TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: It was just last October that Lisa Marie Presley’s posthumous ‘From Here to the Great Unknown’ came out and we checked it for mentions of Scientology. Now, her mother Priscilla has a new memoir, and we go over its mentions of Scientology, which contain some surprising errors. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“’Sec Checking,’ ‘Integrity Processing’ and ‘Confessionals’ are all the exact same procedure and any materials on these subjects is interchangeable under these titles. Withholds don’t just add up to withholds They add up to overts, they add up to secrecies, they add up to individuations, they add up to games conditions, they add up to a lot more things than O/W. You are straightening out somebody on a moral code, the ‘Now I’m supposed to’s.’ They’ve transgressed on a series of ‘Now I’m supposed to’s.’ Having so transgressed, they are now individuated. If their individuation is too obsessive, they snap in and become the terminal. All of these cycles exist around the idea of the transgression against the ‘Now I’m supposed to’s.’ That is what a Confessional clears up and that is all it clears up. It’s a great deal more than a withhold.” — 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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“Somebody made a horrible mistake over at the FCDC the other day, by mentioning ‘between lives’ during the church service and learned immediately that he should have kept his mouth very shut.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 25, 1963
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“MIRACLE: In an org a man with fatal Hodkins Disease got a 25 minute touch assist, went back to the hospital and the disease was totally gone. They’d get many more if they just cut out the flubs!” — The Commodore, September 25, 1970
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“When Joe Biden says, ‘This is a fight for the soul of this country’, he is referring to those other beings, non-thetans, who are souls, and country means planet Earth since Thoth considers Earth as a whole, a country. The fight between Thoth and Christ is for Christ’s souls. Without Christ’s souls continuing to be imprisoned here, Thoth loses his matrix. Why? Because Christ’s souls power the Matrix. They are it’s battery. Ha! I just saw on TV, thousands of New Yorkers marching in the Climate Change Strike; the spiritual battle Thoth directed HAARP to create.”
1998: Bob Minton reported that Scientology picketers were removed from the Columbus airport by the State Police. “Three public Scientologists decided to picket us as we went to our gate at the Columbus airport. The three Scientologists were, of course, being handled by their OSA Spontaneity Supervisor. It is possible that she is Diane Stein, the DSA Atlanta who called Stacy’s mother and was on the scene for the picket of Stacy’s sister’s house in Atlanta. We explained to airport security that it was against FAA regulations for this type of unlawful assembly and demonstration to occur on FAA property. Airport security called for the state police, who didn’t seem to be aware of FAA regulations on this subject, but nevertheless made the picketers put down their signs and escorted them from the airport, much to the OSA woman’s dismay. One of the three presumably public Scientologists called me a coward, whereupon I asked him if he was familiar with the Thetan Hand Technique. He had no idea what I was talking about.”
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“I’m guessing the Urban Land Institute isn’t aware they’re dealing with a posse of lunatics.”
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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 August 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 December 1.
Civil litigation:
— 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 Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— 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] EXCLUSIVE: Former Hollywood madam sued Tom Cruise in 2021 — and then dropped dead
[TWO years ago] Scientology gets another journalist fired for daring to print the truth
[THREE years ago] How Scientology manufactured New York Times bestsellers for L. Ron Hubbard
[FOUR years ago] Oregonian newspaper names Scientology prep school best small employer in the state
[FIVE years ago] Serve Miscavige in an ad? Scientology honcho: ‘But you haven’t tried hard enough to find me!’
[SIX years ago] Hiding in plain sight: how Scientology nearly got away with its 1970s espionage campaign
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology rewards the celeb who bolted when her co-star went rogue
[EIGHT years ago] Paul Haggis: Rathbun does what I feared, and outs ex-Scientologist we vowed to keep secret
[NINE years ago] Scientology in Ireland is nearly dead: Here’s how Tom Cruise & the gang plan to bring it back
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s showdown in Belgium: Here’s our plan to cover an epic battle
[ELEVEN years ago] What the Boston Globe left out of its story on Scientology yesterday
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Catechism: Claire Headley Puts Our State of Clear to the Test!
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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 3,397 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,901 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,407 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,957 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,947 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,333 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,828 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,132 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,783 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,001 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,555 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,896 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,467 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,383 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,550 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,132 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,391 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,428 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,144 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,708 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,023 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,198 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,880 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,217 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,070 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,186 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,548 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,959 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,347 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,231 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,796 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,307 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,567 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,671 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 25, 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, 1995-2024 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
