TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: One of our favorite series at the Village Voice was based on renderings of Scientology’s ‘Flag Building’ leaked to us in 2012, a year before the building opened. We managed to recover the images from those old stories to find a place for them at our Substack. They’re still dope! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Anyone doing a Confessional should be fully trained and interned by doing a course and interneship in the handling of Confessionals. You had better determine to become an expert in it, since an auditor’s inability to handle this is a fast route to ‘how to win enemies and wrongly influence people.’ But even more important is the fact that, in knowing and applying Confessional tech correctly, you are helping the individual to face up to his responsibilities in his group and the society and putting him back into communication with his fellow man, his family, and the world at large.” — 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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“The faults I find with Scientologists is they very often will see somebody fall on his head, get run over by a truck, and do some kind of a light touch assist and say ‘That’s that.’ And then wonder why the guy is limping. And then they sort of say, ‘Scientology doesn’t work.’ Man, I’ve got a word for you. That auditor is afraid of work. Do you see?” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 28, 1968
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“ETHICS: The following are Fair Game for the current week for No Report of their stats. John Wiley, Kristina Brorson, Vicky Alpe, Janice Tidman, Geary Titus, Wayne Alkire, Robert Williamson, Ron Straus, Dekki Le.” — Lt. Jeff Walker, Ship Stats, September 28, 1970
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“The sheer quantity of detail used to enslave people is almost incomprehensible. How to make a thetan blind and believe he is an organic oddity took many, many minds and extreme dedication. Making the universe and our immediate environment convincing and pleasurable has been purposefully worked out; it has taken ingenuity, vast effort, and money. That work goes on to this day.”
2001: The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Scientology celebrity Jenna Elfman has worked to open a new mission in San Francisco. “Jenna Elfman was helping an eager crew put finishing touches on the new Scientology mission set to open tomorrow. She told TIC she’s been spending a lot of time in San Francisco helping to build and paint the children’s art center in the basement. Elfman had befriended firefighters who stopped by yesterday morning. She was wearing a red aluminum bracelet sold by L.A. firefighters to raise money for New York disaster relief efforts. When fellow Scientologist Kirstie Alley called, the four firefighters shouted their hello. Elfman described a day of fire training she’d once done for a magazine story and praised her visitors’ courage and superhuman strength, and they joked about coming to the mission for dance lessons.”
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“Human rights education brought to you by slave labor and the church of ironictology.”
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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] The Scientology hype video you have been waiting for: Saint Hill en fuego!
[TWO years ago] Sworn testimony on Scientology harassment in Leah Remini’s lawsuit
[THREE years ago] Mike Rinder’s ‘A Billion Years’: A gripping takedown of Scientology and its leader
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s personality test is a hit on TikTok: Can David Miscavige capitalize on it?
[FIVE years ago] Hip, hip hooray! Scientology success stories you weren’t meant to see
[SIX years ago] Answering Scientology’s smears with truth: Phil Jones takes a STAND
[SEVEN years ago] US Government ‘adopts’ Russian Scientologist in religious rights protest
[EIGHT years ago] ‘Aftermath’ fan gets into party at Scientology’s ‘Int Base,’ brings Karen Pressley’s book along
[NINE years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: First images of Scientology’s Gold Rush mine in California
[TEN years ago] If it’s Monday, it must be Seattle: Let’s talk Scientology!
[ELEVEN years ago] Celebrating two years in the Bunker: Jonny Jacobsen on Russia, and Sunday Funnies!
[TWELVE years ago] Blood Relation, Blood Ritual: A Hubbard Family Occult Mystery
[THIRTEEN years ago] Talking About The Master on Public Radio
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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 3,400 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,904 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,410 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,960 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,950 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,336 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,831 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,135 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,786 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,004 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,558 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,899 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,470 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,386 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,553 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,135 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,394 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,431 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,147 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,711 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,026 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,201 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,883 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,220 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,073 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,189 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,551 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,962 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,350 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,234 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,799 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,310 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,570 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,674 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 28, 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 (2012-2024), 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
