The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has identified the sword-wielding man who was fatally shot Wednesday by police at the Inglewood Scientology Ideal Org as Brian Statler of West Los Angeles, who was 30 years old.
Statler appeared to be a mixed-race individual who was listed as Black by the coroner. He was apparently from Kern County, California originally. In his social media, Statler refers to his involvement in “Illumination Entertainment,” but it’s not clear if he was an entertainer himself. His social media is shot through with references to “the Illuminati,” an allusion to popular conspiracy theories about a secret world government.
We found one photo of him with a samurai sword, from July 2015. According to his caption, he was showing it to a younger brother.
Caption: “My younger brother holding his first Samurai Sword # receptivity #naturalcycles #yin”
Based on his small Internet footprint, Statler seemed to have some fairly harmless New Age views, and there is no sign that he was particularly disturbed. But his postings are not more recent than 2015.
In a 2013 video Statler shot in Las Vegas and posted to YouTube, he discusses the esoteric idea of “quantum jumping,” which he describes as, “You have the ability, using an advanced visualization technique, where you can visualize yourself jumping into an alternate universe and communicating with an alternate version of yourself.”
We don’t see any obvious tie between Statler and Scientology. We also don’t know yet why he was driving a Bentley automobile, or why he went into the Scientology org, reportedly threatening people with a sword.
Our thanks to Eivol Ekdal for research help.
We’ll continue to add more information about Statler as we can.
UPDATE: Some evidence that Statler was at least aware of Scientology shows up on his YouTube footprint.
He subscribed to a YouTube channel called “Up the Bridge Now!” that consisted of a single video, a Scientology Super Bowl ad.
He also created a YouTube playlist he called “Scientology,” which consisted of six videos, four of which have expired. Of the remaining two, one appears to be a Church of Scientology video that demonstrates a technique in L. Ron Hubbard’s book Dianetics. The other is a 2007 Mark Bunker video about Scientologists shouting instructions at ashtrays.
We’ll keep looking…
UPDATE: It looks like although Statler was born in Kern County, at least part of his family was from Missouri. In November 2011, Statler was arrested in Springfield, Missouri for assault in the 3rd degree (he was 23 years old at the time). He pled guilty and was sentenced to 1 year in jail (suspended) and 2 years probation. He apparently didn’t check in for probation and an arrest warrant was issued in 2013. But just last month, records show he had an attorney in Missouri request for the probation to be terminated, and it was granted on March 5, just 22 days before Statler was killed.
UPDATE: More from Statler’s rap sheet: In October 2011 he was arrested in Nevada on a disorderly conduct charge for challenging someone to a fight, but charges were dismissed. In April 2014 and April 2015 he was arrested in Nevada on domestic battery misdemeanors, and in May 2016 he was arrested in Burbank on a domestic violence charge and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 3 years of probation.
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles
This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. We have something in mind, but for now we’re not giving out information about it.
Friday night we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.
On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.
HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22.
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientologists are trying to convince each other that the new TV network is a roaring success
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s spies: L. Ron Hubbard’s twisted legacy that proved his sickness
[THREE years ago] Augustine: One weird trick every Scientologist needs to learn for real ‘total freedom’
[FOUR years ago] CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST SCIENTOLOGY DRUG REHABS IN CALIFORNIA
[FIVE years ago] Hey, you guys, the new Scientology E-meter is a hit!
[SIX years ago] LEAK: Narconon’s Legal Affairs Director Admits No Scientific Basis for Advertised Success Rates
[SEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: LRH Gets an Answer from Tricky Dick!
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,404 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,533 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,037 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,517 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 580 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 468 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,775 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,643 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,417 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,191 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,537 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,103 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,023 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,190 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,771 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,032 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,071 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,783 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,309 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,398 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,538 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,858 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,714 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,833 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,189 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,491 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,597 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,999 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,871 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,454 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,949 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,203 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,312 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 1, 2019 at 07:30
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Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
