Witness in Colton "Cult" Murder Case Testifies of Concern Before Member’s 2023 Disappearance

Former member Timothy Byrd describes "cult-like" control and violence in the His Way Spirit Led Assemblies murder hearing involving a vanished man and a 4-year-old.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 5:52 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Press-Enterprise and the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office.

A Culture of Control and "Divine" Authority

The preliminary hearing for five members of the Colton-based religious order, His Way Spirit Led Assemblies, revealed disturbing allegations of physical abuse and medical neglect. Timothy Byrd, who joined the group as a teenager in 2000, testified that the group’s leader, 62 year old Shelley "Kat" Martin—who refers to herself as "Prophetress"—exerted total control over congregants. Byrd claimed Martin told members that God spoke directly through her, a status that allowed her to "violently" beat members for disobedience without intervention from others.

Byrd detailed several instances of abuse, including an incident where a 12 or 13 year old girl was allegedly handcuffed to a church member for hours after attempting to run away. He also recounted a 2022 medical emergency where his own hernia injury was treated only with prayer until he lost consciousness, at which point he was finally taken to a hospital. The witness noted that both Shelley and Darryl Martin repeatedly told members that God is a healer and that seeking medical attention was a test of one's faith.

The Disappearance of Emilio Ghanem

The current hearing focuses on the suspected murder of 40 year old Emilio Ghanem, who disappeared on May 25, 2023. Ghanem had recently left the church to start a rival pest control business in Tennessee, a move that church leaders allegedly viewed as a betrayal and theft of their customers. Byrd testified that he met Ghanem for dinner in Moreno Valley shortly before his disappearance and warned him to stay away from certain church members.

Byrd explained that you cannot simply announce you are leaving the group, as members who tried to exit often had their keys and phones confiscated. Two days after their dinner, Byrd texted Ghanem to check on his well-being but received no response. Detectives eventually located Ghanem’s rented truck burned in the Mojave Desert with unspecified evidence found inside.