In January 2010, Timothy Thomas died of natural causes due to a ruptured appendicitis, police said.
At the time of Timothy's death, temporary custody of the 4-year-old had been signed over from his birth parents to leaders of the Hemet-based religious group His Way Spirit Led Assemblies, according to a news release by Colton police.
Police sought involuntary manslaughter charges against Timothy's guardians, alleging child neglect for not seeking medical attention. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's office ruled there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges.
His Way Spirit Led Assemblies is believed to be involved in multiple missing persons cases in the Inland Empire.
Two of the group's leaders, Darryl Muzic Martin, 57, and his wife, Shelly Bailey "Kat" Martin, 62, were recently arrested in connection with the disappearance of Emilio Salem Ghanem.
Ghanem, a former member of the religious group, was reported missing in May 2023 after visiting a Starbucks in Redlands. The Redlands Police Department is investigating his disappearance as a potential homicide.
Another member of the Assemblies group, Ruben Moreno, was reported missing in 2019. That case is being investigated by the Claremont Police Department.