LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police used a tanklike vehicle with a battering ram to smash into a Southern California home in response to a missing person case involving a couple from a nudist community. Stephanie Menard, 73, and her husband, Daniel, 79, were reported missing, and police believe their bodies are inside the residence. Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was arrested on suspicion of homicide and found under the house at the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort where the couple lived. A dog trained to find cadavers indicated the presence of at least one body in the home.
The couple was last seen at their home the previous Saturday, and their pet dog was also missing. Their car was found unlocked nearby, with their phones and Stephanie Menard’s purse left inside. Daniel Menard was described as a diabetic with dementia.
Friends of the couple described them as kind and involved in the community. The arrest of Sparks came after police received information that he was involved in the disappearance of the couple and was on the property. After unsuccessful attempts to contact Sparks, the tactical vehicle was used to access his home, resulting in his surrender and arrest. The Redlands Police Department is still awaiting a structural assessment to search the home for evidence, with the investigation ongoing.
The incident has left the community shocked and confused, as the Menards were known as sweet and caring people. The case remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the motive behind the disappearance of the couple.
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