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Colton Police Reopen 2010 Death of 4-Year-Old Linked to Hemet Religious Group

The move follows weapons arrests in Redlands after searches tied to a separate missing-persons probe.

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Colton police in August 2025 reopened the investigation into the death of 4-year-old Timothy Thomas in 2010 after new clues emerged during an unrelated investigation by authorities in Claremont and Redlands into missing former congregants in the His Way Spirit Led Assemblies church. (Courtesy of Colton Police Department)

Overview

  • Colton police say they are pursuing new leads in the 2010 death of Timothy Thomas, who died while in the temporary custody of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies.
  • The coroner ruled the boy’s death from natural causes in 2010, though police previously alleged negligence and prosecutors declined to file charges.
  • Redlands investigators are treating the 2023 disappearance of Emilio (Salem) Ghanem as a potential homicide after locating his rental truck and other evidence earlier this year.
  • Group leaders Darryl Muzic Martin and Shelly Bailey “Kat” Martin were arrested on Aug. 14 on suspicion of illegal weapons possession and later released, with no charges in the death or disappearances.
  • Detectives executed searches in Hemet and at a Laguna Hills hotel, seized electronic devices, and are coordinating with Claremont police on the separate case of Ruben Moreno, last seen in 2017 and reported missing in 2019; officials stress the only confirmed link among the cases is affiliation with the group.