Hearing begins in San Bernardino murders case with testimony claiming ‘Prophetess’ acted as a ‘voice of the Lord,’ according to an ex-congregant.

In a high-profile murder case, a former member of the His Way Spirit Led Assemblies testified on February 5 regarding allegations of spiritual manipulation and murder associated with the church’s leadership, notably Shelley “Kat” Martin. During the preliminary hearing held in San Bernardino Superior Court, the witness, Kelli Byrd, recounted the church’s origins and the troubling events surrounding the deaths of two former congregants.

Under questioning, Byrd described Shelley Martin’s role within the religious organization, emphasizing that Martin claimed to receive divine prophecies in a private setting, specifically in her bathroom, before delivering them to congregation members gathered in her apartment. The His Way Spirit Led Assemblies began as a small Bible study in Tennessee during the late 1990s, led by Martin and her husband, Darryl “Muzic” Martin. Byrd testified that they moved the congregation to Newport Beach, California, in 2000, after Martin announced that it was a directive from God.

The core of the trial revolves around serious allegations against Shelley Martin, who is charged with the murders of 40-year-old Emilio Ghanem, who disappeared after departing from the church in 2023, and 4-year-old Timothy Thomas, whose death in 2010 was attributed to untreated medical conditions while in the Martins’ care. Alongside Shelley Martin, other defendants including Darryl Martin, Timothy Thomas’s father, Andre Thomas, and church members Rudy Moreno and Ramon Duran face murder charges related to these incidents. All parties have pleaded not guilty.

At the hearing, Byrd, visibly nervous and accompanied by a comfort dog from the District Attorney’s office, testified about the extreme control exerted by the Martins over congregation members’ lives. It was during this testimony that she misidentified Darryl Martin’s attire, further highlighting the emotional weight of the proceedings.

Byrd recalled first meeting the Martins as a teenager and described Shelley Martin’s intense, charismatic preaching style, which included physical manifestations of her supposed prophetic abilities. These experiences led Byrd to believe strongly in Martin’s purported divine insights.

The church, initially called His Way Ministries, saw a significant increase in membership numbers over the years, eventually moving to various locations, including establishing a pest-control business, Fullshield. Byrd noted that Ghanem had worked for this company before he vanished after leaving the church. His disappearance has raised suspicions given the context of the church’s operations and alleged internal dynamics.

The preliminary hearing is set to continue, with Byrd’s testimony expected to further detail the environment created by the church’s leadership and its implications for the congregants. The outcome of this case could have significant ramifications for the community and the broader understanding of faith-based organizations’ influence on individual lives.