The leaders of a mysterious Inland religious group with ties to two missing men, along with a third person, were arrested on suspicion of murder in Hemet on Thursday, Dec. 11.
Authorities, beyond acknowledging the arrests, have been tight-lipped about the case. Carl Baker, a Redlands police spokesman, cited the ongoing investigation in declining to say who police believe are the victims. Two former congregants of the His Way Spirit Led Assemblies, Emilio Ghanem, 40, of Nashville; and Ruben Moreno, last seen in Claremont, remain missing.
Darryl Muzic Martin, 58; his 62-year-old wife, Shelly Bailey Martin; and 43-year-old Rudy Moreno were arrested on Pleasant Street in Hemet on Thursday morning, booking records in San Bernardino and Riverside counties show. All are being held without bail.
Shelly Martin, who calls herself Prophetess, runs His Way Spirit Led Assemblies with her husband, known as Pastor Muzic. Police didn’t confirm whether Moreno is also a member of the church.
Darryl Martin was booked on suspicion of murder and possession of a machine gun, Shelly Martin on suspicion of two counts of murder and possession of a machine gun, while Moreno was booked on suspicion of murder, possession of a machine gun, being a felon in possession of a firearm and being a person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Booking records did not name the agency that arrested Darryl Martin. Redlands police took Shelly Martin and Moreno into custody. All three were arrested at the Pleasant Street address in Hemet that authorities searched on Thursday, as well as back on Aug. 6.
Darryl Martin at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, Moreno at Cois M. Byrd Detention Center in French Valley and Shelly Martin at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
Neighbors have described the people who live at the house in Hemet as “very private.” They reside behind a long, wooden fence that runs the length of the large property bordering Acacia Avenue. At least eight large tents where someone might hold a meeting or picnic can be seen in the backyard. One neighbor said he sometimes sees about a dozen people in that yard and hears them talking into the early morning hours.
Attempts by the Southern California News Group to locate church members for comment since the organization became the focus of a homicide investigation have largely been fruitless. Addresses listed for church members have been post office boxes or businesses. Messages left at other addresses have not been returned.
The church has an online presence on YouTube.
Police have been investigating the disappearance of the two former members of the church, which also owns and operates a pest control business formerly called Fullshield.
Ghanem was last seen at a Starbucks in Redlands on May 25, 2023. He had worked for Fullshield before leaving the church and forming his own pest control company, MaxGuard. Fullshield sent him a cease-and-desist letter, accusing Ghanem of stealing its customers.
In August, Redlands served search warrants and made arrests. Darryl Martin was arrested on suspicion of violations involving weapons, including a short-barreled rifle and a machine gun, but he was later released. It doesn’t appear he was charged.
Shelly Martin, 62, was also taken into custody but released after a medical episode with no charges.
Moreno is the other missing person. He was last seen in December 2017 at a house in the 1300 block of Swarthmore Court in Claremont, where he lived with members of the religious organization.
A relative reported him missing to Claremont Police in August 2019.
Colton police have also been investigating the Martins.
Spokespeople for Claremont and Colton police could not be reached for comment Friday.
In January 2010, police responding to a report of an ill child at the church found 4-year-old Timothy Thomas not breathing, and he died at a hospital, police Sgt. Mike Sandoval said. The coroner ruled that Timothy perished from natural causes, Sandoval said, but police believed “negligence” was involved and sent a report to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
The DA’s Office declined to charge anyone, Sandoval said, citing a lack of evidence.
