Coroner Determines What Killed Elderly Couple Who Disappeared From Nudist Ranch

Daniel and Stephanie Menard, in their 70s, were last seen at a nudist RV camp near Redlands, Calif., on Aug. 24, 2024. Redlands Police Department

An elderly couple that went missing from a nudist ranch in Southern California last month died of “blunt force trauma of the head,” according to the San Bernardino County coroner.

Police recovered the remains of Daniel Menard, 79, and his wife Stephanie Menard, 73, on Sept. 2 in the basement of their neighbor’s house at Olive Dell Ranch, a nudist community for families and couples located about 65 miles east of Los Angeles.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s coroner division concluded, “The cause of death [is] determined to be homicide,” the sheriff’s spokeswoman Mara Rodriguez told The Epoch Times on Sept. 18.

The Menards’ neighbor, Michael Sparks, 62, was arrested Aug. 29 by the Redland Police Department and is suspected of killing them. He was booked into the West Valley Detention Center, where he remained held without bail Wednesday, according to inmate records.

Sparks is charged with two counts of murder. His next scheduled court date is Oct. 18.

After arresting Sparks at his home next door to the Menards’ house, detectives continued searching his property.

The house where the bodies were buried was nearly destroyed before the arrest when police used a vehicle with a battering ram attached to it to gain entry.

Once the structure was stabilized, detectives used a cadaver dog, which alerted them to an area under the house.

On Sept. 2, police recovered the remains of two people, later identified as the Menards, along with other evidence, according to an update posted on social media. Fire personnel, forensics experts, and the county coroner’s office began removing bags of evidence from the space beneath the house.

Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was arrested for murder in connection with the disappearance of Daniel and Stephanie Menard. Courtesy of Redlands Police

The unusual missing-persons case drew national attention after a neighbor reported the Menards missing in August. Police found the couple’s vehicle down the road from the home at the ranch with the car keys still inside.

Investigators also found the TV and air conditioning on at their house.

Police used a helicopter and a drone to search nearby ravines and park grounds before zeroing in on their neighbor’s property.

Police have found no evidence of the Menards’ dog, a small white Shih Tzu named Cuddles, which went missing with the couple.

“At this point, the property has been turned back over to the owners,” Redlands Police spokesman Carl Baker told The Epoch Times. “There was no sign of Cuddles.”

According to court records in San Bernardino County, Stephanie Menard had filed three restraining orders in June. Police were not able to confirm whether the orders were connected to the case.

The case has been turned over to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, Baker said.

The Menards' dog Cuddles was also missing, according to Redlands Police. Redlands Police Department