LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a dramatic turn of events, police used a heavily armored vehicle equipped with a battering ram to break into a house in Southern California. This action was taken to arrest the neighbor of a couple from a nudist community who were reported missing earlier this week, officials confirmed on Friday.
Authorities suspect that the remains of Stephanie Menard, 73, and her husband, Daniel, 79, are located within the property. However, before they can begin searching the house, they need to secure it to ensure the safety of the search team, according to Carl Baker, a spokesperson for the Redlands Police Department.
“We believe with confidence that they are deceased and that their remains are still on the premises,” Baker stated. He did not provide any details regarding a possible motive for the incident.
Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was taken into custody on Thursday night and is currently being investigated for homicide. He was discovered hiding under the house at Olive Dell Ranch, which is marketed as a family-friendly nudist resort and RV park, located about 60 miles (96 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.
Baker was unsure whether Sparks has legal representation at this time. According to online jail records, he is being held without bail and is set to appear in court on Tuesday.
A dog trained to find cadavers indicated that at least one body was present somewhere beneath the house. However, police officers have been advised to wait for a structural evaluation to ensure that the home is safe to enter. “We are not going to risk sending our personnel inside if the structure might collapse,” Baker emphasized, noting that this assessment could take several hours.
The couple was reported missing after a friend contacted authorities on Sunday, stating they were last seen at their home on Saturday morning. Their pet dog, a Shih Tzu named Cuddles, was also missing from the premises.
Later that same day, the couple’s unlocked car was found parked nearby, and both of their cell phones, along with Stephanie Menard’s purse, were left inside their home. Daniel Menard had been diagnosed with diabetes and dementia.
Tammie Wilkerson, a close friend of the Menards, told KABC-TV that the couple were kind-hearted individuals actively involved in their community. “They’re genuinely sweet people,” Wilkerson remarked. “They have no malicious intent, which makes all of this so perplexing.”
The arrest came after an intense series of events that unfolded as police were investigating at the RV park on Thursday. “We received credible information suggesting that a person connected to their disappearance was on the property,” Baker explained. “That’s when we decided to secure the area.”
When police attempted to reach Sparks at his home, their efforts were unsuccessful, leading to the deployment of the tactical vehicle. News footage revealed that the house sustained significant structural damage during the operation. Sparks was eventually arrested around 9:30 p.m. after he surrendered voluntarily to the authorities.
