TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: As 2025 begins, it appears to be business as usual for Scientology as David Miscavige’s minions continue to squeeze money out of a dwindling membership. But before they can turn the entire country ‘Ideal,’ they need to hear from you! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“I have made a technical breakthrough which possibly ranks with the major discoveries of the Twentieth Century. It is certainly the greatest advancement of 1973 and is now being released after a final wrap-up of research. It is called the Introspection Rundown. The purpose of the Introspection RD is to locate and correct those things which cause a person to fixate his attention inwardly, on himself or his bank. This RD extroverts the person so that he can see his environment and therefore handle and control it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1974
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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 as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“In August I wrote Kennedy; he was offered by me at that time help in the space race, speeding up the IQ, straightening out pilots. And this, the White House has already asked us twice for presentations of Scientology and we’ve granted them, and they have done weird things like fire the fellow who asked for them and that sort of thing….And anyway, in August, thinking that it would be a good gesture I wrote him a letter concerning this, at the White House, and time rolled along and the FDA suddenly became very interested and the organization was sniffing around the corners. And suddenly the US government — let’s not compartment this thing down, see, it’s just the government — issued a smear campaign in the Washington press, calling us all sorts of hard names, organized this thing completely, down to the last detail and actually the papers were on the streets before anybody appeared at the organization. Interesting, isn’t it? Hours later somebody appeared at the organization. Anyway, they raided a church and seized philosophical and religious texts for burning and meters. Armed raid on a church. Stop and think about it for a moment. How could they get away with this? How’d they do this?” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 8, 1963
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“An International hard news story is about to come off in this port. Nothing to do with us. But reporters will be all over the place and our rat guards are not very effective. A ‘Hard news Story’ means a staged or actual event as different than a statement by someone. As this particular staged event is not very newsworthy really and as we are lately in the news in our effort to hit at the UK Parliament, the reporters would probably use us to justify their being here. Policy is to avoid hard news stories. Don’t get mixed up in International events like revolutions or International PR efforts. Therefore, although all is cool, we’ll slide down the coast long before the event and stay here lengthily another day. DDT kills flies. What de-verminates reporters? So we sail the 11th. Hey, the reporter who painted up the Dekki Le Moate scene in DK is rumored to have been sacked! Maybe his paper had good sense after all. Holland is apparently also under control on this I hear.” — The Commodore, January 8, 1971
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“Is it possible that Scientology PCs and OTs could just be sitting in a chair imagining all the time and not really running engrams or BTs? It’s all imagination. Now I don’t know if that is the case but after looking into how abberrated Hubbard and many OTs are it wouldn’t surprise me if running these things are just a waste of time. Seriously, like fact check OT 3, fact check the whole religion. It might ruin Scientology for you but I’ve concluded certain parts are great, maybe 50 percent of it, but the rest is terrible and some people get gobbled up by it all.”
1998: CBS investigative show Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel aired a broadcast about Lisa McPherson’s death at the hands of Scientology. Sue M. provided a transcript. Some excerpts: “She was not rich, famous, or powerful. but in death, Lisa McPherson is grabbing headlines normally reserved for Scientology’s celebrity followers. That’s because after two years, the death of Lisa McPherson remains to many a mystery. Lisa, a devout Scientologist, spent the last 17 days of her life confined to a room inside this hotel owned by Scientology. Church records show that during that time, Lisa became violent, refusing to eat or sleep. The tragedy has left Lisa’s aunt and closest living relative, Dell Liebreich, searching for answers. KRISTEN JEANNETTE-MYERS: Do you think criminal charges should be filed? LIEBREICH: I definitely do. I definitely do. Because I feel like they killed her. BONNIE PORTALANO: Lisa and the accident scene was behind our ambulance. And he says, ‘You’re never going to guess what she’s doing,’ speaking of Lisa, and I said, ‘What?’ And he said, ‘She’s taking off her clothes.’ And it was like a few seconds later she came walking down the side of our ambulance with not a stitch on. As I went to get her, you know, I said, ‘Lisa, Lisa,’ you know, ‘Why did you take your clothes off?’ And she said, ‘I wanted people to think I was crazy so then I could get some help.’ DENNIS ERLICH: I was in it for 15 years. I know that it is a cult. The step consists of locking a person in a room where they cannot communicate with anyone. No one is to communicate with them. And they’re to be kept there until they supposedly come out of their psychotic state. JEANNETTE-MEYERS: Rest and relaxation sounds like a wonderful idea. But the records say that two days into her stay she was spitting out food and vomiting, four days into her stay she was ashen faced and feverish, and then she became violent, striking the attendants, hallucinating, thinking that she’s L. Ron Hubbard, being too weak to stand, soiling herself, crying, babbling, breaking things. At that point, isn’t it clear that it’s not working? MIKE RINDER: What’s not working? JEANNETTE-MEYERS: Resting, taking her away? RINDER: I don’t think that that’s clear at all. I don’t think that you can draw inferences or conclusions from what is said. You can read other reports and later on there is a different perspective. KEN DANDAR: So could you imagine Lisa McPherson, who is mentally unstable according to Scientology, is having these people come in and try to force feed her, and she’s yelling and screaming at them. She’s banging on the wall. She’s fighting with them. She’s asking them questions. But they are not allowed to respond to her. All they can do is turn around and walk out the room, and then write a report to the case supervisor and close the door behind them. And she’s not allowed to leave. RINDER: Dandar is an idiot. That’s my response to that. He hasn’t got a clue. He is the worst of the worst of what makes the American legal system so out of control. He is an ambulance chasing gold digger. DANDAR: My reply to that is simple: If they had called an ambulance for Lisa McPherson, I wouldn’t be here today. BRYANT GUMBEL: Those affiliated with Scientology ran an orchestrated campaign pressuring us to not run the piece you just watched. Do you not consider the mysterious death of a young woman in the care of Scientologists as a valid reason for outside questions? HEBER JENTZSCH: I consider the fact that your people were given information, Bryant, that they did not put on the show, and there were various specific information that they could have used. Joan Wood, the medical examiner, she never did the autopsy on this case. And that was known to your people. It was done by a Dr. Davis, and he did the actual autopsy, OK? And in his autopsy, he said he did not agree with Joan Wood, the medical examiner. Davis did about 25 autopsies, 24 were completed. One was not completed. The reason that one, on Lisa McPherson, was not completed was because his notes were not available. They were not available because Joan Wood, the medical examiner, destroyed those notes. Then, she goes on national tabloid TV and starts blabbing about all these kinds of accusations and so forth. That is sickening to me. It is sickening that it has to be done that way when your people had the information. And then she says to Davis, who did — GUMBEL: Mr. Jentzsch, even if I accept that those people loved her and wanted to take care of her, your own logs clearly depict a woman with a deteriorating mental condition and failing health. Do your people have no responsibility to have those maladies professionally addressed? JENTZSCH: You’re saying that a psychiatrist is going to do something which is gonna be better. You know, there s a case in Miami, Florida which dealt with this directly. And there was a fellow who was also dramatizing like this and carrying on. You know what they did to him? Eleven attendants jumped him. They threw a blanket around his head. They kneed him in the back, they knocked him down — GUMBEL: I never mentioned the word ‘psychiatrist’, sir — JENTZSCH (raising voice more): I know, but you and I talked earlier today and I did mention it and you know that that’s part of this case and you know that was part of the–the problem with this, okay? Psychiatrists destroy people’s lives. They have the highest incidents of rape and so forth. She didn’t want to go there. It’s very clear — GUMBEL: They have the highest incidents of rape? JENTZSCH (raising voice more): Of any profession. There’s 2,500 indictments against psychiatrists in this country last year alone. Why would you go to a bunch of people like that who use electric shock? And that causes brain damage. That destroys people lives. She didn’t want to go there. She had a right not to go there with a psychiatrist.”
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“It really doesn’t matter if the people still in the Church of Scientology are happy or not because the organization itself is a criminal conspiracy that needs to be brought down. Are we suppose to go easy on organized crime because its members might be, generally speaking, having a good time?”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing January 13, 2025.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1.
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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] Have you made your Scientology ‘postulates’ for the new year, space cadet?
[TWO years ago] VIDEO: Danny Masterson on the best way to make a move on a woman
[THREE years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige praised in videos on David Miscavige’s website
[FOUR years ago] Scientology continues to harry Mark Bunker over his every utterance
[FIVE years ago] If Scientology forced your children to disconnect from you, what would you do?
[SIX years ago] Tonight, Leah Remini makes it clear how much Scientology worships money above all else
[SEVEN years ago] Joy Villa’s ex talks about her domestic violence arrest and the child she put up for adoption
[EIGHT years ago] Talking to the FBI agent who canceled her talk at Scientology’s ‘mecca’
[NINE years ago] Jon Atack: The best thing ever written about the language traps in Scientology’s Bible, ‘Dianetics’
[TEN years ago] Jefferson Hawkins provides Scientology a way to happiness that actually works
[ELEVEN years ago] We talk to Ray Jeffrey about today’s brutally long day in a Texas court battling Scientology
[TWELVE years ago] Nancy Many’s Life in Scientology Dramatized on January 16 Investigation Discovery Series
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,138 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,633 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,148 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,698 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,688 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,074 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,569 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,873 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,744 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,296 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,637 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,204 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,123 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,291 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,873 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,133 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,169 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,885 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,449 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,764 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,939 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,621 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,958 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,812 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,927 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,289 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,592 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,698 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,096 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,972 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,537 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,048 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,304 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,412 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 8, 2025 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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
