Police in Colton, California are pursuing new leads in the case of a child who died after his parents relinquished custody to a religious sect that is currently under investigation for possible homicide involving a former member.

Timothy Thomas, 4, died in January 2010, police said in a news release on Thursday, without sharing the circumstances. The San Bernardino County Coroner listed the cause of death as "natural."

“At the time of his death, temporary custody … had been signed over from his birth parents to leaders of ‘His Way Spirit Led Assemblies,’” police said.

On Tuesday, authorities in Redlands, a neighboring city in San Bernardino County, announced that the husband and wife who lead the group were arrested in connection with the 2023 disappearance of Emilio Ghanem.

Ghanem, 40

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