Human remains discovered under California home after search for couple missing from nudist resort

The human remains were found in bags under a concrete bunker and were not immediately identified, officials said on Friday.

Earlier on Friday the next-door neighbour of Stephanie Menard, 73, and her husband, Daniel, 79, was arrested after police used a tank-like vehicle to smash into a southern Californian home.

At the time Carl Baker, spokesperson for the Redlands Police Department, said: "We are confident that they are deceased and that they are still here on the property."

He did not release any information about a possible motive.

Michael Royce Sparks, 62, was booked into jail on suspicion of homicide Thursday night after being found under the house at Olive Dell Ranch, which is described as a residential trailer park and family-friendly nudist resort on its website.

A trained dog indicated the presence of at least one body somewhere under the house on Friday morning, but officers were waiting to enter until a structural assessment determined whether the home was safe.

The couple was reported missing last weekend by a friend, who said they were last seen at their home last Saturday morning.

Their pet dog, a shih tzu named Cuddles, was also missing.

The couple's unlocked car was found later on Sunday, not far from their residence, and both of their phones, along with Mrs Menard's purse, were still inside their home.

Mr Menard was described as a diabetic with dementia.

Tammie Wilkerson, a friend of the couple, told KABC-TV that the Menards were kind people involved in the community.

"They're very sweet people," the friend said. "There's not a mean bone in their body at all, which makes this very confusing."

-SKY NEWS