The Knife: A True Crime Podcast

Episode: Off Record: Playing God

Hosts: Hannah Smith & Pasha Eaton
Date: March 12, 2026

Episode Overview

In this “Off Record” installment, hosts Hannah Smith and Pasha Eaton take a deep dive into the alarming true crime story of “His Way Spirit Led Assemblies,” a small, charismatic Christian group operating in California’s Inland Empire. The episode explores the cult-like dynamics of the group, the arrest of its married leaders—Shelly (a.k.a. Kat/Prophetess Kat) and Darrell (a.k.a. Pastor Music) Martin—on murder charges, and chilling testimonies from former members. The hosts empathetically analyze how abusive religious groups gain control, the ripple effects on families and children, and the ongoing search for justice amid secrecy and trauma.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Introduction to the Case

• [03:45] Hannah introduces the story: a current, high-profile cult case involving arrests for murder in a group known as His Way Spirit Led Assemblies in the Inland Empire, CA.
  • “It is a cult story, which you know, I can never get enough of. And it is a current case, so a little different than what we normally do.” – Hannah Smith [03:50]
• The group’s leaders and some members were arrested in December 2025, though the group has operated since the 1990s.

What and Where is the Inland Empire?

• [08:13] Geographical/social context: Inland Empire is a growing metro area east of Los Angeles, with diverse communities and a history of attracting families due to affordability.

His Way Spirit Led Assemblies – Who Are They?

• [09:28] Group led by married couple:

  • Shelly Bailey Martin (a.k.a. Prophetess Kat, previously Catherine), 62
  • Darrell Music Martin (a.k.a. Pastor Music), 58

• Church had typical “charismatic Christian” trappings: faith healing, exuberant music, belief in miracles.

• Online Presence: A now-defunct website and a YouTube channel with sermon clips from 2017 featuring both leaders and lively music.

  • “It gives us some information about what they look like and what kind of messages that they were spreading…” – Hannah Smith [10:31]

• The sermons and website at first glance seemed typical for a charismatic Christian community, with little to raise suspicion unless you’re attuned to red flags in cult behavior.

• Red Flags:

  • Leaders call themselves “Head Prophetess” and “Senior Pastor”
  • Heavy focus on the authority of Prophet/Prophetess figures
  • Members required to hand over income and live communally under control [06:19]

Early Warning Signs and Comparisons to Cults

• Discuss comparisons to other high-control religious groups, e.g., the case of Cheryl Ruthven and how vague, hard-to-follow sermons often mark a shift toward leader worship and manipulation.

  • “If I believe I'm talking to someone who's speaking directly to God, and I'm a believer ... that would become really, really important to me.” – Pasha Eaton [14:18]

• Increasing separation between church members and outsiders.

• Music used as a tool for attraction and maintaining loyalty.

Testimonies of Former Members

• Anthony Duran’s Story

  • [33:24] Duran spent four years in the group: "You don't mess with the pastors or your whole life would be over."
  • Former members describe intense control, aversion to medical care (“they didn’t believe in doctors or medicine, the only thing they would do ... was pray for you” [33:48]), mandatory work for the group’s pest control company, and isolation.

• Bri Bird’s Story (trigger warning: abuse)

  • [41:57] Endured years as a child in group homes run by the church—alleging starvation, physical abuse, being raped and punished for reporting it.
    • “I was raped by somebody ... and that happened from when I was 10 until when I was 13. I told prophetess Kat ... and Kat punched her in the face and called her a liar.” – Hannah sharing Bri Bird’s account [44:11]

• Allegations include:

  • Emotional, spiritual, physical, and sexual abuse
  • Sleep deprivation, starvation, forced work
  • Forced marriages between young girls and older men [47:18]
  • Cultic isolation and punishment for disobedience

The Group’s Business – Fullshield Inc.

• [52:35] His Way Spirit Led Assemblies ran a pest control company, Fullshield Incorporated (later Maxguard), which served as a financial engine for the group and source of near-compulsory labor from members.

  • “It was a pest control company operated by the organization and ... allegedly the function of it was to financially support senior pastor and prophetess cat.” – Hannah Smith [52:41]

• Members (minors and adults) forced to work long hours for low pay; not allowed to seek work elsewhere.

Murders, Missing Persons, and 2025 Arrests

Key Cases:

• Timothy “Timo” Thomas (Age 4) – Died in 2010

  • [56:33] Died of untreated appendicitis after custody relinquished to church leaders.
  • Colton PD investigated; DA did not press charges until 2025 when new info surfaced.

• Emilio Salem Gannim – Missing since 2023

  • [59:26] Long-time member who helped start Fullshield. Left group, started new pest company, returned to Inland Empire, received a cease-and-desist from Fullshield, disappeared days later.
  • Rental pickup truck found burned in Mojave Desert; body not recovered.

• Ruben Moreno – Missing since 2017

  • [66:08] Last seen living with group members; missing persons report filed by family in 2019.

• Arrests (Dec 2025):

  • Kat (Shelly Martin), Darrell Music Martin, Andre Thomas (Timothy’s father), and Rudy Marino (member) arrested and/or charged with murder and weapons charges.
  • Police found illegal, converted firearms in properties owned by the group.
    • “There’s two other members … arrested on charges related to felons in possession of firearms…” – Hannah Smith [65:37]

• Victim advocates were present during arrests to support shell-shocked members.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

Quotes include timestamp and speaker attribution:

• “Handing over income. First red flag.” – Hannah Smith [06:19]

• “There are prophets in the Bible. I don't know. Are there prophets now?... it feels like a road that could easily get very dangerous if someone is claiming that they have this very special way of hearing God that maybe other people can't access.” – Hannah Smith [13:36]

• “She would say she could impregnate women who couldn't be pregnant. She could heal the blind. This person also said you had to do as prophetess Kat said otherwise you would be yelled at, hit, or starved.” – Hannah Smith [43:04]

• “They won’t let you leave and you can’t have any thoughts for yourself or make decisions for yourself. ...If you don’t listen to the pastors, there are repercussions. They will make your life literally a living hell.” – Anthony Duran (via Hannah) [54:03]

• “At the time of his death, temporary custody of Timothy Thomas had been signed over from his birth parents to the leaders of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies.” – Hannah Smith [56:48, quoting police release]

• “So this makes me think there's going to potentially be a trial.” – Hannah Smith (after the February 2026 court hearing) [70:39]

Memorable Analytical Moments

• On Leadership Titles and Red Flags:

  • Discussion on how self-proclaimed “prophets” can shift from representing God’s word to becoming the sole authority, creating spiritual and social dependency [14:02–14:30].

• On the Danger to Children:

  • Repeated distress at the separation of children from parents and the abusive environment created under “consecration” and communal living [46:19–47:00].

• On the Difficulty in Escaping:

  • “How do you decipher what's wrong when your parents are going along with this too? ...That's gotta be really hard.” – Hannah Smith [54:11]

Important Timestamps & Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | 03:45 | Introduction & setup of the His Way Spirit Led Assemblies case | | 09:28 | Leaders’ backgrounds and church’s publicly available media | | 13:02–16:15 | Dissection of sermons, titles, music, and first “cult” red flags | | 33:24–44:16 | Former members’ abuse testimony (esp. Anthony Duran, Bri Bird) | | 52:35–54:11 | Economic exploitation through Fullshield pest control business | | 56:33–58:24 | The 2010 Timothy Thomas death & failed charges, leading to 2025 reopening | | 59:24–63:34 | “Missing Member” cases: Emilio Gannim and Ruben Moreno | | 69:56–77:32 | Case updates: February 2026 preliminary hearing, new evidence, logistics of group’s origins |

Recent Developments (UPDATE: February 2026)

• [70:02] Hosts announce that, since recording, the preliminary hearing for Kat and Pastor Music was held in San Bernardino, with both pleading not guilty in the death of Timothy Thomas.
  • Court evidence and former member testimony revealed the group’s founding in Nashville in 1998 before relocating to California in 2000.
  • “He had to plot and plan his exit.” – Hannah Smith describing Anthony Duran’s escape [77:12]
• Ongoing questions about religious freedom defenses; anticipation of a high-profile trial.

Thematic Takeaways

• The mechanism of cult recruitment and control: Vague messaging, personality-driven worship, communal living, isolation, economic dependence, and calculated escalation into abuse.
• The invisibility and pervasiveness of predatory groups: Not isolated to “the South” or remote locations—can occur in diverse, metropolitan regions.
• The vulnerable fallout: The lifelong trauma for children, families torn apart, and the difficulty of seeking justice for crimes committed within “high-control” religious settings.

Further Information

• If you have information on the cases of Emilio Gannim or Ruben Moreno, contact the Redlands or Claremont Police (see episode for more details).
• For more coverage, see LA Times and various cited TV news reports (ABC7, KTLA5).

Final Words

“These places are everywhere and they will take anyone who is willing to believe what they're saying and pay them ... but I'm sure we'll be following along and maybe we'll have an update for listeners.”
– Pasha Eaton [69:30]

If you’ve missed this episode, this summary covers the devastating scope and human dimensions of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies and their ongoing reckoning with justice. Listen for updates as the case develops.