Search warrant served in Hemet in 2023 Redlands missing person case

REDLANDS, Calif. — Detectives investigating the 2023 disappearance of a Nashville man last seen at a Redlands coffee shop served a search warrant Wednesday at a residence in Hemet connected to a religious group the man had left shortly before he vanished, police said.

Redlands police said officers executed the warrant early Aug. 6 at a home in the 26000 block of Pleasant Street used by “His Way Spirit Led Assemblies.” Emilio Salem Ghanem, 40, was a member of the group until shortly before he was reported missing on May 25, 2023, after visiting a Starbucks on Redlands Boulevard.

Surveillance video captured the rented Nissan Frontier pickup Ghanem was driving later that day in Grand Terrace. Detectives later recovered the truck along with other evidence. Ghanem also worked for Fullshield, Inc., a pest control business owned by the group, which now operates as Maxguard.

During Wednesday’s search, police said, evidence connected to Ghanem’s disappearance was recovered. Four people were detained and later released, while two others were arrested on unrelated charges, police said.

Redlands detectives are also working with Claremont police after learning another member of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies was reported missing in 2019 and has not been seen since.

Ghanem is described as white, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 130 pounds, with hazel eyes and black hair.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Redlands Police Detective Bureau at 909-551-4424 or email missingperson_emilio@redlandspolice.org.