A couple of weeks ago we started a new podcast for our subscribers that we call Group Therapy.
We’ve brought together four of our favorite Underground Bunker regulars, Andrea i-Betty Garner, Lynette Observer Waggoner, Phil Jones, and the enigmatic Pan.
We spend an hour talking about the Scientology news of the week, and we have a lot of fun.
This past week, however, we related some things we had learned while continuing to report on the Shelly Miscavige situation.
It was newsworthy, we think, and so we’ve decided to peel off that short segment from the episode. (Listen to the segment here.)
As for the report on Shelly and the beagles that were left behind when she was moved to the CST compound near Twin Peaks: The dogs continued to be taken care of afterward at the Sublet Road house after Shelly vanished in 2005.
We recently spoke with a former base employee who told us that in 2008, three or four of the beagles were still living there, being taken care of by the same crew that had helped out Dave and Shelly with them.
The information we have about the beagles and Sublet Road house — which is no longer there — we’ve corroborated with several Int Base employees who worked there at the time.
One of told us this about Shelly: “I’m sure she was devastated. She was crazy about animals and nature. She preferred animals to people.”
So yeah, we don’t think Shelly is maybe living her best life at the CST compound. The challenge is finding out what she thinks about her situation, because as John Brousseau has said, Dave will keep her where she is until she dies.
[For a roundup of what we know about Shelly and her location, please see the annual report we post on Christmas Day.]
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Technology Cocktail
“When one views life as a complexity of attempts to overwhelm he begins to understand it rather well. Two people may be playing many games, some between them, some with others. They are opponents in some things, teammates in others. They succeed in the ratio that they can define their games AND overwhelm the proper enemy for each game. Marriages fail only because the games get confused between husband and wife.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1956
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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?
— The Underground Bunker Podcast
[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
— SPECIAL: Your Proprietor’s updates on the Danny Masterson trial
[1] Sep 21 [2] Sep 28 [3] Oct 4 [4] Oct 10 [5] Oct 11: Day One [6] Oct 12: Day Two [7] Oct 13: Day Three [8] Oct 17: Day Four [9] Oct 18: Day Five [10] Oct 19: Day Six [11] Special interview with Chris Shelton, Oct 19 [12] Oct 20: Day Seven [13] Oct 21: Day Eight [14] First week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [15] Oct 24: Day Nine [16] Oct 25: Day Ten [17] Oct 27: Day Eleven [18] Oct 28: Day Twelve [19] Second week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [20] Halloween special [21] Nov 2: Day Thirteen [22] Nov 3: Day Fourteen [23] Nov 4: Day Fifteen [24] Third week in review [25] Nov 5, Saturday special [26] Nov 6, Sunday special [27] Nov 7, Day Sixteen [28] Lisa Marie Presley breaking news [29] Nov 8, Day Seventeen [30] Nov 9, Day Eighteen [31] Nov 10, Day Nineteen
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“This is what? [Audience: 17th.] The what? [17th.] Of what month? [January.] 17th of January. What year? [AD 12.] AD 12. And where are we? [Saint Hill.] Huh? [Saint Hill.] Yeah, I know, but what planet? [Earth.] Earth. OK. Thank you very much. All right. Thank you very much for orienting me. I’ve been flying about here and haven’t had much time to look up.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 17, 1962
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“The ship is doing much better and starting to pull up its socks. Therefore the general condition is raised to EMERGENCY…When the ship was injured against the dock it is interesting that the 1st Mate had been goofed up in Qual previously. These names are then associated with the decline of the ship condition by being in charge of the areas: DIANE McDONALD, OTTO ROOS, PHIL QUIRINO, NATE JESSUP, BILL HOWEY, through to greater or lesser degree neglect of duty…When we didn’t push the real targets, the ship wound up on my plate and the crew got caught in the resulting storm. Certain VITAL actions had to be COMPLETED before we could operate or sail. Lots of small actions were done but the big ones got no heavy push and so left us actually inoperational. We are now doing much better and the new mate line up is functioning very well especially with 2nd Deputy Captain Eltringham on the job!” — The Commodore (1969)
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“Anyone who knows me knows I’m a rebel; no one tells me what to do. Not even L Ron Hubbard. But I’m smart enough to know who winners are and who losers are. I know that I applied LRH Management tech inside Scientology Organizations and then outside Scientology Orgs and it always worked better than anything else I read or tried. Why re-invent the wheel? The wheel is already there and abundantly available. So when I find someone telling me to ‘look elsewhere’ or ‘try other things,’ I know this person is a loser because this person never applied the tech like we did to boom Scientology, like we did. Yes, in the wrong hands, Scientology Management and the Sea Org can become suppressive/oppressive groups in themselves. But like anything that is run by suppressives it itself becomes suppressive. Just like in the hands of psychotics, assault weapons can kill a lot of people, but in the hands of sane people, they do not kill. We can boom Scientology again. It is very easy and I am willing to help anyone who wants to see Scientology grow.”
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1996: From Biased Journalism, a report on the film plans of actor John Travolta. “Word is that Scientologist superstar John Travolta is pushing Miramar Productions to do Revolt in The Stars, a story directly based on OTIII. Miramar HATES the script. And thinks the movie will DIE on the vine, so to speak. Travolta is pushing Miramar to do the movie as part of his contract renegotiations, so it is difficult for them to say no.”
From what I’ve seen and read, status is very competitive and important in public Scientology. Except, instead of cars and homes and jewelry it’s Monty Python Roman titles, bowling trophies and dime store certificates.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Status conference scheduled January 10, retrial scheduled March 27.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Plea deadline scheduled for December 16.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff scheduled to time served with three years supervised release, restitution of $9.7 million.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial hearing December 9.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing November 17 to argue the arbitration motions, awaiting ruling.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through February 7.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Case settled ahead of scheduled Dec 6 trial.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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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] You recruited people to Scientology: After you’re out, how do you deal with the regret?
[TWO years ago] Portlanders, did you receive Scientology’s love letter?
[THREE years ago] VALERIE HANEY’S OPPOSITION TO ARBITRATION: A strong no to Scientology’s legal gambit
[FOUR years ago] Danny Masterson’s attorneys pounce on A&E’s plans for resurrecting an ‘Aftermath’ episode
[FIVE years ago] The new Freedom magazine is here, and Scientology has never looked better!
[SIX years ago] Behold, it’s Scientology Jesus as you’ve never seen him before!
[SEVEN years ago] How Scientology hooks public officials on its addictive anti-drug front
[EIGHT years ago] L. Ron Hubbard fisticuffs! Scientology secrets unearthed in a new government disclosure
[NINE years ago] ‘The Factors’: Another video the Church of Scientology would rather you not watch
[TEN years ago] Lawrence Wright’s Going Clear: We Don’t Think Scientology Is Going to Like This Book Much
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s Infinite Pit and Water Wall — More Crazy Rooms in the Super Power Building!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,912 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,417 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,967 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,957 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,848 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,153 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,023 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,128 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,601 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,917 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,483 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,402 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,570 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,151 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,412 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,449 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,164 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,728 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,043 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,218 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,769 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,900 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,238 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,093 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,212 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,568 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,871 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,977 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,375 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,251 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,834 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,329 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,583 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,692 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 17, 2023 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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
