A vigil was held Saturday night, Aug. 31, in Reche Canyon in Redlands to mourn Stephanie and Dan Menard, a missing elderly couple who police say were killed by their neighbor.
Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of murder after authorities went to his home at the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and threw a battering ram inside. He was found hiding and surrendered, police said.
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and the neighboring community gather for a vigil in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and the neighboring community gather for a vigil in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Leonard Long and Brittany Corless express their sadness during a vigil held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived there and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and the surrounding community attend a vigil in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others gather for a vigil in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Luz Pitre approaches arranging candles for her friends during a vigil held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived there and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
A neighbor at the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands approaches the candle arrangement during a vigil for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Chris Hernandez approaches arranging candles for his friends during a vigil held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived there and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Chris Hernandez shares memories of his friends at a vigil held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived there and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Luz Pitre shows her grief during a vigil held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands and others attend a vigil for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, contributing photographer)
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others share memories during a vigil in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Ofelia Cabana and Ruben Zamora remember the lives of their neighbors during a vigil held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
A vigil was held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived there and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
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Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and the neighboring community gather for a vigil in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Develop
On Friday, human remains believed to be those of the Menards were found in a concrete bunker beneath Sparks’ home.
The alleged murders have shaken the community.
“We just want to be very sensitive to everybody who’s going through this… friends, neighbors, you know, residents who knew the Menards and just knew them as neighbors, and didn’t necessarily know them personally, you know, just heard the story and were touched,” Michelle Mick, who organized the vigil, told ABC7 Saturday night.
The couple, both 70, had lived at the ranch for 15 years.
“It’s been very hard,” Chris Hernandez, who attended the vigil, told the station. “A lot of confusion, a lot of questions.”
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