3rd person arrested in killing of man who disappeared after leaving Hemet religious group

REDLANDS, Calif. (KABC) -- A third person has been arrested and charged in the killing of a man who went missing shortly after he left a mysterious Hemet-based religious organization.

Redlands police Friday announced Ramon Ruiz Duran Jr., 44, was arrested in Tennessee on suspicion of murder in the death of Emilio Ghanem, 40.

Ghanem left His Way Spirit Led Assemblies, a religious organization, shortly before he disappeared in May 2023.

Ghanem was reported missing after he visited a Starbucks in Redlands. His rental truck was later found burned in the Mojave Desert, according to police.

Duran was arrested at his job in Tennessee Monday and extradited to San Bernardino County where he was booked Thursday for murder and conspiracy to commit murder, police said in a statement. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

In December, Shelly Bailey "Kat" Martin, 62, and Rudy Franco Moreno, 43, were arrested and charged with murder in connection with Ghanem's death. Prosecutors identified Martin as a leader of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies and Moreno as a member.

Police did not disclose if Duran was also a member of the religious organization.

Martin and her husband Darryl Martin, another leader of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies, are also charged with murder in the death of 4-year-old Timothy Thomas, who died from appendicitis in Colton 16 years ago.

A third person, Andre Thomas, is also charged with murder in the boy's death.