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Remains found at Redlands nudist resort identified as missing elderly couple

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Remains found at Redlands nudist resort identified as missing elderly couple

Authorities confirmed the bodies that were found beneath a murder suspect’s Redlands home belonged to missing couple Stephanie Menard, 73, and Daniel Menard, 79.

The San Bernardino County Coroner’s office confirmed the news on Thursday after the couple’s next-door neighbor, Michael Sparks, 62, was arrested and charged with the couple’s murder.

The Menards were first reported missing on Aug. 24 when their friends said they failed to show up for church. 

Inside the couple’s home, located at the Olive Dell Ranch Nudist Resort, their personal items such as cell phones and purses were found. Their abandoned vehicle was parked just down the road from their house with the keys still inside. Their dog, a small white Shih Tzu, was also missing.

On Aug. 29, authorities descended on the nudist ranch and began searching for Sparks who was believed to be hiding on property grounds. 

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  • Daniel Menard and Stephanie Menard missing
  • Michael Sparks
  • The home of Daniel Menard and Stephanie Menard at the Olive Dell Ranch Nudist Resort in Redlands. (KTLA)
  • The missing couple's vehicle was found abandoned and unlocked down the road from their home in Redlands. (KTLA)
  • The home of Daniel Menard and Stephanie Menard at the Olive Dell Ranch Nudist Resort in Redlands. (KTLA)
  • The home of the missing couple's next-door neighbor, Michael Sparks, was raided and destroyed by SWAT Team members and law enforcement on August 29, 2024. (KTLA)
  • The home of the missing couple's next-door neighbor, Michael Sparks, was raided and destroyed by SWAT Team members and law enforcement on August 29, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A SWAT Team's armored vehicle arrived to execute a search warrant at the suspect's home on August 29, 2024. (KTLA)
  • The home of Daniel Menard and Stephanie Menard at the Olive Dell Ranch Nudist Resort in Redlands. (KTLA)

After police were tipped off about where the couple’s bodies might be located, authorities surrounded Sparks’ home. He had barricaded himself with a rifle inside, prompting police to use a drone and then a battering ram to tear through and destroy the house.  

Sparks was eventually found hiding in a cement bunker beneath his home, in the same location where a cadaver dog alerted officers to bags stuffed with human remains.  

Authorities said Sparks attempted to take his own life moments before he was captured, but his rifle misfired. He eventually surrendered and was taken into custody. 

Neighbors told KTLA that the suspect and the elderly couple had been neighbors for years and had an ongoing feud. One of the disputes reportedly involved a tree between their properties.  

“He was mad because Dan cut some tree limbs on a tree that belonged to him and he has held a grudge ever since then,” said Tammie Wilkerson, a neighbor. “I know he didn’t like the Menards. He said it many times that he hated them. But I never thought he would do something like this.”

  • Michael Sparks
  • Michael Sparks home
  • The home of the missing couple's next-door neighbor, Michael Sparks, was raided and destroyed by SWAT Team members and law enforcement on August 29, 2024. (KTLA)
  • Michael Sparks home
  • A SWAT Team's armored vehicle arrived to execute a search warrant at the suspect's home on August 29, 2024. (KTLA)
  • The home of the missing couple's next-door neighbor, Michael Sparks, was raided and destroyed by SWAT Team members and law enforcement on August 29, 2024. (KTLA)

Details on how the couple was killed or a possible motive behind their murder remains under investigation.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson and Redlands Chief of Police Rachel Tolber thanked the community for their assistance on the case.

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“You have a community that, for all intents and purposes that we’ve seen throughout the week, is a tight-knit community,” Anderson said. “Obviously, people were very concerned about the Menards. There have been vigils that have been held there.”

“I’m very thankful for all of the partners, including our community, that were able to come together to see the investigation through to fruition,” Tolber added.

Sparks was charged with two felony counts of murder. He remains in custody and is expected to appear in court later this week. 

Los Angeles, Ca

Protests mark 1-year anniversary of federal agents storming L.A.’s Fashion District

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Protests mark 1-year anniversary of federal agents storming L.A.’s Fashion District

Events and protests were held in downtown Los Angeles Saturday on the one-year anniversary of one of the largest immigration enforcement actions in California.

One June 6, 2025, federal agents stormed the L.A. Fashion District, arresting and detaining dozens of workers.

The enforcement action served as a catalyst, igniting a wave of subsequent raids across Southern California. In response, city leaders affirmed their “unwavering commitment to the immigrant communities” in Los Angeles, as events were held throughout the city to remember those who were deported and those whose immigration cases remain unresolved.

Protesters advocating for immigrant communities gathered outside a federal detention center in downtown Saturday, waving flags and signs. One woman was arrested during a clash with police.

Protesters face off with police in downtown L.A. on the one-year-anniversary of a large ICE raid. (KTLA)

The initial raid in the L.A. Garment District swept up workers, including the father of one woman who described the experience as “one of the most traumatic experiences” of their lives. This operation was among the first deportation actions that resulted in families being separated and triggered days of civil unrest.

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At a commemoration event, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and the Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of L.A. stood together, vowing to protect immigrant communities living in fear.

“We all felt attacked, and I think what’s so critical today, is to know and remember and acknowledge that this is still going on every day,” Bass said.

While the Department of Homeland Security maintains that its enforcement operations target criminals, families of those detained argue that immigration enforcement terrorizes hardworking people. These families contend that many immigrants pay taxes and contribute to society, even if they are not U.S. citizens.

Immigration attorneys report that thousands of individuals are still trying to locate their loved ones. They also highlighted that hundreds of people swept up in immigration raids last year remain detained in facilities, facing medical neglect, inhumane conditions and the denial of basic due process protections.

Watch the full report from KTLA’s Sara Welch in the video at the top of this story.

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All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTLA. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTLA staff before being published.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Pasadena motorist knocked unconscious in unprovoked assault after other driver flashes high beams at him

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Pasadena motorist knocked unconscious in unprovoked assault after other driver flashes high beams at him

A motorist was rendered unconscious after what authorities are calling an unprovoked attack that occurred after another driver flashed their high beams at him, authorities say.

According to the Pasadena Police Department, the victim, a 63-year-old man, was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue near Washington Boulevard when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction flashed him around 1 a.m. Saturday. 

“The victim reported that he was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue from Washington Boulevard when he observed a vehicle traveling southbound flashing its high beams at him,” a Pasadena Police Department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA. “The victim stated he stopped his vehicle and exited. He was then assaulted by an unknown suspect. The assault was unprovoked.” 

The attack left the man unconscious and with a three-inch deep laceration to his head, police added. Upon regaining consciousness, the man transported himself to Huntington Hospital, and it was around 1:20 a.m. when police responded there to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon and began their investigation.

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Upon arriving at the hospital, the victim told police that, due to his injuries, he was not able to provide a description of a suspect, vehicle or the weapon used, nor was he able to tell police the exact location where the assault occurred, although it was confirmed to be somewhere near Raymond Avenue and Washington Boulevard. La Pintoresca Park is located near that intersection.

No further details were immediately available.

Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department right away. 

Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach

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Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach

A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach.

On June 3, the female pedestrian was using the crosswalk at Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue around 4:50 a.m.

She had walked against a red light and was hit by a 19-year-old driver in a Chevy sedan, Long Beach police said.

Despite lifesaving efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach on June 3, 2026. (Long Beach Police Department)

“At this time, impaired driving, distracted driving and excessive speed are not believed to be a factor in this collision,” police said.

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The woman’s name is being withheld pending identification by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the incident is asked to call Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7355. 

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

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