Neighbor arrested in murder of Stephanie & Daniel Menard and their dog Cuddles in Redlands, CA

[Boston Babe 73]

Exactly! I saw someone reply on a post that there was another missing couple from that same nudist colony years ago, but I can't confirm that and any search I do brings up only the most recent missing people. It's just bizarre to me that they found remains days ago and are still searching for more. If it were just the recent couple that went missing, why aren't they confirming this and why are they still searching for more? Cement bunker and hoarder gives me the "Goodbye Horses tuck your junk and dance in the mirror with a skin suit" vibes.

[Bewitchingstorm]

Wow, I go away for the holiday weekend and come back to find out Sparks might be a serial killer.

[raisedbywolves]

@BWS, it's all your fault.

Seriously, when I posted this I thought it might be one of those cases where an old couple gets lost and stuck in the woods and possibly dies or something like this. Never dreamed that it would involve possible serial killers.

[Bewitchingstorm]

It's definitely taken a turn that I didn't see coming. How very sad for the couple and for Cuddles.

[KimTisha]

It remains unclear if the additional human remains found on the property Sunday may be another victim or victims.

Trying to imagine a situation where human remains found on someone's property aren't a victim.

[Bewitchingstorm]

Another neighbor shared a bit more information about the ongoing feud he had with the Menards.

Wilkerson said the dispute started over a tree that the suspect in this case, 62-year-old Michael Royce Sparks wouldn’t trim, so the Menards did.

Wilkerson said it started a feud that lasted more than a decade.

https://www.wagmtv.com/2024/09/03/re...bors-basement/

[raisedbywolves]

It's always about a tree, a fence, or kids.

[Angiebla]

Im foreseeing an episode of "Fear Thy Neighbor" coming out of this. Its a good show.

Why do these idiots bury their victims ON THEIR PROPERTY?

[Boston Babe 73]

It's always about a tree, a fence, or kids.

Or animals......

[KimTisha]

Never saw "Fear Thy Neighbor," sounds like "The Monster Next Door."

Although I wouldn't personally do it, I think they bury the bodies on their own property because it feels safe. They can control who goes on the property and where they go or dig or anything else.

[Bewitchingstorm]

So, is there still talk about other bodies being found under his house? I haven't seen very much mention of it in the news.

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/03/us/mi...ges/index.html

The couple was last seen on August 24 at their home in the Olive Dell Ranch resort in San Bernardino County. Human remains were found underneath Sparks’ home after he was arrested last week, following a tense and lengthy standoff.

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.

• Redlands Police Chief Rachel Tolber said one of Sparks’ relatives led them to him. Hours prior to his arrest last week, a family member called police saying he was involved in the Menards’ disappearance.

He “had admitted to killing two people and was threatening suicide,” Tolber said about Sparks.

“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 added.

Officials couldn’t discuss a potential motive for the killings and Anderson said it did not appear to be planned.

[Nic B]

Did he kill the dog, too?

[Boston Babe 73]

I'll never understand why they made it look like there was more than just the missing couple that might have been found.

@Nic, I'm sure he killed the dog too. I do wish that they reported on that kind of stuff, but people are like Ron and hate animals so don't care about what happens to them the way that we do.

[Bewitchingstorm]

Yes, I think he killed Cuddles too.

[Nic B]

Man, I was hoping the little dog got away somehow.

[Bewitchingstorm]

Man, I was hoping the little dog got away somehow.

Same.

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/05/us/wh...ple/index.html

A husband and wife who settled at a nudist ranch nestled in a remote California canyon had been missing for days when a 911 call steered police to the house next door.

Their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, 62, has been charged with two counts of murder after police said he admitted to killing two people and human remains were found at his home. Authorities have confirmed the victims were the missing couple – Daniel Menard, 79, and his wife, Stephanie Menard, 73.

Their cause and manner of death has not been determined, a spokesperson for the coroner’s office told CNN.

Police do not have a reason to believe there are other victims, Tolber said on Tuesday.

The search took days because of the state of the property, its potential collapse and the need to remove debris with heavy equipment, police said.

The Menards’ dog was not found during the search, police 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.

Wilkerson told CNN affiliate KABC she was aware there was tension.

“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.

[Nic B]

I'm still hoping the dog managed to escape.

[KimTisha]

I hope the police are checking pounds and rescues in the area. I'd hate to think wee Cuddles escaped the crazy neighbor only to end up being euthanized. I haven't seen what kind of dog s/he is.

[raisedbywolves]

https://abc7.com/post/dan-stephanie-...auma/15310951/

Stephanie and Daniel Menard died of "blunt force trauma to the head," according to the coroner. Their deaths have been ruled as homicides.

[Boston Babe 73]

Although the title says he killed Cuddles, I'm holding out hope that the dog somehow escaped. Although, unless he was picked up by a rescue or shelter, he would likely be dead anyway between the coyotes and heatwave they've had there. I would think that they would all be on the lookout for the dog as well and would recognize him if he ended up in their care