Darryl Muzic Martin Arrested in Connection with Disappearances of Former Religious Group Members

The arrest of Darryl Muzic Martin, leader of a Southern California religious group, has intensified scrutiny on His Way Spirit Led Assemblies, a congregation that has long operated outside public attention. Martin’s detention on murder charges comes years after the unexplained disappearances of two former members and amid renewed examination of a child’s death linked to the group. Authorities now allege that these events may not be isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern involving control, isolation, and alleged criminal conduct within the organization.

As investigations converge across multiple jurisdictions, law enforcement agencies are reassessing the group’s history, its leadership structure, and the circumstances under which members left and subsequently vanished. Darryl Martin, 57, was arrested this week in connection with the alleged murder of Emilio Salem Ghanem, a former member who disappeared after leaving the religious group in 2023.

Court records indicate that Darryl Muzic Martin was taken into custody on an out-of-county warrant and is being held without bail. The development follows an earlier arrest in August on illegal weapons charges, a case that already placed the group’s leadership under legal pressure. His partner, Shelly Bailey, also known as “Kat” Martin, was detained at the time but later released. The new charges have shifted the focus from weapons violations to far more serious allegations, prompting renewed public attention to the group’s internal practices and its­sterns of its former members.

The Rise and Structure of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies

His Way Spirit Led Assemblies is based in Rialto, California, approximately an hour east of downtown Los Angeles. According to former members, the organization operates as a tightly controlled religious community centered on apocalyptic beliefs and the authority of its leaders. The group is described as constantly preparing for the end times, storing food, water, and supplies in anticipation of an imminent collapse of society. This focus on survivalism, while not inherently illegal, has been cited by former members as one element of a broader environment of isolation and dependence.

Former adherents have alleged that the group’s leadership claimed a unique spiritual status. Members reportedly believed that the group’s “prophetess” represented God on Earth and that Darryl Muzic Martin and his partner embodied the spirit of God. One former member told local media that when the prophetess entered what was described as a spiritual state, her voice and demeanor would change and the entire congregation was expected to remain silent. These practices, according to critics, reinforced the leaders’ authority and discouraged questioning or dissent.

Beyond religious activities, the group also operated businesses that employed its members. Emilio Salem Ghanem worked for a pest control company owned and run by the organization, originally known as Fullshield, Inc., which now operates under the name Maxguard. Former members have stated that such employment arrangements further tied individuals to the group by linking their financial stability to continued participation. Leaving the organization, they suggest, often meant losing not only a spiritual community but also housing, income, and social connections.

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Ghanem had been part of the group for approximately 20 years before deciding to leave in 2023. According to Redlands Police Department, he had planned to return to Nashville, where his family lived. Shortly after departing the group, he disappeared. His absence initially raised concern among relatives, but over time, investigators began to suspect foul play. Martin’s arrest on murder charges marks the first time authorities have publicly alleged a direct criminal link between the group’s leadership and Ghanem’s disappearance.

Disappearances of Former Members and Ongoing Investigations

Ghanem is not the only former member whose disappearance has drawn the attention of law enforcement. Another case involves Ruben Moreno, 41, who was last seen in December 2017 at a home he shared with other members of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies. Moreno left the church prior to his disappearance, a detail that has become central to investigators’ efforts to determine whether former members faced risks after exiting the group.

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Moreno’s family reported him missing in August 2019, nearly two years after he was last seen. The Claremont Police Department has since partnered with the Redlands Police Department to examine whether his disappearance is connected to the organization and its leadership. While no charges have yet been filed in Moreno’s case, authorities have indicated that they are exploring possible links between the two disappearances.

The similarities between the cases have raised questions about the group’s treatment of individuals who leave. Both Ghanem and Moreno reportedly departed the organization before vanishing, a pattern that investigators are now examining closely. Former members have described an atmosphere in which leaving was discouraged and portrayed as spiritually dangerous. Some have alleged that dissenters were cut off from the community and warned of dire consequences, though these claims have not been substantiated in court.

Martin’s arrest without bail underscores the seriousness with which authorities are now treating these allegations. CBS News reported that jail records confirm Martin will remain in custody as the case proceeds. Prosecutors have not publicly detailed the evidence supporting the murder charge, but the decision to deny bail suggests that the court views Martin as a significant flight risk or a potential danger to the community.

As investigations continue, law enforcement agencies are also urging anyone with information related to the disappearances to come forward. Detectives are reportedly reinterviewing former members and associates, reviewing financial records, and examining property linked to the group. The goal, officials say, is to establish a comprehensive timeline of events surrounding each disappearance and to determine whether additional crimes may have occurred.

Reopened Child Death Case and Broader Legal Implications

In addition to the disappearances of adult former members, authorities have reopened a case involving the death of a four-year-old boy who was once in the care of the Martins. The child, Timothy Thomas, died in January 2010 while Darryl and Shelly Martin were temporarily holding custody. At the time, police alleged that the child’s death resulted from neglect. However, no charges were filed because the death was ultimately ruled natural, attributed to a ruptured appendix.

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The Colton Police Department has now reopened the case, citing a potential connection to His Way Spirit Led Assemblies uncovered during recent investigations. Officials have not specified what new information prompted the review, but the decision suggests that authorities believe the circumstances surrounding the child’s death warrant renewed scrutiny. While reopening a case does not imply guilt, it reflects broader concerns about the group’s history and the conduct of its leaders.

The convergence of these cases has significant legal and social implications. If prosecutors establish a pattern of abuse, neglect, or violence linked to the organization, it could lead to additional charges and civil actions. It may also prompt closer oversight of similar groups that operate with limited transparency and exert extensive control over their members’ lives.

Legal experts note that cases involving religious organizations can be particularly complex. Authorities must balance the constitutional protection of religious freedom with the responsibility to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes. In this instance, law enforcement agencies have emphasized that their focus is not on religious beliefs themselves but on alleged criminal acts committed by individuals in positions of authority.

For families of the missing and deceased, the recent developments offer a measure of hope that long-standing questions may finally be addressed. Ghanem’s relatives, who last heard from him when he planned to return home, have waited months for answers. Moreno’s family has endured years of uncertainty. The reopening of Timothy Thomas’s case also raises the possibility that unanswered questions from more than a decade ago could finally be resolved.

As the legal process unfolds, Darryl Muzic Martin remains in custody, facing a murder charge that could carry severe penalties if he is convicted. Investigations into the disappearances of other former members and the reopened child death case are ongoing. Together, these developments mark a critical moment in the examination of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies and its leadership, with authorities now working to determine whether the group’s internal dynamics crossed the line from unconventional religious practice into criminal wrongdoing.