under the floor victims of murder were kept

JMO

I don't think they'll have a problem demolishing it. What with it basically being demolished already. Just fill in the tunnels and you don't have to worry about knowing/not knowing what's under the house.

 

[SMK777]

Working my way through the posts to catch up on this horrific story. Seems to me to be a case of a paranoid individual who takes a dispute to the extreme of cold blooded homicide. Very sad for the couple and their little pooch.

 

[Inthedetails]

 

[mickey2942]

Working my way through the posts to catch up on this horrific story. Seems to me to be a case of a paranoid individual who takes a dispute to the extreme of cold blooded homicide. Very sad for the couple and their little pooch.

It is sad. I had a similar experience with some really crazy neighbors. And there is literally nothing you can do legally. Sure, the police can come over, but they can't do much until there is an actual crime. I wonder if the police had ever been over there before.

There are several cases here on WS, about neighbor violence. It doesn't surprise me. In our case, we moved. Fortunately, we were renting at the time.

 

[SMK777]

It is sad. I had a similar experience with some really crazy neighbors. And there is literally nothing you can do legally. Sure, the police can come over, but they can't do much until there is an actual crime. I wonder if the police had ever been over there before.

There are several cases here on WS, about neighbor violence. It doesn't surprise me. In our case, we moved. Fortunately, we were renting at the time.

You’re very fortunate that you got away before something horrible happened.

 

[Snoopster]

So LE have confirmed that a family member of Sparks' contacted police with the tip that he was the killer and that he planned to kill himself. The tip came in while they were canvassing Olive Dell neighbors.
Also confirmed that:
- they haven't found any evidence of the dog
- there was no evidence of blood in the Menard's car.
- they don't know the motive yet
- they have no reason to believe that there are any other remains in the house or that the remains are of anyone other than the Menards (although the coroner will have to confirm the identities).

 

[Megnut]

I hope locals are searching for Cuddles on the long chance he escaped is hiding somewhere scared. Not sure a little guy could survive on his own. What could pull Stephanie away from her home without her cane? An emergency. If Cuddles was loose...

My mind goes places when I consider how the accused may have preyed on the Menards, that he could overtake them. Threat of violence or action in the direction of violence to their beloved dog? Capture of both Daniel and Cuddles?

My heart aches for the terrible violence they faced over issues that ought been arbitrated without weaponry. That he darkened their last years before ending them completely is just utterly contra-humanity.

Huge credit to LE for the fast arrest, for the wisdom to feed a camera through the sewerline to get eyes on the defendant, brilliant.

It would be one bright light against this dark madness if Cuddles found his way home so he can be adopted and doted on by someone who knows what he meant to the Menards.

Holding out a tiny bit of hope --

JMO

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 3, 2024

Neighbor charged with murder in disappearance of Redlands couple at nudist resort

Murder charges were announced Tuesday against a 62-year-old man arrested at a Southern California nudist resort in connection with the disappearance of his neighbors.

www.nbclosangeles.com

The remains, which have not been identified by the coroner, were found by a fire department confined space search-and-rescue team in bags in a concrete basement under Sparks' house following the SWAT operation. A tip from someone at the ranch led authorities to the residence, which was destroyed by an armored SWAT vehicle during the standoff with the armed suspect.

Sparks was found underneath home and armed with a rifle, which misfired in a suicide attempt, said Redlands Police Chief Rachel Tolber.

Sparks' arrest came after several attempts to contact Sparks inside his home. When there was no response, law enforcement officers used an armored SWAT vehicle to tear down the house.

Man charged with murder in connection with the deaths of a California couple at a nudist resort - KTVZ

By Nicole Chavez, CNN (CNN) — A man was charged with murder on suspicion of killing his neighbors at a California nudist resort, San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson announced Tuesday afternoon in a news conference. Michael Royce Sparks, 62, is facing two counts of murder in...

ktvz.com

Police have said they believe the remains are those of the Menards, who lived next door.

“We know they’re dead, and we know there’s two victims,” Anderson said about the reasoning for the charges.

Sparks is set to appear in court Wednesday and is ineligible for bail, jail records show. CNN has been unable to identify an attorney for Sparks or locate family members.

 

[TravelingBug]

Going to summarize/transcribe in chunks for those who can't listen.

Part 1:

Sparks will be arraigned in person tomorrow.

In the beginning impressed by community members/friends/loved ones who came forward to express concern about the Menards.

Redlands PD did a great job focusing in on a suspect and an investigation that was very significant on Thursday through the weekend.

They've reached out to NoK of the Menards to let them know what's ahead in this process. They know it'll be hard for them and for the community members (neighbors).

Redlands PD worked "very quickly in very unusual case and in conditions that were many times, in my opinion, unprecedented" to bring some humanity to the Menards. At this stage, and filing charges in the pursuit of justice.

Thanks the DDA Lisa who was on scene throughout the weekend to help determine what's what so that after the holiday weekend they were able to come to the right factual/legal decision moving forward.

Turns presser over to the Chief at Redlands PD (2:30)

Extends condolences to the family/friends/community who are morning the homicides of Dan and Stephanie.

During follow up on Thursday PD returned to the ranch to do more investigation and to talk to neighbors again. (about 3 minutes in)

While RPD was on scene, a 911 call came in from a family member saying Sparks was involved in the disappearance and had admitted to killing 2 people. And he was now threatening suicide.

 

[SMK777]

It would be one bright light against this dark madness if Cuddles found his way home so he can be adopted and doted on by someone who knows what he meant to the Menards.

Holding out a tiny bit of hope --

Snipped for focus
My feelings, exactly.

 

[TravelingBug]

Going to summarize/transcribe in chunks for those who can't listen.

Part 1:

While RPD was on scene, a 911 call came in from a family member saying Sparks was involved in the disappearance and had admitted to killing 2 people. And he was now threatening suicide.

Part 2:

After getting the 911 call, as they were already on scene, Redlands PD immediately locked down the property/community/area and began searching for Sparks.

They narrowed their search down to his home and locked it down.

Because the information lead them to believe he was suicidal, armed and barricaded, RPD requested additional resources for both officer and public safety.

Following long hours attempting to make contact with no response, they got a search warrant and sent in a drone.

Drone search was also unsuccessful.

Believing that Sparks - and possibly the Menards - were in the property - RPD used a TacCat to breach the residence (4 minutes in to video) and use remote cameras for safety reasons.

Eventually search teams located Sparks in a subterranean basement. He was, in fact, armed with a rifle, which he attempted to fire to harm himself. The weapon subsequently misfired and Sparks was taken into custody.

Over the next 4 days, LE teams searched the property, and located remains of two people believed to be Dan and Stephanie Menard, along with other evidence.

The search of the property was completed on Monday.

She'd like to acknowledged the work of RPD officers who worked the case, initially on the search for Dan and Stephanie, to the completion of the investigation.

Thanks the partner LE agencies who worked alongside RPD, including CalFire and AMR, and RFD who provided confined space trained personnel, which made it possible to enter the subterranean space under Sparks' home to recover the victims and other evidence.

She also thanks other city crews who used their special skills/devices (like city waste water, which gave them a tool to look into the basement space) and the city building inspector who evaluated whether personnel could go in to recover Dan and Stephanie and other evidence.

Thanks both Riverside & San Bernandino County Sheriff Offices, California Highway Patrol, SB County Coroner, and SB County DA, and media who helped keep the public informed and the case progressed.

Part 3 coming.

 

[SMK777]

Part 2:

After getting the 911 call, as they were already on scene, Redlands PD immediately locked down the property/community/area and began searching for Sparks.

They narrowed their search down to his home and locked it down.

Because the information lead them to believe he was suicidal, armed and barricaded, RPD requested additional resources for both officer and public safety.

Following long hours attempting to make contact with no response, they got a search warrant and sent in a drone.

Drone search was also unsuccessful.

Believing that Sparks - and possibly the Menards - were in the property - RPD used a TacCat to breach the residence (4 minutes in to video) and use remote cameras for safety reasons.

Eventually search teams located Sparks in a subterranean basement. He was, in fact, armed with a rifle, which he attempted to fire to harm himself. The weapon subsequently misfired and Sparks was taken into custody.

Over the next 4 days, LE teams searched the property, and located remains of two people believed to be Dan and Stephanie Menard, along with other evidence.

The search of the property was completed on Monday.

She'd like to acknowledged the work of RPD officers who worked the case, initially on the search for Dan and Stephanie, to the completion of the investigation.

Thanks the partner LE agencies who worked alongside RPD, including CalFire and AMR, and RFD who provided confined space trained personnel, which made it possible to enter the subterranean space under Sparks' home to recover the victims and other evidence.

She also thanks other city crews who used their special skills/devices (like city waste water, which gave them a tool to look into the basement space) and the city building inspector who evaluated whether personnel could go in to recover Dan and Stephanie and other evidence.

Thanks both Riverside & San Bernandino County Sheriff Offices, California Highway Patrol, SB County Coroner, and SB County DA, and media who helped keep the public informed and the case progressed.

Part 3 coming.

Thanks for these posts!