During a news conference on Friday, Carl Baker, a spokesman for the Redlands Police Department, expressed uncertainty regarding the identification of the discovered remains. He stated, “We don’t know we’ve located their bodies. We located human remains. I can’t verify that that’s Dan and Stephanie [Menard].”
Around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sparks was discovered beneath his home and willingly turned himself in to the authorities, according to Baker.
According to Baker, the suspect surrendered willingly. Although he hasn’t been particularly cooperative, he did surrender of his own accord last night following extensive negotiations.
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- 1 “I can confirm the presence of human remains under the house”
- 2 “Very suspicious for them to be gone”
On Thursday, the police identified the Menards’ neighbor as a person of interest in the couple’s disappearance, but they did not disclose the neighbor’s name.
The Menards, along with their small white Shih Tzu named Cuddles, were last spotted at the Olive Dell Ranch around 10 a.m. on Saturday, as reported by the police.
“I can confirm the presence of human remains under the house”
After the Menards vanished, their friends grew worried and expressed their concerns. To assist in the search, the police deployed dogs and a helicopter from the sheriff’s office.
On Thursday, the police announced that they had received a tip which led them to obtain a search warrant in order to locate the suspect.
During a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Baker expressed suspicion of possible foul play.
The police decided to prioritize the safety of the officers by opting for the use of armored vehicles to dismantle the walls of Sparks’ house instead of a direct entry. According to the authorities, Sparks had barricaded himself in the house and was armed with a rifle during the incident on Friday.
According to Baker, the suspect did possess a rifle and did make an attempt to take his own life when he was found by the police. However, there was a malfunction with the rifle, preventing it from firing.
On Friday, Baker stated that the police will carry on with their investigation at the dismantled home in search of the couple.
During the investigation, authorities made a significant discovery under Sparks’ home. They found human remains and uncovered bags filled with crucial evidence.
Detective Baker confirmed that human remains were found under the house. A representative from the Coroner’s Office is currently evaluating the remains, although their identification is not possible at this moment.
According to Baker, the police have not yet identified the remains, but they have a belief that Dan and Stephanie Menard are deceased.
“Very suspicious for them to be gone”
After the couple’s last sighting, their car was discovered unlocked down the street from their residence on Keissel Road in Redlands. Notably, some of their belongings, such as their cellphones and Stephanie Menard’s purse, were found at the house.
Friends were concerned about the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.
“I just want them back,” expressed Sandy Marinelli, a close acquaintance of the couple for over ten years. “It’s heartbreaking to see them going through this ordeal. They are genuinely kind-hearted individuals, actively involved in their community and faithful attendees of church. They certainly don’t deserve any of this.”
According to Marinelli, a neighbor visited the couple’s home on Sunday and noticed Stephanie Menard’s cane inside. The neighbor also mentioned that the TV and computer were left turned on.
However, the couple could not be located anywhere.
Marinelli expressed her suspicion about their sudden disappearance, saying, “It was just very suspicious for them to be gone.”
According to Tammie Wilkerson, a fellow resident at the ranch, Sparks had an ongoing disagreement with the Menards.
“He despised them. He made it clear to me on multiple occasions,” Wilkerson expressed. “The reason behind his animosity is utterly ridiculous. They had a tree that was situated on the boundary of their property, and Dan would often trim its branches, which he detested. This fueled his strong aversion towards them.”
Julie Sharp, a digital producer at CBS Los Angeles, hails from the South Bay and pursued a degree in print journalism at Cal State University Long Beach.
