TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: What a great result for a recent Wall Street Journal investigation, evidence suggesting an SEC probe is happening as a result. But Scientology is feeling good about the feds this week after the Department of Justice announced a new focus on protecting ‘houses of worship.’ [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Undoubtedly the BIG news that resounded around the world in ‘78 was the huge numbers of people who were discovered to have made Dianetic Clear. In 1950 and on, people used to ask ‘Where are all the Clears?’ Well, they were right there! In 1978 I discovered that it was deadly to go on running Dianetics on a Dianetic Clear. Such gave the semblance of no case gain! (Naturally.) So when I announced that running Dianetics on a Dianetic Clear was forbidden, people began to look around and lo and behold they had been making Clears with Dianetics and had been going right on by it! The pc who had made it wasn’t declared Clear and further Dianetics didn’t work on him (naturally). So in 1978, after my announcement, auditors began to check and listen to the pc and found they had real Clears all over the place!” — 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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“I don’t know whether parts of the body will rebuild or not. Auditors have hazarded that and they’re working on it. They’re trying to figure it out, trying to get the third tooth to grow where a tooth’s been pulled, trying to get this to happen and that to happen and trying to get a finger to grow, something like that. People’s limbs have lengthened two, three, four inches; their spines have lengthened, their height’s grown. And I’ve seen places on the body fill in where chunks had been pulled out. But I haven’t seen a whole limb grow, or I haven’t seen half a limb grow, I mean, and complete itself and be a full limb again. I don’t know. Possibly something to do with structural pattern or the bud or something has to be implanted along the line or something. One of these days we’ll find out what that is and then we’ll all have two heads.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 4, 1953
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“FESTIVAL: The GREAT PEANUT RACE is the next major event of the Festival! The three lowest hour auditors in the last five days will engage in a death defying race pushing each a peanut around the entire circle of the Prom Deck amid the cheers of the multitude. The Contestants should be equipt with knee pads and gloves. Three peanuts must be provided of suitable size with spares in case of a track crack up.” — The Commodore, October 4, 1971
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“From my understanding of the tech, Thetans have no sex so sexual attraction itself is a GE abberation. In fact, thetan’s interest in human sexual intercourse and the associated sensations is one of the main reasons we became stuck inside our current bodies (blanketing, putting out tractor beams, etc.) Based on this and the fact that the 2nd Dynamic exists, I would say Hubbard believed that sex for any reason besides creation was abberative.”
2000: Tory Christman reported meeting a young Scientologist in Burbank, California. “A few weeks ago a family contacted the LMT and asked if someone, anyone could please help them talk to their child who had joined staff in Scientology. Since both Jesse and I were coming to LA anyways, we said sure. We brought some basic information for the person to read, and a few videos to watch. OSA intercepted the family in the parking lot and took the person. The father got this person and they all went into the reception to sit and talk. They sat on a couch in the lobby all crowded around each other, talking. I took a paper down to the father just to explain the essence of what we were going to do. I noticed 4 strategically posted Scientologists, one being the person who took over the Scientology Parishioners League I was asked to head up last October. He walked up to me and said ‘Tory HOW COULD YOU?’ I asked, ‘How could I what?’ He rattled off the party line of sleep deprivation, etc. I told him all we were going to do was show the person some information. Why couldn’t he look at both sides? He didn’t have an answer for that. Every time we would walk towards the family, a Scientologist would close in towards the family and say ‘Come with US’ the parents later told us ‘in a shockingly monotone voice’. Jesse alerted the hotel security that these people (the Scientologists) were not even guests of the hotel and they had lied and told the security earlier that this was their son. Security asked them to leave, they refused, so the police were called, I walked through the doors of the hotel, and there were 4 or 5 police cars, a helicopter hovering above and the OSA against the police car with their hands in cuffs, and the light from the helicopter shining down on them. The Hotel staff that watched this was fully grossed out by what Scientology did that night. The family certainly will never do Scientology after being a part of this ordeal put on by these people calling themselves Scientologists. Quite a few public there were asking what was going on, and looked unhappy to see the Nazi like guards watching over the family. The Burbank Police told me they were familiar with this kind of thing. The young staff member had agreed to talk with us the next day. We were all watching a video when we heard a knock on the door. Two tall policemen come in. They had received a call that they ‘needed to check on the young person’. I am happy to report the young person is happy and well, and safely off staff and doing what this person wants to do.”
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“J&D is hard. Anybody can write something serious and emotional and get all the upvotes. We comedians are the true artistes.”
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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] Michele Fiore guilty on all counts, and Scientology link proven at trial
[TWO years ago] Why Scientology’s reclusive leader would risk re-emerging in England for the IAS gala
[THREE years ago] Prosecution plans to call 1996 victim in Danny Masterson trial
[FOUR years ago] Is this a list of all of Scientology’s active subsidiary corporations that a tipster fed us?
[FIVE years ago] Scientology once again confirms our estimates for its tiny size
[SIX years ago] For $100, Scientologist sorcerer will share secret of living to 150 (and we have the secret!)
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology has its whales — and now the Underground Bunker does too!
[EIGHT years ago] Is Scientology’s notorious prison detail — the ‘RPF’ — a thing of the past?
[NINE years ago] Pam Bondi thrills at Scientology’s mecca, Hungarian TV bends over, & other updates
[TEN years ago] Meet the young Hollywood types who introduced Cathriona White to Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack: How to talk to a Scientologist to plant the seeds of doubt
[TWELVE years ago] WORLD PREMIERE: The Shrinking Cult of Scientology, A Video By Tiziano Lugli
[THIRTEEN years ago] Mark Bunker Speaks, and Atlanta Burns
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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 3,406 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,910 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,416 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,966 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,956 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,342 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,837 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,141 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,792 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,010 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,564 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,905 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,476 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,392 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,559 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,141 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,400 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,437 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,153 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,717 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,032 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,207 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,889 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,226 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,079 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,195 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,557 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,968 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,356 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,240 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,805 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,316 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,576 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,680 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 4, 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
