Redlands police have made three arrests and seized weapons as search warrants were executed in the investigation of the disappearance of Emilio Ghanem, who has been missing since 2023, the department announced on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Police have not described any of those arrested as suspects in the disappearance of Ghanem, but did state in a news release the arrests and searches were made as part of the missing-person investigation.
Ghanem, 40 years old at the time of his disappearance, who lived in Nashville, was last seen visiting a Starbucks in Redlands on May 25, 2023.
Prior to his disappearance, he had left the His Way Spirit Led Assemblies religious organization. The organization, based in Hemet, also owns and operates a pest control business, Fullshield, now known as Maxguard. Redlands police are investigating his disappearance as a potential homicide, according to the department.
Ghanem had worked for Fullshield before leaving the church. Family members told broadcasters that he had moved to Nashville to start his own pest-control business, but returned to Southern California to start a satellite office and work with some old customers, which prompted Fullshield to send him a cease-and-desist letter.
A Nissan Frontier pickup truck he had rented was seen on surveillance footage in Grand Terrace. Police announced in early August that the truck and other evidence had been recovered, but they did not disclose where they were found.
On Tuesday, police served a search warrant in the 1300 block of Christobal Lane in Colton, where they recovered several weapons and detained a man who was later released.
On Aug. 14, investigators served a search warrant at the Laguna Hills Lodge, a hotel in Laguna Hills, where they recovered electronic devices and took Shelly Bailey “Kat” Martin and her husband, Darryl “Muzic” Martin, leaders of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies, into custody.
Darryl Martin, 57, was arrested on suspicion of violations involving weapons listed as a short-barrel rifle and a machine gun, the San Bernardino County Jail booking log shows. Court records show he has not been charged by prosecutors. He was released.
Shelly Martin, 62, was taken into custody, but released after a medical episode with no charges. The Martins also go by Pastor Muzic and Prophetess/Pastor Kathryn Martin.
On Aug. 6, police searched residences in Hemet and Anza in connection to the investigation into Ghanem’s disappearance. Two Hemet residents were arrested on suspicion of charges related to felons possessing firearms. They were released from custody and no charges have been filed, police said on Wednesday.
Police recovered a host of illegal weapons, including converted fully automatic rifles, short-barreled rifles and “ghost guns” without serial numbers, as well as electronic devices and unspecified digital evidence in Hemet and Anza.
The two Hemet residents are members of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies and employees of the pest-control company, according to Redlands police.
His Way Spirit Led Assemblies did not respond to a request for comment.
Redlands police are also working with the Claremont Police Department to investigate the 2019 disappearance of Ruben Moreno, another man who had been associated with the religious group.
Police ask anyone with information about the case to contact the Redlands Police Detective Bureau at 909-551-4424 or missingperson_emilio@redlandspolice.org.
