TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Over the years when we’ve posted Scientology’s photos of Sea Org members, it helps families get some information about missing loved ones. And now we have another set of photos for readers to pore over and identify pawns in Dave’s indentured navy. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Nearly every ‘Dog Pc’ has out lists or incomplete chains or is not being run on what needs to be handled. In other words they are simply problems in repair which modern tech handles easily. The drug case who is audited on grades but has had no Drug Rundown is an example of misprogramming. The C/S can get many loses and the whole HGC go into a bedlam where you have auditors refusing to audit. Their reasons given are false. The real reasons involve fast F/Ns and bonuses or out TRs, metering, Code breaks and tech. The D of P has a right, and so does Tech Services, to assign pcs to such and such auditors in the sequence listed without a lot of pick and choose by the auditors. A C/S has a right to get his programs completed.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1977
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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 order to understand the third dynamic completely, you would have to understand that a thetan is confused about who is who. His basic confusion, who is who, is manifest under this: He can duplicate himself. He can put himself out there in space and be as alive out there and where he is too, at the same time, as where he is. He can duplicate himself; in other words. One thetan that can be, then, two thetans. And each one of these thetans have all the characteristics of the original thetan. And then these two thetans can duplicate themselves and have all the original characteristics of themselves but be somebody else too. So we get into valence trouble. This is one of the basic capabilities. The second we introduce duplication, however, we introduce space. So the second a thetan began to be somebody else and himself; too, there was space in the matter.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 6, 1954
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“The gradual improvement of world stats is done by constant attention to DATA and gradually putting things right. Any breakdown occurs when it does because of failed or unrun missions, failure to observe and report, failure to carry out overall Flag intention. The important point is that we are gradually winning on all fronts in a world that ought to have a fence around it and seems to be dedicated to self-destruction. When you can advance into that you really have to be somebody! Any you have to know what you’re doing.” — The Commodore, May 6, 1970
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“We have now entered the twilight zone. This is not a cutesy zone where interesting things happen. No, this is the zone where SPs have taken over the entire world and are just now starting to make things very suppressive for us. LRH said in HCO PL KEEPING SCIENTOLOGY WORKING, ‘This is a deadly serious activity. And if we miss getting out of the trap now, we may never again have another chance.’ I’m not one to take lightly LRH quotables because he is the smartest person I have EVER known, and, as you can tell from that quote and from what is happening in the world right now, he is on the money – as usual. We lost control of this planet because we failed to clear the R6 bank to the point where the world would calm down. We could have done it when we had a chance. Of that I am certain. It wasn’t DM’s fault. It was OUR fault because we LET him take over and because we were too busy having fun and enjoying freedom and being too complacent with our huge wins and knowing that nothing much can happen to us at this point because we are free. Well we’re far from free. And how about your friends and family? Don’t their lives matter?”
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1996: A message was posted this week by “craigory,” with personal memories of the basement of the Ft. Harrison hotel. This in the wake of cult member Brian Anderson’s denial that the building even has a basement. “I was there as a student in 1976, and several other times in later years. At that time, there were dark, grungy rooms under the Fort Harrison which I had frequent access to. They were used for folder archives, to store pc folders that were not currently needed. There were also doors into other rooms under the Ft. Harrison which were constantly guarded, and access to which was closely monitored. Being the curious sort, I asked a couple of staffers what was down there, and they told me that people on the RPF were lodged down there while they did their amends. At least some of these basement rooms were later opened up and remodeled. When I was last at the Ft. Harrison around 1983, those rooms were in use as the internship courseroom, but the space used for the courseroom was by no means as large as the entirety of the Ft. Harrison. So there was a lot of space down there which was only partially taken up by the courseroom. There were also other places in the Ft. Harrison where people could be kept incommunicado. I have personal knowledge of a small storage room (about 6′ X 8′ X6′) off a stairway leading out of the galley in which a sea-org member who had had a ‘psychotic break’ was kept for several weeks while they hoped she would become sane enough that they could release her to her family without causing too much of a flap. I was a close friend of the lady who was assigned to bring the captive her food and spend a very few minutes each day with her. She was not allowed ANY company at ALL, except for these brief visits. I wasn’t around long enough to know the ultimate outcome of that particular instance of captivity, but from other stories I have read, her period in the ‘dungeon’ was not so very unusual.”
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“Scientologists are the Kings and Queens of semantic pedantic literalistic obfuscating weasel word games.”
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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 May 14.
— ‘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 May 12.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Sentencing hearing scheduled for May 5.
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 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] Val Ross: How Scientology kept me from fleeing abuse until it was almost too late
[TWO years ago] Scientology PI comes forward: I was stalking Mike Rinder, Amy Scobee and many others
[THREE years ago] Danny Masterson’s new moves in rape case: Asks to dismiss one victim, separate the other two
[FOUR years ago] Can’t someone ask Erika Christensen a real question about Scientology?
[FIVE years ago] Scientology has thrown millions at Ireland in recent years, and here’s the amazing result
[SIX years ago] Scientology and Nation of Islam figure picks worst week to rail against measles vaccine
[SEVEN years ago] In Hollywood and in Italy, Scientology is making all your dreams come true!
[EIGHT years ago] Ah, the reveries of 1950: When Dianetics was in full bloom
[NINE years ago] When Anonymous had Scientology in a panic: A new document has us nostalgic for 2008
[TEN years ago] Bob Duggan, the richest Scientologist in the world, is going to love our nifty new drawings!
[ELEVEN years ago] Leaked footage of Scientology leader David Miscavige in Sydney
[TWELVE years ago] Investigation of Scientology Drug Rehab Program in Georgia Shifts to Credit Card Fraud
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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 3,256 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,751 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,266 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,816 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,806 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,192 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,687 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,991 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,860 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,414 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,755 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,322 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,241 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,409 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,991 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,250 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,287 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,003 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,567 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,882 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,057 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,739 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,076 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,930 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,045 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,407 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,816 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,214 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,090 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,655 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,166 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,422 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,530 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 6, 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
