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‘Prophetess’ was a ‘voice of the Lord,’ ex-congregant testifies as hearing involving alleged San Bernardino murders begins
The hearing focuses on allegations of physical, financial, and emotional control by His Way Spirit Led Assemblies leaders linked to two deaths and a disappearance.
- On Feb. 5, 2026, a preliminary hearing opened at the San Bernardino Justice Center, where Kelli Byrd testified that Shelley 'Kat' Martin received prophecies alone in her bathroom before delivering them to members in her apartment.
- The His Way Spirit Led Assemblies began as a Tennessee Bible study and moved about 13 members to California around 2000, later running a pest‑control business called Fullshield, where Ghanem worked before leaving and being accused of theft.
- Byrd described Shelley 'Kat' Martin's prophetic episodes as violent thrashing with a deep 'voice of the Lord' and testified the Martins controlled members through punishments and the 'nine dots' daily tasks.
- A judge will decide whether to hold the five defendants for trial as Kelli Byrd's two-hour testimony continues; the hearing is set to resume on Monday.
- Last year, three police departments—Redlands, Colton and Claremont—reviewed related files, resulting in five arrests including the Martins, authorities said.
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Leader of cult-like group charged with murder claimed God spoke through her, former member says
Former His Way Spirit Led Assemblies member Kelli Byrd testified in San Bernardino Superior Court for two hours on Thursday, providing a rare glimpse inside the religious group that had operated in secret for decades.
·Los Angeles, United States
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LA Daily News+7 Reposted by 7 other sources
‘Prophetess’ was a ‘voice of the Lord,’ ex-congregant testifies as hearing involving alleged San Bernardino murders begins
A former member of the His Way Spirit Led Assemblies religious order testified in the murder case involving five congregants on Thursday, Feb. 5, that one of its leaders, Shelley “Kat” Martin, received prophecies from God in her bathroom before delivering them to church members in her apartment. The order was organized as a Bible study in the late 1990s in Tennessee before Martin and husband and Pastor Darryl “Muzic” Martin led 13 members across…
·Los Angeles, United States
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Total News Sources12
Leaning Left1Leaning Right2Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Center
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
75% Center
C 75%
R 17%
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