Nudist accused of murdering elderly neighbors allegedly said he flipped over a hot dog — which he took as a cruel ‘jab'

The nudist charged with brutally murdering his neighbors at their California resort allegedly told another inmate he did it over a hot dog — which he took as a cruel 'jab' at him.
Michael Royce Sparks, 62, is accused of bashing in the heads of Daniel Menard, 79, and wife Stephanie Menard, 73, whose dismembered remains were then found under his home on the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Colton.
He allegedly told another inmate that 'the incident started over a hot dog that Daniel Menard had purchased for him,' Detective Thomas Williams told a court hearing Monday, according to the Press Telegram.
'He said Mr. Sparks felt that the hot dog was a jab at him, making him feel like he was worth only a dollar hot dog, and that's what set him off that day,' Williams continued.
4 Daniel Menard and Stephanie Menard's deaths were ruled a homicide after the coroner determined they died from blunt-force trauma to the head.
Redlands Police Department
4 Michael Royce Sparks was arrested and charged with the murder of his elderly neighbors.
AP
Sparks allegedly told the inmate he then 'went outside and struck Mr. Menard in the head until his head caved in.'
Menard's horrified wife then 'came out yelling, 'No! No!'' — and Sparks began bashing them both 'with a rake, a hoe and a hammer,' he allegedly told his fellow inmate, according to the detective.
Sparks then allegedly detailed how he then brought their bodies into a homemade concrete bunker below his home and chopped up their bodies and stuffed them in plastic bags.
The suspected killer also claimed that he drowned the Menards' white Shih Tzu, Cuddles, in a sink before tossing her body in the woods where coyotes would eat her, Williams testified.
Superior Court Judge Alexander R. Martinez ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold Sparks for trial on two charges of murder and one count of animal cruelty, according to the Press Telegram.
4 The Menards and their dog, a Shih Tzu named Cuddles, were reported missing by a friend on Aug. 25.
Redlands Police Department
4 The investigation discovered an underground bunker in Sparks' home where the couple's remains were found.
AP
Sparks has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
After a four-day search for the missing couple, police engaged in an hours-long standoff with Sparks who had barricaded himself inside the bunker.
He tried to kill himself rather than be arrested but his gunshot misfired, cops said.
When he eventually surrendered, Williams asked him where the Menards were and if they were in trouble.
'He told me they were underneath the trailer and that they didn't need any help,' Williams told the court.
'He replied back that they were in pieces,' Williams testified.

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Israel says the remains of 3 hostages have been recovered from Gaza

The Hill

an hour ago

The Hill

Israel says the remains of 3 hostages have been recovered from Gaza

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli military says it has recovered the remains of three hostages held in the Gaza Strip. It identified them as Yonatan Samerano, 21; Ofra Keidar, 70; and Shay Levinson, 19. All three were killed during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel that ignited the ongoing war. The militant group is still holding 50 hostages, less than half of them believed to be alive. Kobi Samerano said in a Facebook post that his son's remains were returned on what would have been Yonatan's 23rd birthday. 'The campaign to return the hostages continues consistently and is happening alongside the campaign against Iran,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 people in the Oct. 7 attack. More than half the hostages have been returned in ceasefire agreements or other deals, eight have been rescued alive and Israeli forces have recovered dozens of bodies. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which has said that women and children make up more than half of the dead. It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. ___ Follow AP's war coverage at