Remains of Redlands couple missing from nudist resort formally identified – Orange County Register

The remains of a Redlands couple believed to have been killed by their nudist camp neighbor have been positively identified, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

The bodies of Stephanie Menard, 73, and Daniel Menard, 79, were officially identified Thursday, Sept. 5, according to sheriff’s department spokeswoman Mara Rodriguez.

According to the Redlands Police Department, the Menards’ bodies were discovered Aug. 29 under the home of their neighbor Michael Royce Sparks, 62. He was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, including a special circumstance allegation for committing multiple homicides. Sparks is being held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Police have not released a motive for the alleged killings.

Sparks has not yet entered a plea in the case. His court date has been postponed twice, once on Wednesday and again on Thursday.

The Menards and Sparks lived at the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort, located in Reche Canyon, on the border of Redlands and Colton.

The Menards’ car was found abandoned on a road inside the complex on Aug. 24, with the keys still in the ignition. Stephanie Menard’s purse and her husband’s cellphone were found inside their mobile home nearby.

A friend reported the couple missing the next day, police said. Residents of the complex became concerned about the couple’s disappearance, telling police that Daniel Menard suffered from dementia. The couple’s white shih tzu, Cuddles, disappeared and has not been found.