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

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"He did have a rifle and he did attempt to kill himself when police discovered him," said City of Redlands spokesperson Carl Baker. "The weapon misfired ... it didn't go off."

Authorities concluded their search for the couple at Sparks' home earlier this week after human remains were found in bags in what authorities described as a concrete bunker underneath the property.
 

Neighbor charged with murder in disappearance of Redlands couple​


REDLANDS, Calif. (KABC) -- The man accused of killing a Redlands couple - who were initially reported missing - has been charged in connection to their deaths, authorities announced.

Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was charged with two counts of murder and two special circumstance allegations.

"From the beginning of this case, what we were impressed by were the community members, the friends and loved ones who learned about the Menards and came forward to indicate that things weren't right," said San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson during a Tuesday news conference.

Sparks is expected to be arraigned on Wednesday. With those charges, the DA could decide to seek the death penalty.

According to Redlands Police Chief Rachel Tolber, a family member told officers Sparks had admitted to killing two people.

"It was while our teams were on site that the police dispatcher received information from an individual identified as a family member indicating that [Sparks] was involved in the disappearance and had admitted to killing two people and was threatening suicide," said Tolber.

She says it was clear the couple and Sparks hated each other. It likely started with a dispute over a pepper tree. Dan Menard asked Sparks to trim it and when he refused, Menard cut it himself, Wilkerson said. But there were probably other conflicts as well, she said.

RBBM

Real, or imagined, by Sparks??

I really wonder about this.

JMVHO.
 
No, their house had a teal roof, IIRC
The Menards’ house is on the left of Sparks one, practically attached. It the one shown in the article, to which I thought you were referring to. it has a green/blue roof. See thread 387
But as mentioned by @Inthedetails , all RV and houses there are pretty much close :-(
Must be horrible for any neighbour…
 
There is a neighbor on the other side who lives in an RV. She's the one who has been giving multiple interviews. And, the housing is all so close together, essentially everyone is "next door" even if a few doors down.

jmo
After looking at it more closely, I think it might be a travel trailer.

bunker-f5xdi0.jpg
 
While authorities have not shared details about a potential motive – other than that it did not appear to be planned – neighbors discussed with reporters an ongoing feud between Sparks and the Menards.

“When I first moved here, he told me how much he hated them, and he hated Dan specifically because Dan would cut the tree … trim the tree down,” she said
 
While authorities have not shared details about a potential motive – other than that it did not appear to be planned – neighbors discussed with reporters an ongoing feud between Sparks and the Menards.

“When I first moved here, he told me how much he hated them, and he hated Dan specifically because Dan would cut the tree … trim the tree down,” she said
This neighbor really is driving the narrative.

jmo
 
While authorities have not shared details about a potential motive – other than that it did not appear to be planned – neighbors discussed with reporters an ongoing feud between Sparks and the Menards.

“When I first moved here, he told me how much he hated them, and he hated Dan specifically because Dan would cut the tree … trim the tree down,” she said
There's a detail here that is new, to me at least. In addition to confessing to his family, he may have texted others.

From the article:

A family member called 911 saying Sparks was involved in the Menards’ disappearance, adding he “had admitted to killing two people and was threatening suicide,” Tolber, the police chief, said Tuesday.

I believe that there may have been other people that were texted, but the initial call that started our focus on him was from the family,” Tolber said.
 
SEP 5, 2024
The remains that were found under a Redlands home have been identified as those of a missing couple, authorities confirmed Thursday. Their neighbor has been charged with their murders.

 
Same overall info in this news article, but a lot of photos
 
SEP 6, 2024
The remains were positively identified by the coroner's office as belonging to the Menards on Thursday, Redlands police confirmed to NBC News.

It's not clear what the cause or manner of death was. NBC News has reached out to the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner for more details.

There has been no sign of the couple's dog, Cuddles.

:(
 

Man charged with murder of California nudist ranch couple pleads not guilty​

The Redlands man charged with the murder of his neighbors and whose remains were found under his home pleaded not guilty in court Monday.

Michael Royce Sparks, 62, the neighbor of Daniel Menard, 79, and his wife, Stephanie Menard, 73, is accused of killing the couple who disappeared from the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in San Bernardino County in late August.
..

Sparks' next court date is scheduled for Oct. 18 at 8:30 a.m.
 

Man charged with murder of California nudist ranch couple pleads not guilty​

The Redlands man charged with the murder of his neighbors and whose remains were found under his home pleaded not guilty in court Monday.

Michael Royce Sparks, 62, the neighbor of Daniel Menard, 79, and his wife, Stephanie Menard, 73, is accused of killing the couple who disappeared from the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in San Bernardino County in late August.
..

Sparks' next court date is scheduled for Oct. 18 at 8:30 a.m.
So this bunker man murderer opted to plead not guilty. No surprise. I can’t wait to hear about his defense.
 

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