Michael Royce Sparks had myriad disputes together with his aged next-door neighbors on the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands earlier than, prosecutors say, he killed, mutilated and dismembered Dan Menard, 79, and his spouse, Stephanie, 73, in August.
There was the noisy generator that the Menards put in between their properties. Whereas Sparks disliked some Olive Dell residents, he “hated” the Menards, a resident testified. That very same resident stated Dan Menard angered Sparks by slicing limbs from Sparks’ tree that hung over the Menards’ property. And one other resident famous in her testimony the frequent grousing Stephanie Menard did about what she thought-about the “sinful” Sparks, who was in any other case a well-liked determine among the many practically 100 residents.
However what in the end set him off, in accordance with testimony Monday, June 16, at Sparks’ preliminary listening to on the San Bernardino County Justice Heart in San Bernardino, was his humiliation over a sizzling canine.
Redlands police Detective Thomas Williams testified that about three weeks after Sparks, 62, was arrested on Aug. 29, a fellow inmate on the West Valley Detention Heart got here ahead with a narrative he stated Sparks shared.
A textual content message between Michael Royce Sparks and Gale Heidelberg is displayed as proof throughout Sparks’ preliminary listening to on the San Bernardino Justice Heart on Monday, June 16, 2025. Sparks is accused of murdering and dismembering his neighbors, Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73, in Aug. 2024 on the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands, the place all of them lived. (Picture by John Valenzuela, Contributing Photographer
“He said Mr. Sparks told him the incident started over a hot dog that Daniel Menard had purchased for him,” Williams instructed Deputy District Lawyer Sean Han. “He stated Mr. Sparks felt that the recent canine was a jab at him, making him really feel like he was value solely a greenback sizzling canine, and that’s what set him off that day.
“(The inmate) said (Sparks) went outside and struck Mr. Menard in the head until his head caved in. Mrs. Menard came out yelling, ‘No! No!’ and then he began striking Mrs. Menard and Mr. Menard with a rake, a hoe and a hammer,” Williams stated.
Sparks added extra particulars to his story to the inmates, Williams testified. Sparks took the Menards into the concrete bunker he had constructed beneath his trailer. He dismembered Stephanie Menard after which mutilated her husband, he instructed the inmates. Authorities later discovered the physique elements in a number of black plastic luggage and an orange Dwelling Depot bucket, Williams stated.
Witness John Willis testifies throughout a a preliminary listening to for Michael Royce Sparks on the San Bernardino Justice Heart, Monday, June 16, 2025. Sparks is accused of murdering and dismembering his neighbors, Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73, in Aug. 2024 on the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands, the place all of them lived. (Picture by John Valenzuela,/Contributing Photographer)
Sparks additionally acknowledged drowning the Menards’ white Shih Tzu, Cuddles, in a sink and throwing away her physique, Williams stated. When the trash wasn’t picked up on the common day, he forged Cuddles into the hills, the place he believed coyotes ate her, Williams stated.
Sparks’ legal professional, Gary Ablard, didn’t current a protection.
Witness Gale Heidelberg is questioned by San Bernardino County Deputy District Lawyer Sean Han, throughout a a preliminary listening to for Michael Royce Sparks on the San Bernardino Justice Heart, Monday, June 16, 2025. Sparks is accused of murdering and dismembering his neighbors, Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73, in Aug. 2024 on the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands, the place all of them lived. (Picture by John Valenzuela,/Contributing Photographer)
District Lawyer Jason Anderson has not stated whether or not he’ll search the demise penalty. The subsequent listening to is scheduled for June 27.
A number of residents of Olive Dell, the place they agreed with Han and Deputy District Lawyer Justin Crocker that “everyone knows everybody,” had been traumatized as they testified Monday. Wayne Marinelli needed to pause to compose himself throughout his testimony that throughout the seek for the Menards, he noticed Sparks washing out a 55-gallon drum that appeared to have blood in it.
Tammie Wilkerson didn’t even make it that far, crying as she spelled her identify to the courtroom reporter as she took the stand.
Protection legal professional Gary Ablard questions a witness throughout a preliminary listening to for his consumer, Michael Royce Sparks, on the San Bernardino Justice Heart on Monday, June 16, 2025. Sparks is accused of murdering and dismembering his neighbors, Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73, in Aug. 2024 on the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands, the place all of them lived. (Picture by John Valenzuela, Contributing Photographer)
They described “Mike” or “Sparky” as pleasant and helpful with development tasks at their properties. He was quiet and typically stayed in his residence for per week. Mary Farrell, whose testimony was delayed whereas courtroom employees retrieved an assisted-listening gadget (“My dog ate my hearing aid,” Farrell testified in all seriousness), stated Sparks helped her load furnishings and 50 bins when she moved.
Wilkerson stated Sparks constructed a kennel for her, working all day “without breaking a sweat.” He simply lifted massive luggage of concrete. “He was eerily strong for a man his age, to me,” she testified.
The Menards lived on the 73-year-old resort within the hills of Reche Canyon on the Colton border for 15 years. Resident John Hillis testified that Stephanie Menard had muscular dystrophy and walked with a cane. Her husband had dementia and whereas ambulatory, couldn’t stroll far.
So Hillis drove the Menards to church in Moreno Valley each Sunday. He testified that he didn’t get his regular name from Stephanie Menard on Aug. 25 alerting him to select them up. As Hillis drove to church, he noticed the couple’s late Nineteen Nineties Chrysler Sebring outdoors the resort in a driveway, the keys nonetheless within the ignition.
After they didn’t present up at church, Hillis went to their residence. He was “best friends” with the Menards and had a key to their residence so he might verify in on them. Hillis stated he was shocked to see Stephanie’s purse and Dan’s pockets. However most alarming, he added, was recognizing Stephanie’s cane.
“She doesn’t cross the threshold of the door without the cane,” Hillis stated.
Witness Mary Farrell testifies throughout a a preliminary listening to for Michael Royce Sparks on the San Bernardino Justice Heart, Monday, June 16, 2025. Sparks is accused of murdering and dismembering his neighbors, Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73, in Aug. 2024 on the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands, the place all of them lived. (Picture by John Valenzuela,/Contributing Photographer)
For 4 days, residents and authorities looked for the Menards in what was initially a lacking individuals case. That modified on Aug. 29 when a relative of Sparks in Minnesota and a former co-worker instructed police that that they had obtained startling textual content messages from Sparks on the similar time officers had been going residence to residence on the resort looking for the Menards.
Gale Heidelberg testified she was a dispatcher at Smitty’s Diesel Restore in Colton, the place Sparks as soon as labored as a truck driver. She typically drove Sparks residence, so she acknowledged the neighborhood when she noticed tv protection of the search.
A photograph is displayed in courtroom of couple Daniel Menard and Stephanie Menard, throughout a a preliminary listening to for Michael Royce Sparks on the San Bernardino Justice Heart, Monday, June 16, 2025. Sparks is accused of murdering and dismembering his neighbors, Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73, in Aug. 2024 on the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands, the place all of them lived. (Picture by John Valenzuela,/Contributing Photographer)
“It’s me,” Sparks replied. “Committing suicide today. Take care. Bye.”
Answered Heidelberg: “Wait. What’s going on? Where are you?”
Sparks’ reply: “Chopped up my neighbors. Didn’t know I had it in me. SNAPPED.”
Redlands Detective Laurel Shearer was smelling a foul odor at Sparks’ residence at Area 43 when she obtained phrase of the texts. She known as and texted Sparks, who refused to return out.
A textual content message between Michael Royce Sparks and Mary Farrell is displayed as proof throughout Sparks’ preliminary listening to on the San Bernardino Justice Heart on Monday, June 16, 2025. Sparks is accused of murdering and dismembering his neighbors, Daniel Menard, 79, and Stephanie Menard, 73, in Aug. 2024 on the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Redlands, the place all of them lived. (Picture by John Valenzuela, Contributing Photographer
Redlands Cpl. Jeremiah Hotchner testified that police used a tractor to tear the trailer aside. They noticed Sparks within the bunker, holding a protracted rifle. Sparks tried to shoot himself, however the rifle jammed.
Williams requested Sparks the place the Menards had been, and whether or not they wanted assist.
“He told me they were underneath the trailer and that they didn’t need any help,” Williams stated, including that he inquired why that was.
“He replied back that they were in pieces,” Williams testified.
