More human remains have been discovered at the home of a man accused of killing an elderly couple who disappeared from a nudist resort.
The home belongs to Michael Royce Sparks, 62, and is located next to the California nudist ranch where Stephanie Menard, 73, and Daniel Menard, 79, had been living before they disappeared. Both are presumed dead.
A four-day search ensued after the couple failed to show up at church on Aug. 25. It ended Thursday when police received a tip pointing to Sparks.
His home was damaged after a heated confrontation while the suspect was armed and barricaded inside.
In the rubble, police found a bunker containing human remains. Police now say more remains were discovered while Sparks remains in custody on suspicion of murder.
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Stephanie Menard, 73, and Daniel Menard, 79, disappeared from the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Colton, California, late last month. Both are presumed dead.
The house where the human remains were found belongs to Michael Royce Sparks, 62. It is located next to the California nudist ranch.
“A Sheriff’s Department cadaver dog was deployed this morning to the scene of the suspect’s arrest,” the Redlands Police Department wrote in a statement at 11 a.m. Monday.
‘The dog alerted to the area where the suspect was detained, indicating the presence of at least one corpse.
‘RPD currently has several resources on site to determine if the structure is safe before crews enter to search for bodies.’
Two hours earlier, police in the town eight miles from where the couple was last seen, the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort, said they intended to “complete the search for evidence at the scene of the suspect’s arrest.”
The statement mentioned how police had already recovered the remains of two people on Friday, who they said were “believed to be Dan and Stephanie Menard.”
‘Other evidence’ was also found, police said, without providing further details.
Identification of the remains and cause of death were pending an autopsy that would be completed “sometime this week,” they said.
“There was no sign of the couple’s dog, Cuddles, during the search,” police added of the couple’s Shih Tzu, which is still missing.
The house was left in tatters after police forced their way inside on Thursday after the suspect barricaded himself inside. Beneath it, police found a bunker containing human remains.
The house is located near where the couple lived, in the Olive Dell Ranch nudist colony (pictured).
It was not clear whether the new remains belonged to another individual or individuals.
On Saturday, police in the city located in San Bernardino County, about 50 miles from Los Angeles, ceased operations after “showing signs of a possible collapse.”
Heavy equipment and machinery were then used to remove the debris, paving the way for the discovery on Sunday.
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Redlands Police Department for further information.
At Sparks’ bunker, he armed himself with a rifle while refusing to let officers in, forcing police to use a drone and then a battering ram to physically tear apart the house.
Police were then able to make an arrest after Sparks attempted suicide but was unable to do so when his gun misfired, investigators said.
No motive has been announced for the alleged killings, but residents told KTLA the trio had been involved in a long-standing feud.
Authorities had already confirmed that human remains were found in the suspects’ home on Friday after it was turned into rubble following the long police standoff.
The couple’s beloved dog, Cuddles, is still missing.
The anonymous people added that Sparks never liked the couple, although others said they were shocked to hear he was a suspect in the case.
“I don’t know him very well, but he’s a very soft-spoken guy,” said Jim Hynd, a neighbor who lives in the nudist colony. “He’d probably be the last person you’d think would do something like that.”
The elderly couple were also said to have health problems: Daniel suffered from dementia and diabetes, and Stephanie needed a cane to walk.
