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Search continues for elderly couple missing from Inland Empire nudist resort for several days
The search continues for an elderly couple who went missing from the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in San Bernardino County over the weekend.
Stephanie Menard, 73, and her husband, Daniel Menard, 79, were last seen on Saturday at their home in the 26000 block of Keissel Road at around 10 a.m., according to the Redlands Police Department. Also missing is their dog Cuddles, a small white Shih Tzu.
Redlands Police Department
Shortly after they were reported missing, police located the Menards’ unlocked car down the street from where they lived. They also discovered Stephanie’s purse and both of their cell phones at their home.
Police say Daniel suffers from dementia and is diabetic, adding urgency to their search for the missing couple. Friends say the two did not get around on foot very well, so it would be unusual for them to leave their home without their car.
Friends of the Menards are desperately hoping for their return.
“I just want them back,” said Sandy Marinelli, who has been friends with the couple for more than a decade. “They don’t deserve this. … They’re just good people. They go to church. They don’t deserve any of this.”
She says that another neighbor was the first to become concerned when they found the couple wasn’t ready for church on Sunday like they usually are.
“(They) went inside their home to see if they would be OK inside and they didn’t find them in there,” Marinelli said. “But, they found Stephanie’s purse was in there, (her0 cane was in there. … (The) TV was left on, (the) computer was left on. It was just very suspicious for them to be gone.”
Sandy Marinelli
The circumstances have many in the community fearing the worst, especially while the area experiences a rash of unusual crimes like vandalism and break-ins.
“Dan was funny and he was sweet. It just plagues me. I can’t believe somebody would do something like this to them,” Tammie Wilkerson said. “It hurts my heart ’cause they didn’t deserve it.”
The recent events already had many living on edge, uneasy with the sudden change happening around their homes.
“I’m terrified. I haven’t slept since this happened,” said Wilkerson. “I’m terrified that I’m gonna be next.”
Despite the public belief that something was done to the Menards, police have not mentioned any indication of foul play being involved.
“I can’t really speak to that; we’re certainly investigating every avenue,” said Carl Baker, spokesperson for the City of Redlands. “We did have search dogs from Riverside Sheriff’s Office and a helicopter from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.”
On top of that, neighbors have scoured the nearby Reche Canyon area on foot and horseback, to no avail.
“Dan, Stephanie, if you’re seeing this, find some way to get us some information so you can come back, we miss you,” Wilkerson said. “We love you and we miss you and we need you to come back.”
Anyone who may know more is asked to contact RPD detectives at (909) 798-7681.
Tupperware and some of its subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the once-iconic food container maker said in a statement late Tuesday.
The company has suffered from dwindling sales following a surprise surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, when legions of people stuck at home tried their hands at cooking, which increased demand for Tupperware’s colorful plastic containers with flexible airtight seals.
A post-pandemic rise in costs of raw materials and shipping, along with higher wages, also hurt Tupperware’s bottom line.
Last year, it warned of “substantial doubt” about its ability to keep operating in light of its poor financial position.
“Over the last several years, the Company’s financial position has been severely impacted by the challenging macroeconomic environment,” president and CEO Laurie Ann Goldman said in a statement announcing the bankruptcy filing.
“As a result, we explored numerous strategic options and determined this is the best path forward,” Goldman said.
The company said it would seek court approval for a sale process for the business to protect its brand and “further advance Tupperware’s transformation into a digital-first, technology-led company.”
The Orlando, Florida-based firm said it would also seek approval to continue operating during the bankruptcy proceedings and would continue to pay its employees and suppliers.
“We plan to continue serving our valued customers with the high-quality products they love and trust throughout this process,” Goldman said.
The firm’s shares were trading at $0.5099 Monday, well down from $2.55 in December last year.
Tupperware said it had implemented a strategic plan to modernize its operations and drive efficiencies to ignite growth following the appointment of a new management team last year.
“The Company has made significant progress and intends to continue this important transformation work.”
In its filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Tupperware listed assets of between $500 million and $1 billion and liabilities of between $1 billion and $10 billion.
The filing also said it had between 50,000 and 100,000 creditors.
Tupperware lost popularity with consumers in recent years and an initiative to gain distribution through big-box chain Target failed to reverse its fortunes.
The company’s roots date to 1946, when chemist Earl Tupper “had a spark of inspiration while creating molds at a plastics factory shortly after the Great Depression,” according to Tupperware’s website.
“If he could design an airtight seal for plastic storage containers, like those on a paint can, he could help war-weary families save money on costly food waste.”
Over time, Tupper’s containers became popular that many people referred to any plastic food container as Tupperware. And people even threw “Tupperware parties” in their homes to sell the containers to friends and neighbors.
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