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 A cadaver dog was brought to the scene, guiding investigators to the area where the suspect was apprehended. According to the Redlands Police Department (RPD), the dog indicated that there was at least one body present.

The investigation revealed troubling details about the Menards’ last known whereabouts. Their car was found parked down the street from their house, while Mrs. Menard's purse and the keys to the vehicle were left inside their home. This discovery added to the urgency of the search efforts.

Suspect Barricaded in His Home

When police entered Sparks' home on Friday, they found a concrete space about five feet deep beneath the house, which extended to the back of the property.

 Carl Baker, the public information officer for the RPD, described the space as a bunker-like area. RPD officers, along with fire personnel, forensic teams, and members of the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office, began removing bags of evidence from the scene.

Coroner's officials confirmed that the evidence included human remains, which will be examined to determine their identity. 

The operation hit a snag when the space began to show signs of potential collapse, forcing all personnel to evacuate. Heavy equipment was brought in on Saturday morning to remove debris and ensure the safety of the area before the evidence retrieval could continue.

Sparks arrest was not without incident. 

Police used armored vehicles to breach the front of the house, causing significant damage in the process. Officers had first attempted to contact Sparks but received no response for an “extended period of time”. 

They even broke a window and deployed a drone inside the house but were unable to maneuver it effectively.

"We had reason to believe the suspect was barricaded and armed, and we wanted to protect the safety of our officers, that's why the front of the house was removed," Baker explained to reporters on Friday.

"In fact, the suspect was barricaded, and he was armed with a rifle."