TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Valerie Ross has another meaningful piece for us today, and our thanks for the job she does tackling a difficult subject. It’s never easy to lose someone in your life. But Scientology, she explains, makes it so much harder to deal with. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“We just had a pc the other day that ran for 25 hours on one incident and when that pc was finished with the incident the results were miraculous—a changed person with changed activities in life. The old rule applies of it takes as long as it takes is really true with Dianetics narrative running or any other Dianetics for that matter. Narrative running can take a long time to get the pc through and what you are interested in here is running the incident narrative to erasure and only going earlier similar if it starts to grind very badly. Failure to properly run a narrative incident will give the auditor and C/S the idea that things don’t seem to handle on this case. It also gives the pc losses on handling things for himself. All that is needed is sufficient running of the narrative incident to its full end phenomena and this will no longer be the case as Dianetics does work except when it is not applied correctly. Part of the application of narrative running is to ensure that enough run throughs have occurred so that the incident is fully discharged.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
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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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“If we weren’t here, the lights of Earth’s civilization would be out in another 25 years. And people know who is sitting, baying at them. But you see the great ease it would be to scoop me up, or shoot me down or do something to me. You might ask, why is it that this has never really happened? It’s come close to happening a couple of times. There’s been an airplane out on a landing field warming up, waiting to kidnap me, and a couple of hoods standing by, real tough mugs. Only they couldn’t handle a .45, and I could. This in the confines of Los Angeles. The war cooled off, as far as I was concerned, many, many years ago, and I don’t expect it to hot up at all. I don’t even bother to lock the doors. And it’s not case as far as I’m concerned. I’m just pointing that out to you as a matter of record. Because if I had a men, number of overts here, or if I had a bugginess going here, the attack on you and the attack on me would be fantastic. But you see, if you haven’t got tremendous motivators, they can’t get a big enough overt going against you, because you just don’t suck it in, that’s all. You see? And that mechanism alone is why we’re still alive. ” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 21, 1961
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“MONEY: If somebody gets on money collection we’ll maybe someday have some upper level bonuses. AUDITOR C/S BONUSES are not cancelled. The w.d. hours and the completion bonsues are paid. Qual Internes are not paid bonuses but will draw SO pay when their 25 hours are made in a week. The bonus B of I is sort of up in the air. The 20% does cover these and B bonuses. Somebody tried to pay me my full bonus when no one else was eligible. I’m sending it back. Total Bonus has to be covered by 20% of the GI before C D E bonuses can be paid. The ‘postulate checks’ got in our hair on this. Anyhow, get the stats up and we’ll soon have some new FEBCs out who will pay their bills! It’s not as it says on the GF, All Black. There’s lots of F/N VGIs around this lovely new tech in auditing and supervising and the eventual prospect of an OT crew.” — The Commodore, June 21, 1971
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“The few remaining wizards (or rulers or powers or whatever) left in the magical universe decided to invade this universe and come down in style. They’d round up escapees or collect beings from this universe, pull them all up into the magic universe, implant them, and make them up into an army. This seems to have been done five times. These are the five invader force waves, but that’s another story.”
2000: Jeff Jacobsen reported that the Bank building in Clearwater was the site of a protest this week. “11 people picketed the Scientology Bank Building in downtown Clearwater today from 11am to 1pm. We had some TV coverage and got tons of horn honks and thumbs up from the heavy traffic. Both Jeff Jacobsen and Mark Bunker had Incident Reports filed by the Clearwater Police over the 10 foot rule in the temporary injunction filed after the Minton-Howd event last October. We had 4 newbie picketers and they all had a good time and plan to picket again. When the TV crews got there, both Pat Jones and Al Buttnor rushed out to talk to them and try to persuade them that there was no news here. Al Buttnor seemed especially upset today.”
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“You cannot detox addicts NON-MEDICALLY. It is INSANE, SADISTIC, and DANGEROUS.”
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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. DA’s response to appeal brief due June 13.
— ‘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 June 16.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Sentenced to 7 years in prison.
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. Leah’s appeal brief due June 3.
— 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. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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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] Scientology knows your kid is out of school and needs some auditing!
[TWO years ago] Wait, Scientology has Mary-Ellen of ‘The Waltons’ on the hook for how much now?
[THREE years ago] Scientology: Valerie Haney has no choice but to submit to the church’s authority
[FOUR years ago] If you ever wondered what Suri Cruise might be like if she had never left Scientology
[FIVE years ago] What are Scientologists being told about the Danny Masterson rape case?
[SIX years ago] Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, ‘Provost Marshal’: Another apologist claim debunked
[SEVEN years ago] Opportunity missed: What Erika Christensen should have been asked about Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Source: Scientology ship avoiding Dutch waters after evading surprise government search
[NINE years ago] Nearly four years after Stacy Murphy’s death, Scientology files motion to kill much of lawsuit
[TEN years ago] ‘Book ’em, Danno’: Just for fun, L. Ron Hubbard’s fingerprints, revealed!
[ELEVEN years ago] Ryan Hamilton files lawsuit 14 against Scientology’s drug rehab, and other updates
[TWELVE years ago] In His New Book, Is Neil Gaiman Exorcising His Scientology Past?
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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.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,302 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,797 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,312 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,862 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,852 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,238 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,733 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,037 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,906 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,460 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,801 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,368 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,287 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,455 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,037 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,296 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,333 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,049 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,613 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,928 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,103 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,785 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,122 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,976 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,091 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,453 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,862 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,258 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,136 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,701 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,212 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,472 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,576 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 21, 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
