3rd person arrested in alleged murder of man leaving cult-like organization in Southern California
KTLA-5 News, Las Vegas/January 16, 2026
By Cameron Kiszla
A third person has been arrested for the alleged murder of a Tennessee man who left a cult-like religious group in Redlands almost three years ago and hasn’t been seen since shortly thereafter.
Ramon Ruiz Duran Jr., 44, was arrested Monday in Tennessee and has since been brought to California to face charges in the disappearance and suspected murder of Emilio Salem Ghanem, who’s been missing since May 25, 2023.
Officials believe Ghanem, who was last seen visiting a Starbucks at 625 E. Redlands Blvd., was killed by leaders and members of a religious group he’d recently quit called “His Way Spirit Led Assemblies.”'
Ghanem, who was 40 years old at the time, hasn’t been spotted in the years since, though his rented pickup truck was found burned in the Mojave Desert, the Redlands Police Department said in a news release.
Darryl Muzic Martin, a leader of the group, and Rudy Moreno, 43, a high-ranking member, were arrested for murder and gun charges late last year, while four others were arrested on illegal weapons charges.
Martin and Moreno face charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Together with 62-year-old “prophetess” Shelly Bailey “Kat” Martin, Darryl Muzic Martin tightly controlled the group, a former member told KTLA, adding that members believe the “prophetess” is God’s voice on Earth.
“When the spirit of God comes over her, everything changes in her, like her voice changes, the way she talks changes, and everything has to be quiet,” they said.
It’s unclear what role Duran allegedly played in the group or in Ghanem’s death, though he also faces charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He’s being held at the West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $1 million bail.
Jail records show he was due to appear in San Bernardino Superior Court on Friday.
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