Brother speaks out after Hemet religious leaders charged in death – NBC Los Angeles

As a San Bernardino County father, accused of being complicit in his 4-year-old boy’s 2010 murder, appeared in court Tuesday, the dead child’s older brother said his family was manipulated by the leaders of a religious group based in Hemet.

Darryl and Shelley Martin, who led “His Way Spirit Led Assemblies,” were charged Monday in connected with the death of then-4-year-old Timothy Thomas. The boy’s father, Andre Thomas, was also charged with murder as investigators said Timothy’s parents relinquished temporary custody to the Martins one month before the boy’s death.

Andre Thomas, Jr., Timothy’s older brother, said his father was a victim of the Martins’ religious group as the couple manipulated his family.

“We all went through a lot after this happened,” Andre Thomas, Jr. said. “Our family is still broken.”

Thomas, who was just 9 years old when his brother died, said he still remembers loving moments with his brother, whom he called Timo.

“(He was) same heigh (as me) even though I was 9, and he was 4. He was a big kid,” he said. “I loved my little brother. Very funny.”

Thomas said that their parents decided to separate in 2010, and their father, Andre Thomas, Sr., sought help from the Martins’ group. Although he was just a kid, Thomas recalled that the trouble began for his family when “His Way Spirit Led Assemblies” became involved.

“My parents started having marital issues from what I remember,” Thomas claimed. “They were deceived into signing custody over to the pastors because they don’t know what we were going to do because my parents were breaking up.”

NBC Los Angeles was not able to confirm Thomas’ claims.

Authorities confirmed Thomas’ statement that the Martins denied the 4-year-old any medical attention when he became sick.

“I remember when Timothy took a bite of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich he threw up weird fluid from his body,” Thomas recalled, saying he laid down with him, refusing to leave his little brother. “They told us to start worshipping and turning around in circles and speak in another language. I couldn’t speak it, but it was speaking in tongues.”

Investigators said the case became challenging to advance because of what they said were the faith group’s manipulative actions, but recent evidence allowed police to make the arrests.

“Shelley and Darryl took an active role in preventing Timo from getting medical treatment and his father Andrew Thomas was complicit. Timo’s death could have been prevented had he been allowed to get attention for his appendicitis,” said Colton Police Chief Anthony Vega.

Andre Thomas, Jr. said while he has forgiven the Martins, he has not forgotten them.

“I do believe that the pastors are responsible for my brother’s death,” he said.

Authorities also alleged the Martins are linked to the disappearance of Emilio Ghanem, who was last seen in Redlands in May 2023.

Andre Thomas, Sr. and the pastors were scheduled to return to court next week.