SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. \u2014 Members of a secretive California religious group have been charged with murder in the deaths of a man who disappeared in 2023 and a child who died in 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shelley “Kat” Martin, 62, who was described as a leader and “prophetess” of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies, was charged in the separate deaths of Emilio Ghanem, 40, whose burned-out pickup truck was found in a desert, and 4-year-old Timothy Thomas, known as Timo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What you have here are two separate very winding roads of cases that are now beginning to lead to justice,” San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Martin’s husband, Darryl Martin, 58, was charged with murder solely in Timothy’s death. The charges were filed against the couple Monday in county Superior Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A statement from Anderson’s office described His Way, based in Hemet, as a “religious high-control group.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Police have said Thomas died in 2010 after his parents placed him in the temporary custody of the Martins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Shelley and Darryl Martin took an active role in preventing Timo from receiving medical treatment. … Timo’s death could have been prevented had he been allowed to receive medical attention for his appendicitis,” said Colton police Chief Anthony Vega.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The boy’s father, former His Way member Andre Thomas, also was charged with murder in the child’s death. No attorney for him was listed yet in the court file. A message seeking comment from an attorney for the Martins was not immediately returned Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ghanem was a member of His Way for nearly 20 years before he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, police said. He traveled back to California in May 2023 and was last seen at a coffee shop in Redlands, a status that gave the investigation of his disappearance to local police. His body has not been found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Investigators found evidence of a homicide when Ghanem’s rental vehicle was discovered in the Mojave Desert, Redlands police Chief Rachel Tolber said Monday. She did not elaborate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The secretive and manipulative actions by the Martins and the members of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies presented particular challenges to the department’s investigation,” Tolber said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Timothy’s death, investigators received new information from former His Way members who were reluctant to speak truthfully years ago, Colton police Sgt. Shawn McFarland told the Los Angeles Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n