Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was arrested on suspicion of murder Thursday after authorities descended on his home at the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and tore into it with a battering ram. He was found hiding and surrendered, police said.
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and the neighboring community gather for a vigil in Redlands in honor of Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and the neighboring community gather for a vigil in Redlands in honor of Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Leonard Long and Brittany Corless show their sorrow during a vigil by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived there and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and the surrounding community attend a vigil in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others gather for a vigil in Redlands in honor of Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Luz Pitre approaches the candle arrangement for his friends during a vigil held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived there and who police say was killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
A neighbor of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands approaches the candle arrangement at a vigil held for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Chris Hernandez approaches the candle arrangement for his friends during a vigil held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived there and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Chris Hernandez shares memories of his friends during a vigil held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived there and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Luz Pitre shows her sorrow during a vigil held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands and others attend a vigil for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others share memories during a vigil in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Ofelia Cabana and Ruben Zamora remember the lives of neighbors during a vigil held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say was killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
A vigil was held by residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and others in Redlands for Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived there and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
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Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort and the neighboring community gather for a vigil in Redlands in honor of Stephanie and Dan Menard, an elderly couple who lived at Olive Dell and who police say were killed by their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
On Friday, human remains believed to be those of the Menards were found in a concrete bunker underneath Sparks’ home.
The suspected slayings have left the community shaken.
“We just want to be very sensitive to everyone that’s going through this … friends, neighbors, you know, residents that knew the Menards and then just knew them as their neighbors, and just didn’t necessarily know them personally, you know, just heard the story and were touched,” Michelle Mick, who organized the vigil, told ABC7 on Saturday night.
The couple, in their 70s, had lived at the ranch for 15 years.
“It’s been really hard,” Chris Hernandez, who attended the vigil, told the station. “A lot of confusion, a lot of questions.”
