Prophetess' was a voice of the Lord,' ex-congregant of California church testifies as hearing involving alleged murders begins

"The congregation eventually settled in Hemet and Colton, where Shelley Martin served as the congregation's emotional and vociferous leader. Martin called herself the Prophetess. A voice of the Lord like speaking through a CB radio, is how Byrd described Martin. It was the prophetic gift of the Lord. It was directly from the throne of the Lord. She's the embodiment of the Holy Spirit on Earth."

"Shelley Martin is charged with murder in the apparent death of former congregant Emilio Ghanem, 40, who vanished after he left the church in 2023, and in the 2010 death of 4-year-old Timothy Thomas, who died in the care of the Martins from what authorities say was a ruptured appendix that went untreated. Darryl Martin and Timothy's father, Andre Thomas, are charged with murder in Timothy's death."

"Byrd's testimony in Superior Court in San Bernardino came on the first day of a preliminary hearing in which a judge will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to hold the defendants for trial. All have pleaded not guilty. Shelley Martin sat in a wheelchair with a half-filled catheter bag attached, with her husband next to her. She and Thomas both wore green jail jumpsuits, indicating they were in protective custody. The other defendants wore orange jumpsuits. All wore orange Crocs-style shoes."

A former member testified that Shelley Kat Martin received prophecies from God in her bathroom and delivered them to congregants in her apartment. His Way Spirit Led Assemblies began as a Tennessee Bible study in the late 1990s and moved after Martin said God commanded relocation to Newport Beach in 2000. The congregation later settled in Hemet and Colton, where Shelley Martin acted as an emotional, vociferous leader who called herself the Prophetess and spoke in a voice described as like a CB radio and the embodiment of the Holy Spirit. Shelley Martin is charged with murder in the disappearance of Emilio Ghanem and the 2010 death of 4-year-old Timothy Thomas; others face related murder charges. A preliminary hearing is underway to determine whether to hold the defendants for trial.

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