What a treat it was this week to speak with Ursula Caberta, someone we haven’t heard from in several years. Longtime readers will remember that Ursula was a political figure in Germany who spearheaded a state-sponsored effort to expose Scientology abuses in that country.
She retired several years ago, but on Wednesday we spoke to her by phone and she asked for the help of the Bunker community. We’re certain that our readers are eager to help if they can!
Ursula was speaking about a case that has mystified the authorities in Germany for a few years now. On September 25, 2019, a 23-year-old Leipzig woman named Yolanda Klug told her roommates that she was going on a shopping trip to a nearby IKEA before meeting a friend. But she never met up with the friend, and she never returned. According to phone records, her phone was turned off at 2:15 pm that afternoon, and never turned on again.
Her passport was still at home, and she had about 8,000 euros in the bank that went untouched, which cast some doubt on the idea that she had simply decided to go elsewhere.
Over time, the case has gained notoriety in the country, not the least because Yolanda’s family is heavily involved in Scientology, and Yolanda herself apparently had left the church a couple of years before her disappearance. The night before her disappearance, she had met her Scientologist father for dinner. In an interview, he said that his daughter was talking about taking a trip to Jordan.
According to German police, Yolanda had a health condition that caused her to have fainting spells. After her disappearance was reported, police used dogs to find traces of Yolanda’s scent at the IKEA and the area where she was supposed to meet her friend but never did.
Ursula tells us that no one has accused Scientology or Yolanda’s Scientologist parents of being involved in Yolanda’s disappearance. But after nearly three years of dead ends, they are finally starting to ask some more questions about the church.
And for that reason, they reached out to Ursula to get some background on the organization.
In particular, Ursula says the police are interested in learning more about Yolanda’s sister, who reportedly is a Sea Org member in Los Angeles, and also has the last name of Klug. Ursula says that the sister came to Germany and met with Yolanda shortly before her disappearance.
Ursula wants to know if anyone in the Bunker community has any information about the sister, and particularly what her role might be in the Sea Org in Los Angeles. If you know something, please drop us a line.
Again, we want to stress that no accusations have been made about Yolanda’s father in Germany or her mother, who is in Switzerland, and their involvement in Scientology. But the police, after three years of fruitless searching, want more information about Scientology to help them get the total picture.
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Today’s Scientology happy news. Yes, an excerpt from an actual press release put out by the church this week.
Share the energy and spirit of Mexico’s premier Church of Scientology as it works with the community to create an even brighter future for all. Mexico City, one of the largest metropolitan areas on Earth, combines ancient traditions, colonial influence and 21st-century cosmopolitan culture in its own unique style.
Its pre-Columbian pyramid, Templo Mayor, an ever-present reminder of the city’s Aztec forebears, stands next to the Metropolitan Cathedral, whose striking architecture recalls the city’s Spanish past.
And just a half mile west, 7,000 Scientologists and their guests welcomed the National Church of Scientology of Mexico as Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige dedicated the new Church on July 10, 2010.
In honor of their anniversary, the Church of Scientology extends an invitation to one and all to watch “ Destination: Mexico City ”—an episode of “ Destination Scientology ” on the Scientology Network.
“Mexicans tend to be friendly people and they like to enjoy the moment,” says one of the Scientologists interviewed in the episode. “We have this phrase,” says another, “‘My house is your house.’ It’s really like that. You’re part of a really big family.”
AdvertisementIn this episode, experience the energy and spirit of the city. Journey through one of the most important cultural centers in the Western Hemisphere with local Church members as your guide. And with stops at Alameda Central, the oldest public park in the Americas, and the historic city center with its iconic Angel of Independence monument, get a taste of the breathtaking beauty of this 7,000-foot-high city.
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Now available: Bonus for our supporters
Episode 4 of the Underground Bunker podcast has been sent out to paid subscribers, and it’s a conversation with Bruce Hines about the mind-warping life in the Sea Org and a new story about Shelly Miscavige we hadn’t heard before. Meanwhile, we’ve made episodes 1 through 3 available to everyone, with Jeffrey Augustine on recent Scientology court cases, Claire Headley exposing Tom Cruise, and Marc Headley on what it must be like for David Miscavige living in Clearwater, Florida. Go here to get the episodes!
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“I took a hard-boiled, hardheaded, sonic shut-off, somatic shut-off, reality shut-off case and had him pretend he was dead, in the hope that he would swing into the dead person in whose valence he was, and then he could tell us all about the funeral. So I said, ‘Go to the time when you were dead.’ So he obligingly went to 1797 in Sicily, when he was in a farmhouse dying. He died with full somatics. I thought this was very interesting, so I brought him up to present time and thought about it a little more, and took another case….We are discovering incidents back there. I never investigated them before, although I probably should have. We don’t currently know much about them except that people feel better when they are run. This is not part of the standard technique of Dianetics at present although I have known this material was there for some time.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 22, 1950
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“NOTICE: Any FEBC student who arrived here before April 20th is overdue for completion. Your Orgs need you; therefore, you should do everything in your power to complete all your outstanding cycles quickly and thoroughly so that you can be fired. As per HCO PL of Feb 22, 1968, ‘The secret of any executive success is the ability to COMPLETE cycles of action QUICKLY.’” — Mary Sue Hubbard, Controller, July 22, 1971
“Never in history have I seen a religion so attacked and so maligned as Scientology, and mainly by its own ex-members and especially by its ex-executives. Look at all the people writing — for years and years — about how bad Scientology is. Well, they aren’t nuts per definition, they just have overts and especially missed withholds.”
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1998: Bob Minton was picketed at his New Hampshire home this week, leading to a confrontation when Scientologists entered his property. “Two Scientologists picketed my NH house this evening and trespassed to photograph me and Stacy Young while we were swimming in the pool. They also yelled obscenities from 200 feet away. After the shots over the heads of OSA boys, somebody called the police to have them checkout the shooting incident in NH. I was called by police and told there were 4 police cars in front of my house and I should walk out of the house, hands above my head and surrender to the police. I was handcuffed and held in my driveway for 20 minutes while the police decided what was going on. Now I am free again and I urge everyone to read my post tonight entitled ‘Scientology versus Democracy Redux.'”
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“My opinion is that the ‘true believer’ type personality is as much, if not more, the reason why some people end up in cults, than the ‘mind control’ explanation.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial scheduled for October 11, pretrial conference August 17.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Readiness hearing scheduled for August 22 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place, next status hearing October 25.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Here’s our motion to quash the subpoena Danny Masterson’s attorney slapped us with
[TWO years ago] Scientology is a special hell for the ‘staff’ who work at your local ‘org’
[THREE years ago] Sudden change in Maiden Voyage events in Los Angeles a clue to Ideal Org problems?
[FOUR years ago] A tale of two cities: Scientology courts pols and police in one place, acts sneaky in another
[FIVE years ago] Janis Grady’s new book on life in Scientology: Jon Atack’s take, and an excerpt
[SIX years ago] Was it something we said? Scientology wants Cindy Plahuta’s letter in fraud lawsuit struck
[SEVEN years ago] How Scientology is Tom Cruise? How he put ethics ‘ruthlessly’ in on his own family
[EIGHT years ago] More trouble for Scientology fundraising and recruitment in Europe
[NINE years ago] DISCONNECTION: A Double Dose of Scientology’s Toxic Use of ‘Leverage’
[TEN years ago] Neil Gaiman, 7, Interviewed About Scientology by the BBC in 1968
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,733 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,238 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,788 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,778 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,669 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,974 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,844 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,618 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,949 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,422 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,738 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,304 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,223 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,391 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,971 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,233 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,269 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,984 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,509 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 864 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,039 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,590 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,739 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,059 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,914 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,033 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,389 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,692 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,798 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,196 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,072 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,655 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,150 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,404 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,513 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 22, 2022 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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, 15 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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
