Police Arrest 62-Year-Old Linked to Missing Redlands Couple

An arrest has been made in the case of an elderly couple who disappeared from the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in San Bernardino County on Saturday. Redlands police announced on Friday that Michael Royce Sparks, 62, has been charged with murder in connection to their disappearance and is currently booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

A news conference is set for 8 a.m. where authorities are expected to share further details about the investigation. Earlier in the week, police confirmed they had identified a person of interest in the case — the couple’s next-door neighbor — who may have been involved in the disappearance of 79-year-old Daniel Menard and his 73-year-old wife, Stephanie Menard.

The couple was last seen at Olive Dell Ranch at approximately 10 a.m. on Saturday, accompanied by their small white Shih Tzu named Cuddles. Following their disappearance, friends began expressing their concerns as law enforcement officials organized search efforts that included the deployment of dogs and a helicopter from the sheriff’s office.

According to Carl Baker, a spokesperson for the city of Redlands and the Redlands Police Department, “We suspect that there may have been foul play.” This statement was made during a news briefing on Thursday afternoon. Police confirmed that valuable information had been provided to them via a tip, prompting them to search the home of the Menards’ neighbor.

Armed with a search warrant, police made the decision to deploy SWAT teams, who utilized armored vehicles to breach the walls of the neighbor’s residence rather than entering through traditional means for the safety of the officers.

Days after the couple was last seen, their unlocked car was discovered a short distance away from their home on Keissel Road in Redlands. Inside their home, authorities found several personal belongings, including the couple’s cell phones and Stephanie Menard’s purse, further raising suspicions about their disappearance.

The unsettling circumstances surrounding the couple’s absence led to growing concerns from their friends. Sandy Marinelli, a long-time friend of the Menards, expressed her distress stating, “I just want them back. They don’t deserve this. They’re just good people. They go to church. They don’t deserve any of this.” Marinelli noted that another neighbor had gone to the couple’s residence on Sunday after they failed to prepare for church. Upon investigation, she discovered Stephanie Menard’s cane left behind inside the house, along with a television and a computer still turned on. However, there was no sign of the couple.

“It was just very suspicious for them to be gone,” Marinelli added, highlighting the concern shared by friends and relatives as the situation escalated.

As more information comes to light, many are left hoping for developments that may lead to a better understanding of what happened to Daniel and Stephanie Menard. Until then, their friends and community remain in shock and disbelief at the unfolding events surrounding their disappearance.

Source: CBS News