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New York Post
4 days ago
- New York Post
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.
Los Angeles Times
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
His job is to be shot from a cannon. This time, he missed his target
His job description is 'human cannonball.' And for 23 years, that seemed to have been working out for Chachi 'The Rocketman' Valencia. Even his wife, Robin Valencia, is in the human-cannonball line of work. But on Sunday at the Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival, one could see why being a daredevil isn't for the faint of heart as the Rocketman missed his target. The performer is recovering from his injuries after being launched about 65 feet into the air and slipping through a safety net during a performance at the Indio festival, fair officials said. Valencia began his performance around 2:30 p.m., fair officials said via Instagram. He routinely pumps up the audience with a 20-minute speech before climbing into a cannon, according to his website. Valencia climbed into a cannon that launched him about 65 feet high at speeds of 55 mph across a distance of 165 feet — where a narrow net was set up to catch him. The net is placed about 20 feet off the ground, according to his website. But instead of delivering a final heartfelt salute to the crowd, Valencia fell to the ground. He was rushed to a nearby hospital around 3 p.m., fair officials said. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office told the Press Telegram on Sunday that Valencia sustained non-life-threatening injuries. And Riverside County Fair officials said Valencia was released from the hospital later that night. Valencia says on his website he has more than two decades of experience as a human cannonball. He performed at the closing ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympics, the 2014 Rio De Janeiro's Carnival competition and became the first person ever to launch himself over a giant moving float six times in 40 minutes, according to his website. Human cannonballs are said to be a small and select group. And they are no strangers to catastrophe. Following the death of one performer in 2011, a daredevil told the British online outlet the Independent that it's a skill that requires the performer 'to understand physics, mathematics and engineering' — and 'you can't be scared of anything.'
