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A California nudist is accused of having killed his neighbors, cutting them and drowning their shih tzu after having made fun of a hot dog at $ 1, according to the authorities and local reports.
The Redlands police announced the arrest of Michael Sparks, 62, August – five last days after the disappearance of his neighbors.
They found the suspect at his home in Olive Dell Ranch, presented as a “family” VR park and a renowned California nudist complex. A corpse dog alerted the police from a bunker under the house, where they recovered two bodies, dismembered, mutilated and stored in plastic bags.
The victims were Daniel Menard, 79, who suffered from dementia, and his 73 -year -old wife Stephanie.
Human remains found at California Nudist Resort after the couple disappears
Michael Sparks, 62, on the left, was accused of the murder of Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73. (Redlands police department)
The investigators had to evacuate the scene because they feared that it did not know. They returned with heavy equipment to search and collect more evidence.
Redlands police chief Rachel Tolber told journalists last year This spark tried to shoot itself before its capture, but the pistol missed.
The dog, cuddling, remains not counted.
The police and criminalic teams are investigating the property of Michael Sparks, who was arrested as part of the disappearance of Stephanie Menard and Daniel Menard. (Dean Musgrove / The Orange County Register via AP)
During the preliminary hearing of Sparks this week, the detective of Redlands Thomas Williams said that he shared details on The massacres With a prison snitch, which alerted the authorities, according to the Press telegram.
“He said that Mr. Sparks told him that the incident had started with a hot dog that Daniel Menard had bought him,” Williams said in court, according to the newspaper. “He said that Mr. Sparks felt that the hot dog was a blow to him, making him feel that it was only a hot dog in dollars, and that is what triggered him that day.”
The Menards were seen for the last time on Saturday August 24 before their bodies were found, police said. Daniel was 79 years old and Stephanie was 73 years old, according to Los Angeles Times. (Redlands police department)
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Sparks is accused of using a rake, a garden hoe and a hammer to beat her neighbors to death before dismembering and hiding the bodies in plastic bags in his bunker. The informant also claimed to have admitted to having drowned the hugs and leaving his leftovers to eat coyotes.
Eleven witnesses testified during the hearing, according to court documents, and the evidence included photos of the crime scene as well as texts between sparks and three witnesses.
In a photo, photographed in the court by the press telegram, Sparks would have written to a friend: “Hhaid my neighbors. I did not know that I had it in me.” Broken. “
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The Redlands police department said that the Menards dog, the hugs, has not been found. (Redlands police department)
During an impasse before the arrest of Sparks, the agents who answered asked him where the Menards were and if they needed help, the newspaper said.
“He replied that they were in pieces,” said detective Williams.
Other witnesses said that sparks did not get along with the Menards.
They had alleged litigation on a noisy rescue generator, a cut of trees and the hot dog.
This reservation image provided by the Redlands police department shows Michael Royce Sparks, who was reserved in prison for investigation into homicide as part of the disappearance of a living couple in a nudist colony in Redlands, California. (Redlands police department via AP, file)
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Sparks Facing two accounts murder and an accusation of cruelty to animals. He pleaded not guilty during a previous procedure and was held without a deposit.
Justice Alexander Martinez rejected a defense request to prevent cameras from leaving the courtroom. Sparks must return to court on June 27 for indictment.
