Array
Human remains were found underneath the home of the suspect arrested in connection with the disappearance of a missing Redlands couple, authorities confirmed Friday.
Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was arrested on suspicion of murder overnight after authorities swarmed the neighborhood and locked down the area surrounding the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort Thursday. Sparks was booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
During a news conference Friday morning, Carl Baker with city of Redlands said Sparks surrendered voluntarily after he was found underneath his home, which was tore down by a police armored vehicle with a hydraulic battering ram.
The human remains have not yet been identified but Baker previously said the victims – Stephanie Menard, 73, and her husband, Daniel, 79 – are believed to be dead.
Baker said the remains were found in bags located in a concrete bunker underneath Sparks’ home.
“We had a city crew with a camera that we use to evaluate sewer blockages. They were able to run that camera into that space and verify the presence of the evidence”, said Baker.
“There were no tunnels that we can tell”, he added. “There is a space about five feet deep.and it goes back maybe to the back of the property, which is a mobile home.”
Cadaver dogs from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were brought in to search the property Friday morning.
Authorities said a cadaver dog had detected at least one body underneath the home, near the area where Sparks was taken into custody.
