TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Seventy-five years ago today, readers of the Los Angeles Examiner found a very odd story waiting for them on page five of their daily paper. Take a trip with us as we recall one of the strangest episodes in Scientology history, when founder L. Ron Hubbard kidnapped his own wife and child! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Overrun occurs when the thetan considers that something has gone on too long or happened too often. When the person begins to feel this way about something, he begins to protest it and try to stop it. This tends to make things more solid and builds up mass in the mind. People who are very intent on stopping things in life appear solid and massy. In auditing, an overrun means the preclear came out of the bank and then went back into it again. For instance, the pc released on the process “From where could you communicate to your dog?” but the auditor continued the process after he should have indicated the F/N and gone on to something else. By continuing, the auditor throws the pc back into the bank again and wrecks the release state.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
——————–
“There’s a very simple way of making somebody’s arthritis turn on with violence. And you just walk up to ’em like this and wiggle your hands in front of his face. And of course by giving him this confusion outside of his body, he holds harder onto the body and that is what arthritis is, it’s a solid hold. All right. Now, you take an arthritic and you start to say hello and OK to this arthritic leg or joint, or something of this character, you are actually attempting to as-is or knock out of existence my communication, a lot of actual calcium. So it isn’t going to work. Not well or easily. But you take slight little somatics, little conditions, or fears of things, and run two way communication on them and you get some fabulous results.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 26, 1957
——————–
“If you think we are losing ground, according to a head count to date, three major enemies and the three biggest enemy names are finished. Cecil King lost his directorship in the Bank of England and his newspaper claim which included the Daily Mail. Sir William Carr has also lost his directorship in the Bank of England and has been ousted from his papers and was last seen trying to unite with ‘Truth’ newspapers of Australia, owned by Murdoch. Kenneth Robinson, ex-Minister of Health UK has been ousted and is in disgrace with his group. All three were also directors of the ‘National Association for Mental Health’ of the UK. Three scalps. Any more candidates for our ‘coupstick’?” — The Commodore, February 26, 1969
——————–
“In session I’ve taken an exterior viewpoint to this universe – is it still called a thetan when operating exterior to a universe? Is it still called a thetan when it can create a universe separate from other universes?”
——————–
1999: MSNBC reports that Jenna Elfman credits her husband, Bodhi, with introducing her to Scientology, and with getting her off drugs. “Add Jenna Elfman’s name to the long list of vocal celebrity Scientology supporters. In an interview that appears in the next issue of Mirabella, the hot, Golden Globe-winning star of ‘Dharma and Greg’ defends the controversial religion, whose members include John Travolta, Tom Cruise and Kirstie Alley. In it she discusses smoking pot and doing dancing gigs before she was introduced to Scientology by her husband, Bodhi, an actor and writer. Now, when she’s down, she goes to the E-meter, a device used by Scientologists for ‘auditing’ someone’s mental state – but which some critics say is merely a lie detector. ‘You know how your head feels heavy when you’re having a problem?’ she tells the magazine. ‘It’s actually mass that you can weigh. It’s compressed mental energy. And the E-meter sees changes in that.'”
——————–
“For the last time it’s a genderless demon eating a turkey leg.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal now fully briefed, waiting for 2nd Appellate District court to set a hearing date. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence (eligible for parole in two to three more years). Awaiting transfer to state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for March 9.
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, which is now fully briefed. Awaiting the setting of an oral arguments hearing.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Appeal fully briefed. Motion to replace Jane Does’ AI-tainted brief denied by court. Oral arguments hearing on March 3.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, 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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Finally, proof that Scientology can make you Super (for the right price)!
[TWO years ago] Scientology gushes about David Miscavige’s ‘Ideal’ appearance in Austin
[THREE years ago] Celebrity Sunday: Erika Christensen, Michael Peña and a tribute to… Prince?
[FOUR years ago] In Danny Masterson rape case, Scientology tried to put LA court through ‘Truth Rundown’
[FIVE years ago] Appellate court halts Scientology ‘arbitration’ as it considers petition by Masterson accusers
[SIX years ago] SEVENTH victim comes forward to LAPD accusing Scientology actor Danny Masterson
[SEVEN years ago] Jenna Elfman’s career finds new life in the zombie apocalypse
[EIGHT years ago] What happened when we had a scientist look at L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘science’ of life in the womb
[NINE years ago] Florida attempts sensible change to mental health law — so Scientology goes on attack
[TEN years ago] The shocking space opera secret that is guiding Scientology litigation
[ELEVEN years ago] Can you help solve this odd Scientology financial mystery?
[TWELVE years ago] Ryan Hamilton files another lawsuit against Scientology’s Nevada drug rehab facility
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology’s “Disconnection” Policy: Music Lovers, This One Will Break Your Heart
——————–
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 3,551 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,055 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,561 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,111 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,101 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,487 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,982 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,286 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,937 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,155 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,709 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,050 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,621 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,537 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,704 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,286 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,545 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,297 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,862 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,177 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,352 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,034 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,371 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,224 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,340 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,702 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,113 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,501 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,385 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,949 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,461 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,721 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,825 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 26, 2026 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter.
Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is 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)
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
