Alleged California cult leaders arrested for killing member 3 years after he went missing
Two high-ranking members of a “cult-like” group just outside of Palm Springs were arrested on suspicion of killing one of their members Thursday — three years after the victim was last seen at a Starbucks. The group goes by “His Way Spirit Led Assemblies” and has been under investigation since May 2023 when a former member, Emilio Ghanem, 40, was reported missing shortly after leaving the cult, police say.Redlands police arrested the alleged leader Darryl Martin, 58, and high-ranking member Rudy Moreno, 43, at the group’s headquarters for murder and gun charges.They are being held without bail.The Redlands Police Department scoured a home on Pleasant Street in Hemet, about 45 miles from Palm Springs and around 75 miles from Temecula. The cultish group is run by Martin and his wife Shelly Bailey “Kat” Martin, who calls herself a “prophetess,” according to ABC7.
An ex-member told KTLA the group stored packaged food, water and other supplies meant to last for years in preparation for the end times.Ghanem’s family said he was a devout member of the religious group for two decades.He started a pest control company in Nashville and then went back to California to open a satellite office.
Members worked at this pest control at this company called Fullshield Inc., now known as “Maxguard,” according to the Redlands Police Department.The pest control company did not reply to The Post’s request for comment.All the funds would be given to the pastors, which was reportedly making over $2 million a year, a former member told media outlets.Ghanem was last seen driving a rented Nissan Frontier pickup truck by surveillance cameras captured in Grand Terrace.His disappearance was considered a missing persons case until Aug.
1, 2025, when the case turned into a possible homicide after Redlands police found Ghanem’s truck, KTLA reports.Inside, evidence and personal items were found. On Aug.
27, Martin and his wife were arrested once before on suspici...