Leaders of secretive religious ‘cult’ charged with murder after two members go missing
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Leaders of a secretive Southern California religious group have been charged with murder amid investigations into the disappearances of two members, police said.
Six senior figures in the Hemet-based group His Way Spirit Led Assemblies were arrested December 11.
The organization has been described by authorities as ‘cult-like’ and is led by Darryl Muzic Martin, 58, and his wife Shelly Bailey ‘Kathryn’ Martin, 62.
The couple were among three people arrested on murder charges, along with high-ranking member Rudy Moreno, 43, according to Redlands police. The three remaining suspects were arrested on weapons-related charges only.
Booking records show Martin was held on suspicion of murder, possession of a machine gun and explosives.
Shelly Martin was booked on suspicion of murder and possession of a machine gun. Rudy Moreno was booked on suspicion of second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a machine gun.
The arrests stemmed from investigations into the disappearances of Emilio Ghanem, 40, a former member, and Moreno’s brother Ruben Moreno, 49, who was an active member. The authorities have not publicly confirmed the murder victims’ identities.
However they have separately reopened an investigation into whether neglect led to the 2010 death of a four-year-old boy who died while in the Martins’s custody following a ruptured appendix.
Police said Shelly Martin and Rudy Moreno were arrested in connection with Ghanem’s case, while Darryl Martin was arrested in connection with Ruben Moreno’s disappearance.
His Way Spirit Led Assemblies is tightly controlled by the Martins who are believed to embody the spirit of God on earth, a former member told KTLA, adding that Shelly is considered a ‘prophetess’.
‘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,’ he said.
The group is also constantly preparing for the rapture by hoarding food, water and survival supplies, the member said.
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