Scientology Front Groups &#8211; The Underground Bunker

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

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“I found out very early I could bully people into having sonic, visio, and everything else. I don’t know what I was doing. I guess I was handling their engrams for them and I guess cutting down their self determinism; maybe turning them back into GEs. I swear, I look back on it, I might occasionally have turned off a thetan, put him sound asleep and turned the GE full on and the fellow was happy as a clam thereafter.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 4, 1952

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“NOTICE: Diana and I are going for three weeks leave, Sunday, September 5th. CS-G Comm, Lt. Nikki Freedman will be handling my lines while I am away. Further, the Guardian Offices WW and US are fully on post and completely capable of handling any matters which may arise. In case of extreme emergency, these Offices will also be in communication with me. Therefore, if any matter arises which has to do with Guardian Office functions and duties, place these on CS-G Comm’s Lines and such will be handled via the appropriate Guardian Office. The word is: BUSINESS AS USUAL.” — Love, Mary Sue Hubbard, Capt. CS-G, September 4, 1971

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“Just a note to say that I fully support the ban of Justin Craig’s pseudo-Scientology. LRH was quite clear in stating that after OT8 come actual OT levels, not more chasing of negative gain cosmologies. I suggested earlier that Craig could possibly be a BT from LRH’s left testicle.”

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1995: Pacific Bell provided Grady Ward with details of the scam run by Scientology investigators to get Grady’s phone records. “Dear Mr. Ward, I am providing this document as a confirmation of our verbal contact of August 7, 1995. At that time I indicated to you that a caller had contacted Pacific Bell and presented himself as you. The caller had sufficient identification and information about your account to convince us that he was in fact, Grady Ward. Despite the fact that we had attempted to secure your account via a password, the caller was so thoroughly convincing as he described ‘his recent stroke and the subsequent vision problems and memory loss that he had suffered’ that he effectively manipulated us into discussing your account. His act was very well rehearsed including labored breathing and slurred speech which resulted from the ‘stroke.’ He seemed most interested in changing his long distance company and confirming the amounts and dates of his most recent payments on both your accounts. Of course he wanted the password removed as well since he was no longer able to remember such things. It was not until after the close of the contact that my suspicions were aroused as I realized that the slurred speech had disappeared. At that point I contacted you by telephone and the ‘scam’ became apparent. Sincerely, Douglas E. Waterman, Manager”

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“You should watch me play Jeopardy when I’m properly medicated.”

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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. Sentencing on Sep 7.

— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, first hearing set for Dec 4.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— 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 sentencing of Masterson on Sep 7. Next hearing set for Sept 26.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Next hearing Nov 6.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.

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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.

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.

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] Judge in labor trafficking lawsuit refuses relief for ex-Scientology trio: Bad omen?
[TWO years ago] Liz Gale: The Scientology auditing of kids at Mace-Kingsley was my childhood
[THREE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Episode 2 spiked by Aussie network, ‘Witness X,’ is leaked online
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s biggest donors of 2019, so far: The whales giving millions to Miscavige
[FIVE years ago] Two years after Scientology rehabbed an Australian acoustics lab, the silence is deafening
[SIX years ago] Tomorrow on ‘Leah Remini’: You’re going to learn what it’s like on Scientology’s ‘Bridge’
[SEVEN years ago] Bryan Seymour reporting live from Scientology’s ‘Advanced Org’ opening in Sydney
[EIGHT years ago] Actress Erika Christensen in unearthed video meant only for her fellow Scientologists
[NINE years ago] LIVE REPORTS FROM TAMPA: Scientology tests its religious freedom defense in fraud lawsuit
[TEN years ago] Our Man in Paris, Jonny Jacobsen, on the Scientology Appeal in France’s Highest Court
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Never Forgets: A Telemarketing Holiday Miracle

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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 3,142 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,657 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,207 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,197 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,078 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,382 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,253 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,358 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,805 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,147 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,713 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,632 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,799 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,381 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,642 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,678 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,394 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,958 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,273 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,448 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,999 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,130 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,468 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,323 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,442 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,798 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,101 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,207 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,605 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,481 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,046 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,559 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,813 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,922 days.

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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 4, 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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

Scientology quietly acquires $13.5 million converted church near Big Blue: But why?

Tony Ortega — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 11:00:35 +0000

[The former church at 4975 Sunset Blvd]

We’re certainly used to hearing that Scientology has acquired new buildings, but the location of a new $13.5 million acquisition has us a bit puzzled: It’s a set of creative offices in a converted church just a few blocks west of the “Big Blue” Scientology headquarters complex on Sunset Boulevard in East Hollywood, also known in Scientology as “Pacific Area Command.”

But PAC base and its components — the former Cedars of Lebanon “horseshoe” building, the American Saint Hill Organization, the Advanced Organization of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles “Ideal Org” — have been set for decades. We can’t remember the last time there were any new acquisitions adjoining or near it.

What would Scientology leader David Miscavige want with a $13.5 million converted church so close to Big Blue?

We’re fortunate to hear anything about it at all, thanks to some stellar work by journalist Jack Witthaus at CoStar News, a commercial real estate information bureau. It was Witthaus who realized that the buyer was actually a nonprofit that was part of the Church of Scientology.

The church on Sunset was built in 1925, and in 2014 it was in derelict condition. That year, Full Grace Church sold the building for $3.7 million to developer Robert Herscu, who wanted to turn it into offices for creative types. Herscu ran into some trouble with preservationists, however, when he removed the original stained glass windows after the city mistakenly gave him a permit for it.

In 2015, the space held its opening event as “Big Art Church,” which LA Weekly described as “a studio, gallery, school and performance venue in a a former church built in the 1920s in East Hollywood.”

[The interior of ‘Big Art Church’]

We’re not sure who the tenants are today, but the building was recently back on the market and it was advertised by Madison Partners as being 100 percent leased: So any buyer would already be guaranteed rental income.

Knowing Scientology, however, they will soon boot out those renters, even if it costs them a pretty penny to do so. (We’ve seen the same thing at other locations when Scientology purchased already-leased buildings for “Ideal Org” projects.)

Anyway, the buyer in the transaction is listed as “Building Management Services,” which is about as generic as you can get. But records show that BMS had been created as a nonprofit in 1987 as a subsidiary of Scientology.

According to those same records, the CEO of BMS is Coburn Knight, a former Guardian’s Office member who is Clear #12,637. Knight is also CEO of a Scientology property front we’re more used to hearing about, Social Betterment Properties International, Inc., which was the entity fighting over property for a Narconon rehab in Maryland a few years ago, and that bought the former Larry Hagman estate for a Narconon in Ojai, California.

So there’s no question that it is Scientology which has bought this fancy office just a few blocks from Big Blue. But why?

We turned to Mike Rinder for his thoughts.

“BMS is one of the entities set up to buy properties. Sort of like CSRT. It might even own the Hollywood Guaranty Building and other properties in Los Angeles, but I am not really sure,” Mike tells us.

“Coby Knight has been in the Tax Accounting department of OSA Int for decades — along with Ellen Reynolds and Jim Morrow. He is just a name on the paper of the entity. He isn’t ‘CEO’ of anything. As for why they bought it. Not a clue. They’re trying to spend money to buy real estate because they are accumulating too much cash? But then I don’t know why they’re not using the money to finish more Ideal Orgs. Unless Miscavige doesn’t want to finish them but is happy for them to keep dragging out. It’s a very strange purchase. Three blocks from LA Org? Beats me.”

What do you think? With an Ideal Org, Advanced Org, and Saint Hill Org at Big Blue, and with the Scientology Media Productions complex just down the street, what does Miscavige need another churchy office for?

We want to hear your guesses.

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Technology Cocktail

“The reason the preclear is holding on to the body is ( 1 ) fear of loss of control and (2) havingness. If the havingness of the preclear is low, he is apt to close in tight to the body because this gives him more havingness and if the preclear fears that the body is going to go out of control he will also move in closer to the body. Thus we get interiorization as no more complicated than fear of loss of control and drops in havingness.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1957

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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

— 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

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“There are three classes of universes. There’s your universe and that class of universe known as the other fellow’s universe and the physical universe — universes of the type of the physical universe. Now, these in essence are three types of universe. Now, there’s a law back of all this, and that is to say that a universe is subject to the postulates of the god of that universe. Let’s take the physical universe. Everybody agrees that there’s a God someplace and that the physical universe obeys His law, so forth. It’s an interesting aberration in itself. Now, it’s a little more important, however, when we apply it to Mama. Mama is the god of Mama’s universe. Everybody concedes this. Maybe she isn’t in her own mind but everybody concedes that she is.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 12, 1954

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“PENALTIES: Those absent from drills — no next meal. Those absent from study — 10 s per offense logged by supervisors and deducted from allowance and paid by Purser to 2 Div for facilities fund. False report — one week’s allowance. Outness or irresponsibility in admin or on post or watch — 3 days pay. REWARDS: When the ship is out of Non Existence and up to Emergency a reward schedule will be posted. MUSIC: No music while the ship is below Emergency.” — April 12, 1969

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“It really seems like Scientology was a cover for anti-communist CIA activities. Just like how Stanford Research Institute was used by the CIA to create remote viewers, so was Scientology. Remote viewing is an incredibly effective spy tool. Melbourne is a very communist place, of course this lefty hellhole would ban it. Our intelligence agencies now and back then deal in stopping any right-wing activities and love promoting leftist social engineering actions like feminist marches.”

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1997: Dennis Erlich reported that Scientology is now required to produce, among other things, some of the documents concerning the transfer of advanced materials from L. Ron Hubbard to Scientology, witnessed by Notary Public David Miscavige. “On April 1 Magistrate Infante issued the following order granting my expedited motion to compel the scienos compliance (within 5 days) with his (Infante’s) prior order to produce a number of documents: poodleboy’s notary log book; income statements relating to sakrid droppings; every folder relating to me. In addition, the court finds that Plaintiffs’ failure to comply with this court’s previous order was without substantial justification. Therefore, on its own motion, the court orders RTC and BPI to reimburse counsel for Defendant Erlich for reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in bringing this motion. Based on the moving papers filed, the court determines that reasonable fees and costs are $850, which amount RTC and BPI collectively shall pay to counsel for Defendant Erlich within 7 days of the date of this order.”

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“Believe it or not, ‘Wichita Lineman’ is one of my all time favorite songs. I’m usually in tears by the end of it.”

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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. Retrial scheduled, jury selection begins March 29. Next pretrial hearing: Feb 16.

— ‘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 Feb 13.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next status conference Feb 13.

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: March 15, 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.
— 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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Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology holds its ‘Writers of the Future’ awards back on schedule, same garish display
[TWO years ago] Scientology answers Danny Masterson accusers at California Supreme Court, and it’s ugly
[THREE years ago] Scientology continues to see the pandemic as a public relations opportunity
[FOUR years ago] Scientology deception and financial fraud spelled out in incredible legal letter
[FIVE years ago] Why Scientology has no business pontificating on mental health — a discussion
[SIX years ago] Need a boost to your superpowers? Scientology has a (pricey) solution for that!
[SEVEN years ago] Astra Woodcraft, ex-Scientology kid, wants you to read a short essay
[EIGHT years ago] How Scientology broke up Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers: The story you haven’t heard
[NINE years ago] Why is Scientology’s cruise ship caught up in a lawsuit about human slavery?
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s Lavish Annual Party for Pampered Sci-Fi Writers, This Sunday!
[ELEVEN years ago] This is How You Finance an ‘Ideal Org’

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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,997 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,502 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,052 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,042 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,933 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,237 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,108 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,213 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,690 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,002 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,568 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,487 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,655 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,236 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,497 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,533 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,249 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,813 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,128 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,303 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,854 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,985 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,323 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,178 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,297 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,653 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,956 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,062 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,460 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,336 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,919 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,414 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,668 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,777 days.

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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 12, 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.

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.

WACKY: Scientology flack Ben Shaw’s unhinged letter denying ties to Clearwater developer

Tony Ortega — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 11:00:36 +0000

[Scientology’s Ben Shaw and developer Rodney Riley]

On March 17 we shared with you an over-the-top, ranting letter sent by Scientology’s spokesman in Clearwater, Ben Shaw. He had sent the letter to Tracey McManus of the Tampa Bay Times, accusing her of being unethical, and he copied it to the mayor of Clearwater, which made it a public document.

“You are a propagandist who spreads blatant lies solely to harass Scientologists who accurately report about Tracey McManus,” Shaw wrote in his letter to McManus. It was off the hook.

Anyway, Shaw sent another letter to the city about the questions that McManus was asking in an investigation that produced yesterday’s blockbuster report from the Tampa Bay Times: That wealthy Scientologists, cooperating with the Church of Scientology, had brought in an out-of-town ringer, a developer named Rodney Riley, to front a $350 million project in the North Marina district. McManus had obtained an email from OT 8 Scientologist Stephen Epstein that told Riley he was going to be their “white knight” that would make the project look “legit” to the unsuspecting people of Clearwater. And also that he would be coordinating with Shaw and the church to buy up even more parcels.

Riley, Epstein, and Shaw all denied the implications of the email and say the Tampa Bay Times is all wrong. Which is what they always say.

Anyway, when McManus was asking detailed questions about the email to Shaw and the church, he sent another unhinged letter and copied it to the city, and we knew you’d want to see it. Here it is in all its glory.

Our main question after reading this letter is, how much trouble is Ben Shaw in with David Miscavige that their little plan has been found out to use Riley as their shill?

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Technology Cocktail

“We are the heralds of a New Age. Man, stuck for millennia in the rut of status quo can at first balk and even ridicule, but, Can He Survive? Scientology for the individual is a passport to this new time. Scientology for the group is the Survival of the State.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1957

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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

— 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

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“The whole US civil defense system is based on the idea that there is a thing called the government which is composed of people (which already is silly) and they’re going to take over the country at the moment of an attack, see? They aren’t there now. They’re not part of the people, and they’re not human, you see? And they’re parked up someplace in Canada along the DEW line or down in Mexico or out on some island, and they don’t exist there now. And at the moment of an attack, nobody is supposed to do anything but be taken over by the government. That’s what you’re supposed to do in an attack. Consider it absolutely fascinating! It’s just as bad as Eisenhower’s design for the Normandy landing. I mean, there was nothing worse than that. I didn’t know this until the other day. I’m going to write a book on it. I’m going to call it The Great Myth. You see, I was a Pacific amphibious warfare officer before these Normandy landings occurred. And there’s certain ways you’re supposed to make landings. Well, they didn’t make them that way at Normandy. They killed men instead.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 3, 1962

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“Our trouble has been isolated to the British Government. It uses British Consuls, Lloyds and reporters as part of its intelligence service. It has been revealed that reporters in the UK, particularly those operating outside it, are members of their intelligence service while still being reporters. The US health societies, groups, foundations and agencies are all members of SMERSH which is an English takeover of the work of Clifford Beers to bring protection to mental patients. By blackmail, corruption and pretense of being ‘the very best people’ this group had the British government in its palm. It appointed the health ministers of both parties in England and throughout the Commonwealth and even Switzerland. SMERSH is a world takeover type group, full of preposterous plans. It is now actively destroying western nations whose governments look to them to dispose of malcontents without realizing SMERSH’s degraded technology is violently opposed by Western peoples. If we are careful, keep good security and continue to attack, SMERSH will collapse as they are trying to be a police state without either the police or army on their side. We must be alert to the Intelligence factors of SMERSH and safeguard against their penetration of our security. On our shoulders alone rests the possibility of freeing Mankind from the horror of one of these police states which could destroy Mankind. The rest, like sheep, have been taken in wholly.” — The Commodore, April 3, 1969

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“Parsons was dodgy, and he was murdered because he was dodgy. But more specifically he was a commie. Israel is a commie state, so it makes sense he would pass data onto them. Hubbard was anti-commie. I reckon he was sent in on a mission to disturb Parsons. Years later another agent was sent in to kill Parsons probably because he was getting too out of hands. They didn’t want to just kill Parsons straight up back in ’46, it’s better to know who is your enemy and mess with them for years wasting their time, hence Hubbard’s mission. Parson was making jet-assist take-off for the Navy, so him being dodgy annoyed the Navy, and they would get their naval intelligence to handle him, thus we see Hubbard come into his life. Now this doesn’t mean Hubbard wasn’t into black magick. You can be sent on a mission and enjoy what that mission involves. In fact he could have liked Parsons but knew he was a sicko deep down being a lefty and that he needed to be dealt with.”

——————–

2002: Impact Magazine published news from the annual convention of the International Association of Scientologists. “This year’s annual IAS Convention of Delegates chaired by President IAS Administrations Ms. Janet McLaughlin and attended by 28 delegates, was held for the first time at the Flag Land Base. Ms. Debbie Fraser, Finance Director IAS Administrations, presented a financial report, and Mr. Carl Light, Public Affairs Executive IAS Administrations, summarized the grants funded by the IAS and the US IAS Members’ Trust and their results in the past year. The delegates at this year’s IAS Annual Delegates Convention pledge themselves to the attainment of the following goals: We intend to promote the Volunteer Minister program internationally, thus bringing the direct application of LRH tech to millions. We intend to continue the exposure of the criminal nature of the psychiatric industry and to bring criminal
psychiatrists to justice in greater numbers than ever before, while dramatically increasing public awareness of their abuses. We intend to further strike at the scourge of drug abuse by making LRH’s life saving drug rehabilitation technology know and used by ever-increasing numbers. We intend to greatly advance the use of LRH criminal rehabilitation technology, resulting in reformed criminals leading productive and ethical lives. We intend to forward the use of The Way to Happiness, which is desperately needed in this troubled world.”

——————–

“We Farsecians are not evil. We are the Knights Templar of the Universe. We are the Keepers of the ARC of the Covenant.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Retrial scheduled, jury selection begins March 29. Next pretrial hearing: Feb 16.
— ‘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 Feb 13.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next status conference Feb 13.

——————–

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Another reason to watch the CA supremes: Danny Masterson is petitioning his rape case
[TWO years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 3: The judges
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s new attempt to force ‘religious arbitration’ on Danny Masterson’s accusers
[FOUR years ago] A stunning Scientology call to arms for our politically divided times on this dirt ball
[FIVE years ago] Newly released documents: Scientology leader L. Ron Hubbard tried to ‘buy’ an African nation
[SIX years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige launches new personal attacks at Leah Remini
[SEVEN years ago] David Miscavige and a bussed-in crowd cut the ribbon on Atlanta’s new Scientology ‘Ideal Org’
[EIGHT years ago] How Scientologists are dealing with the popularity of Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear’
[NINE years ago] We asked David Miscavige’s tailor for his exact height — and here’s what he told us!
[TEN years ago] LEAK: Scientology’s Rehab Went from $5,000 to $2.5 Million in Insurance Revenue in One Year

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,988 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,493 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,043 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,033 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,924 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,228 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,099 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,204 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,681 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,993 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,559 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,478 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,646 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,227 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,488 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,524 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,240 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,804 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,119 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,294 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,845 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,976 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,314 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,169 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,288 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,644 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,947 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,053 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,451 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,327 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,910 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,405 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,659 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,768 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on April 3, 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.

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.

Tampa Bay Times identifies developer acting as Scientology’s front in Clearwater

Tony Ortega — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 11:00:34 +0000

[Rodney Riley]

We’ve told you how Scientology leader David Miscavige really wanted to get his hands on a small parcel of land in downtown Clearwater, Florida that is surrounded by other Scientology properties, but in 2017 the city stopped him from getting it.

As a result, we learned through some blockbuster reporting by Tampa Bay Times staffer Tracey McManus, wealthy Scientologists went on a buying spree, snapping up properties all around Clearwater’s downtown and North Marina areas, and for eye-popping prices, sometimes for much more than the properties were worth.

The implication seemed clear: Angry that he’d been spurned by the city, Miscavige was directing rich Scientologists to snap up even more control of it.

Scientology denied that it had anything to do with those land purchases, which have generally just sat unused since then.

Now, McManus is back with another blockbuster: She’s obtained an email which appears to confirm not only that the properties were bought in a coordinated effort directed by the church, but that an out-of-town developer with no ties to Scientology has been brought in as a ringer to front efforts to develop the parcels in the North Marina area.

Everyone is denying that implication, of course, including the developer, Rodney Riley, who arrived in Clearwater last year after establishing a record of working with the Mormon church to develop properties in Arizona.

And we want to make it clear: No one is saying that Riley’s $350 million development proposal in the North Marina area would be a bad thing for the city. But it would require permission from the city for variances to existing codes, and as new city manager Jennifer Poirrier explained, it’s not a good sign that the developer is not being more forthcoming about who he’s representing.

“Deception — that’s not going to be appreciated by the community and by the city, especially when there’s no reason for it,” she told McManus.

The email that McManus obtained spells out that Riley will be acting as the public face for OT 8 Scientologist investor Stephen Epstein, who is based in Nashville. And another player who is actually behind the North Marina development is Osman Ozsan, a Scientologist and money manager for Trish Duggan, the wealthy ex-wife of Bob Duggan, Scientology’s single biggest donor, who has given more than $360 million in donations to the church.

Trish Duggan, Ozsan, and Epstein were apparently concerned about the public finding out they were actually behind the new North Marina development, and so Epstein, in the email McManus obtained, asked Riley to come to town as a “white knight” and act as the project’s front to make it appear “legit.” It also suggested that Riley would be meeting with the Church of Scientology’s Clearwater spokesman, Ben Shaw.

Riley arrived in Clearwater in January 2022, and has been promoting the $350 million development, which involves numerous properties owned by Scientologists, while going out of his way to say that he is not a Scientologist himself.

He denied to the Tampa Bay Times that he received the email from Epstein, and he and his attorney denied that he was acting as a front for Scientology. From Tracey’s story…

[The email] says Epstein would “facilitate meetings” between himself, Riley “and Ben Shaw, with the Church, for the purpose of hopefully acquiring as much property as possible and figuring out where to place museum, etc.”
In his statement to the Times, Riley said he has never met with Shaw.
“The Church of Scientology is not an investor, tenant or end buyer of any project I’m developing in the North Marina area,” Riley stated. “Just because I’m buying land from Scientologists or would welcome investors of all religions does not mean I’m doing projects for the Church of Scientology.”

Sure, sure.

Meanwhile, we can now see why Shaw went into such a freakout and sent an unhinged letter to the city’s mayor about McManus, which we showed you on March 17.

Also, we raised an eyebrow when we noticed that Poirrier said she was assured by Riley’s land-use attorney, Brian Aungst Jr., that Riley was operating independently.

That turns out to be something of a fib, and coming from the son of the man, Brian Aungst Sr., who the city council just selected to be mayor for the next eleven months.

And look, we will again say this project in the North Marina area may end up being a good thing for the folks of Clearwater. But it’s sweet vindication for Tracey McManus that confirms what we all suspected: The property buying spree was a concerted effort by Scientology to gain even more control of the town.

That hasn’t stopped city leaders like Mark Bunker, who are going ahead with plans to revitalize the downtown without Scientology’s involvement.

Please read Tracey’s story for even more detail about the email and the denials she got from Riley, Shaw, and everyone else involved.

——————–

Technology Cocktail

“If you were sailing along seventy-five feet back of your head some day, and you see some preclear come along, just shift your range of vision enough to find that preclear’s wing anchor points; if you were to get hold of one of these wing anchor points and just bend it off line—the person will walk in a circle. As long as you hold the anchor point out of line the person will walk out of line.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1957

——————–

——————–

THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

— 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

——————–

“Now, if you were to duplicate teeth on a preclear, you just say, ‘All right. Now, let’s duplicate teeth.’ And he starts duplicating teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, till he gets lots of teeth, lots of teeth, lots of teeth. First thing you know out of this big pile of teeth which he’s gotten out there, he’ll start to get the emotion ‘Whee! Let’s all be teeth. Let’s fill the whole universe up full of teeth. Everything’s got to be teeth.’ Well, of course this is the central motive as far as teeth are concerned. Everything must duplicate teeth. Any object has this as an obsession. It must be duplicated. If it goes downhill it gets down to a point, finally, where, of course, it must not be duplicated, which is it must hide, withdraw, get very small, be hard, compact.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 2, 1954

——————–

“I hope no desperate casualties resulted from the APRIL FOOL OOD. All Fools Day originated when they changed the Gregorian Calendar in 1564. The first day of the year was April 1st before then. When New Years Day became January 1st, those who persisted in celebrating it as April 1st became targets. It originated in France where they are called APRIL FISH and went to Scotland where they are called APRIL GAWKS. Through the English speaking world it is APRIL FOOLS. All from a PR stunt to teach the new Calendar! So when Al Bornstein, FAO PR wrote up an April Fool OODs with Geoff Barnes and Gorman the Management carried out a reversal even on them. In the Immortal Words of Product Officer FAO Amos Jessup, ‘Anyone who was taken in by that OOD had better review his Data Series!’ So would the FEBCs do a Data Analysis on that April Fools OOD as an exercise. Self preservation demands they be able to recognize real OUT POINTS when they get back to their orgs. People were in stitches over the results of the joke, so I hope no bruised feelings remain.” — The Commodore, April 2, 1971

——————–

“I want to do a Purif but I’ve had soo many drugs pumped into me as a sick child, I’m so scared. I mostly want to do a Purif because of how many psych meds I’ve been on. I actually just got out of a 72-hour psychiatric hold and I still feel weird from all the drugs they pumped into me.”

——————–

2001: La Prensa reported that Scientology’s ship, the Freewinds, may be inspected for dangerous asbestos levels. “People of the Shipping Inspection expect problems in seriously dealing with the ‘Freewinds’. All buildings and ships built before 1970 were built with asbestos. All plates/panels on roofs are made of dangerous asbestos. According to a functionary of the Shipping Inspection, this is a material which provides good protection from fire. ‘Why should we begin refusing ‘Freewinds,’ when we know that all ships built before 1970 were fitted with that material? Then we would have to refuse the majority of ships,’ according to the statement. Richardson emphasizes that blue asbestos is not dangerous, as long as one does not come into contact with it. ‘We understand that the asbestos on board is in hard, and not powder, form. We will soon inspect the ‘Freewinds.’ We will do this together with Shipping Inspection and the Port Safety Inspection, since these are the the nautical authorities in this case,’ according to Richardson’s statement.”

——————–

“Why would Scientologists feel love for each other? According to Hubbard they are just random thetans occupying random meat bodies. Your children aren’t really ‘your’ children. That’s one of the reasons it seems so easy for some Scientologists to disconnect. Your relatives are merely other pod people.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

——————–

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Academic forum caves to scary Scientology attorneys, spikes our presentation
[TWO years ago] SNL produced the best parody of Scientology ever — and then hired a Scientologist
[THREE years ago] Scientology is dying to keep you well from the pandemic it doesn’t believe in
[FOUR years ago] Thetans in the Jungle: Scientology in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands
[FIVE years ago] Mike Rinder: Scientology is ‘disappearing at a consistent unchanging unwavering rate’
[SIX years ago] Scientology for your plants? In the grand tradition of L. Ron Hubbard, yes!
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s demonology: Where L. Ron Hubbard got the idea for your space cooties
[EIGHT years ago] Robert Vaughn Young on L. Ron Hubbard’s final days — another ‘Secret Lives’ video outtake
[NINE years ago] Florida attorney Ken Dandar hit with $1 million penalty for taking on Scientology
[TEN years ago] Why Isn’t Scientology More Open About Its Space Opera Beliefs? It’s the Best Part!

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,987 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,492 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,042 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,032 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,923 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,227 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,098 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,203 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,680 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,992 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,558 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,477 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,645 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,226 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,487 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,523 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,239 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,803 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,118 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,293 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,844 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,975 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,313 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,168 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,287 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,643 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,946 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,052 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,450 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,326 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,909 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,404 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,658 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,767 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on April 2, 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.

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.

The Scientology oversharer becomes a faith healer: It’s a Dianetics miracle!

Tony Ortega — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 12:00:10 +0000

While we wait for the Danny Masterson jury to come back from its holiday week, we thought we’d catch up with one of our favorite Scientology oversharers to see what she’s been up to.

You may remember that we first heard from her as she gushed about her experiences on Scientology’s “Grade 2,” which features brutal interrogations into a Scientologist’s most private information. She expressed euphoria after being probed about her “transgressions,” and we appreciated that she shared her feelings with the Internet.

It’s expected that Scientologists will write up a “success story” after they finish a course or an auditing level. And we’ve seen again and again how the church will use these documents in litigation when a former Scientologist leaves the organization and alleges that they were abused or extorted. If things were so bad, the church will say, why did they write such positive things about a course in a success story?

Anyway, it’s not every day that we get to see a Scientologist put on such a show about her move up the Bridge to Total Freedom.

And then, our happy Scientologist went one better and also posted a video of herself exclaiming about completing “Grade 3.” She loves to share!

We were then super thrilled earlier this year when we learned that our oversharer had reached the milestone of Clear on her journey up the Bridge. A major step for any Scientologist, she completed it at the new Kansas City “Ideal Org,” so it was not only a treat for us to see a rare Clear celebration, but also in a facility we haven’t seen inside much.

So what is our oversharer up to these days? A reader notified us that she had posted some interesting new developments, and that led us down an examination of her recent social media history, which helped us fill in a few things.

In May of 2021, she found love in a fellow antivaxxer at Scientology’s UK headquarters in East Grinstead, England. (Individual Scientologists, despite leader David Miscavige’s big show about preparedness and sanitation protocols during the pandemic, tend to be antivaxxers and anti-maskers, a legacy of founder L. Ron Hubbard’s deep distrust of the medical establishment.)

[The BF]

In July of this year, she made an announcement about her Maryland-based accounting firm…

I am taking my accounting / bookkeeping services to the next level including chiropractic/medical billing which is super exciting. We are expanding and raising the bar too….we are also implementing credits related to encouraging our clients to take financial courses with their local org to help them and as a company we are working to flow to and support our Church’s humanitarian activities in alignment with our ideals of having a company that is very on-purpose, ethical and helping across the dynamics in any way we can.

In other words, our oversharer is following Scientology’s grand tradition of hitting up chiropractors to help them with their administrative needs in order to rope them into the church itself. (Scientology also targets dentists and veterinarians in this way as well.)

This fall, she made a trip to Dubai and then told her friends she could help them set up tax-free online businesses there. She then made a trip to Copenhagen, where she and her boyfriend visited Scientology’s Advanced Org.

In early November she made a trip to the Midwest, which she called her home.

Then, she made this post on becoming an auditor:

I’ve finally gotten around to starting my course to become a professional Dianetics auditor so I can audit in the field.
I’m super excited!!!! I’ve been wanting to do this for YEARS.
Advertisement
I‘ve read Dianetics many times in my lifetime. But I have to say, reading it newly after having achieved the state of Clear is sooooo magical. It’s sooooooo validating and I have a whole new meaning and view. I’m sitting there reading it and going, “Yep, that’s totally true, really describes how I feel and am these days.”
It’s truly a new dimension of understanding and appreciation when you have subjective reality. And I love reading LRH so much, he’s such an amazing writer and his use of words is so poetic and beautiful to me.
Just reading his works or listening to his lectures is always so therapeutic to me. I love it so much

And then this week, she posted this testimonial about some Dianetics faith healing.

**MIRACULOUS WIN**
On Saturday I had the honor and pleasure of taking a lady in for a therapy session using Dianetics as covered in Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.
When I first met this person she was so unhappy in general all you needed to do is ask her how she was doing and she’d break out in tears.
Her face devoid of color and she was limping along with a cane due to a bad leg that, per the “doctors,” was incurable.
She was clearly beaten down by life.
We did one therapy session that lasted about 5 hours.
Today she came back to see me. She was noticeably brighter and had color in her face. She looked younger. And she tells me that after she left from our session, she was able to walk for several minutes without her leg hurting and collapsing on her and without a cane for the first time in over 10 years!!
Needless to say, she was extremely thankful and wants more.
Oh my heart.
I have to say, using the spiritual counseling techniques of L. Ron Hubbard to help others has got to be the most rewarding and addicting thing to me. I absolutely LOVE doing it when I get the opportunity.
Advertisement
When you can literally create miracles and change someone’s life this much and genuinely help them this much, what could be more rewarding in this world??????!!!
We are so very fortunate to have this technology. What an utter blessing.

Wow, we really have to hand it to our oversharer. She has taken us through a fairly thorough route of the Scientology experience.

The euphoria. The mixing of personal business and Scientology’s aims. The sneaky recruiting of chiropractors. The simpatico 2D whose immune system is invulnerable. The faith healing properties of Dianetics.

We think it’s a good reminder: As much as Scientology appears to be a house on fire, what with the pandemic and various court cases and horrendous press, it’s still working for some people the way it always has.

——————–

Technology Cocktail

“The pc has compartmented off various parts of the body for which he takes no further responsibility. These appear to be individuals operating against him. Actually these parts of the body have individual characteristics and answer up on E-Meters. These are basically demon circuits but they are the things which produce the circuits; they are the things which hold on to facsimiles, they are not themselves facsimiles. Each one of these is holding on to numerous facsimiles, and they supply these facsimiles to the pc. The pc says he’s not responsible for this…We use this technique to knock it out. The word ‘entity’ simply designates an area of the body which has an independent point of communication.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1953

——————–

——————–

THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

— The Underground Bunker Podcast

— 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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“When you start to double people’s scores and push people upstairs in terms of sports abilities, this becomes a foul and fiendish plot from our standpoint. If you were to take the football Cards, or the baseball Cards or any one team, and give it a heavy shove in the direction of better ball playing, you would at once, of course, find that the opponents had no other choice but to get a heavy shove in the direction of ball-playing. See, no other choice. We haven’t started this program yet in America. We’re looking around for some volunteers to go on payroll and go up and haunt one of these baseball clubs or football clubs. And just do nothing but process the boys and so on. A very interesting project. Because, of course, they will then take all pennants, awards and TV programs. And then we can then go around to their archenemies and say ‘See what happened.’” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 22, 1956

——————–

“Stats trended the same over the world last week, paid completions soaring, GI a bit lower. WE are at least winning back the field and building strong orgs that deliver.” — The Commodore, November 22, 1971

——————–

“Does eating meat suppress your Theta flow on your 5th dynamic?”

——————–

1995: Steve Holroyd posted an ad he recently came across in the West End Extra which lists the current claims of the cult for the state of “clear”. “SCIENTOLOGY ‘Do you want more out of life?’ Become a Scientology Clear. A Scientology Clear has Over 135 IQ, Creative imagination, Amazing vitality, Deep relaxation, Good memory, Strong willpower, Radiant health, Magnetic personality, Good self control. If you would like to have all these qualities then look into Scientology. Enquire today”

——————–

“When I first read about the solo auditing I remember thinking, ‘This is genius! Hubbard has these dupes so bamboozled he’s got them ripping themselves off.’ The most expensive part of the Bridge and you’re conning yourself. How would that hold up in court on a fraud charge?”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial began October 11 in Los Angeles.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Arraigned on August 29.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff scheduled to be sentenced on Oct 28.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— 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 scheduled November 17 to argue the arbitration motions.
— 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 December 13.
— 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.

——————–

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology gets another $1 million donor to make entire United States ‘ideal’ for takeover
[TWO years ago] In this week’s social media leak, a Scientology school is offering ‘doctorates’ for donations
[THREE years ago] Beck tells Australian newspaper: ‘I’m not a Scientologist’
[FOUR years ago] As Leah Remini returns for a third round, here’s Scientology’s side of the story
[FIVE years ago] VIDEO: Scientology gives its highest award to Nation of Islam minister, who thanks Allah
[SIX years ago] Leah Remini demands $1.5 million from Scientology for interfering with her A&E series
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology drug rehab policy: Get the sexual assaulter out of state before police arrive
[EIGHT years ago] The Scientologist who wouldn’t fly: The rise and fall of insurance mogul Richie Acunto
[NINE years ago] Mark Bunker Returns to Clearwater: Wise Beard Man Back in Scientology’s Mecca!
[TEN years ago] Thanksgiving? Pshaw! The Scientology Begin-A-Boom Bookathon Starts TODAY!
[ELEVEN years ago] More Scientology Hip Hop, Yo: The Curious Career of Chill EB

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,856 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,361 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,911 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,901 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,792 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,097 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,967 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,072 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,545 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,861 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,427 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,346 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,514 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,094 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,356 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,392 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,107 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,672 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 987 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,162 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,713 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,844 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,182 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,037 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,156 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,512 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,815 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,921 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,319 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,195 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,778 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,273 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,527 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,636 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on November 22, 2022 at 09:00

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.

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)

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.

Ukrainian refugees might think twice about Scientology offering ‘help’

Tony Ortega — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 11:00:28 +0000

[Scheduled to perform: Ukrainian singer Maryna Odolska]

Ireland is such a strange animal in the Scientology universe. In the last Irish census, only 87 people — yes, 87, in a country of 5 million souls — identified themselves as Scientologists. But that hasn’t prevented church leader David Miscavige from spending tens of millions there in recent years, building a new national office, a new Ideal Org and Community Centre in Dublin, and a new Narconon, which on its own required an expensive court battle.

Why? We’ve seen some pretty odd theories entertained by the press over there, but we’re convinced that Dave’s mad splurge is simply to impress his best pal, Tom Cruise, who in 2013 received honorary Irish citizenship and expressed some admiration for the country.

But even with millions spent and Scientology workers parachuted in from around the world, there’s no sign that the locals are any more interested in Scientology now than when Dave began his campaign. In fact, the locals keep a sharp eye out for Scientology’s sneaky moves.

And that’s why we heard from Mike Garde this week. He’s director of Dialogue Ireland, and he’s kept close watch on Scientology for decades. He wanted us to know about an event that’s scheduled for Friday night at the Scientology Community Centre in Firhouse, Dublin.

A flier and an online listing suggest that this is an event for a good cause: As a member of the European Union, Ireland has absorbed many Ukrainian refugees. But even as they’ve found a safe haven from the terrible war in their home country, many refugees are struggling.

So the event scheduled for Friday night will not only hope to raise money for Ukrainian refugees, but it will feature some folk dancing groups from places like Slovakia, Georgia, and Lithuania.

Certainly, these appear to be legitimate groups trying to raise money for a legitimate purpose. But Garde contacted us not only because the event will take place at the Scientology Community Centre, but also because one of the charities the event is hoping to raise money for is United for Human Rights. (We’ve highlighted it with a red box on the flier.)

Mike knew that we’d written about that group before.

“This is what Scientology does. It uses its building to gain influence, because they don’t have a community of their own,” he says.

United for Human Rights is a Scientology front group that was founded in 2001 by Scientologist Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, who has also tried to push Scientology on schools through the front group Applied Scholastics. And how do we know that Scientology leader David Miscavige uses UHR as a concerted effort to pave the way for Scientology to spread its influence?

Well, because he said exactly that, and we have it on a rare video.

We first posted the video about five years ago, although that particular embed no longer exists. So we dug it out again, because we want journalists to see Scientology’s own leader explaining how United for Human Rights is a Scientology campaign for Scientology purposes.

In this video, filmed at the 2006 Maiden Voyage event on Scientology’s private cruise ship the Freewinds, David Miscavige makes it explicit that Scientology had seized on a mostly forgotten “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” published by the United Nations in 1948. (For some reason Miscavige and Scientology never point out that the Declaration was largely a project spearheaded by Eleanor Roosevelt.)

You will hear Miscavige explain that Scientology can’t “clear” the planet until their human rights campaign has created the right conditions for its spread. He then introduces Heber Jentzsch to go into details about the kind of promotional materials that UHR had been putting out.

The irony here is off the charts. In 2006 when this was filmed, it had already been two years since Miscavige had created a prison for his own top executives that came to be known as “The Hole,” and Heber had been one of the most prominent prisoners in it.

We know that Heber was a prisoner in The Hole because he was seen there by other people being held in the office trailer that Miscavige had repurposed as a holding cell. One of them was Mike Rinder, the former Scientology spokesman who has become so well known for his work with actress Leah Remini.

Mike has talked about being a prisoner in the Hole and then being dragged out when Miscavige needed him. In his case Mike was pulled out of the Hole in 2007 in order to “handle” BBC journalist John Sweeney.

Here, Heber — who years earlier had been the personable, well known spokesman for Scientology and was actually well liked by journalists at the time — has been pulled out of his incarceration long enough to give this presentation.

He’s clearly scared shitless. Just listen to his forced, rapid-fire recitation, terrified that Miscavige is about to have him go lick a bathroom floor somewhere if he screws up.

After this Maiden Voyage presentation, Heber went right back to the Hole. And he’s never really left. We believe he’s still being kept behind the fences at Int Base, now well into his 80s and in poor health. This was the last speech he gave to his fellow Scientologists.

And it was about, of all things, human rights. Miscavige’s cynicism here, having his prisoner Heber Jentzsch talking about rights, is off the charts.

As for Friday night’s event in Dublin, concern for Ukrainian refugees will be used not only to get some warm bodies into Scientology’s Community Centre, but also to raise some money for its front group. We wanted the people taking part to know that.

We thanked Mike Garde for bringing this to our attention. He’s also trying to get some local media raising questions about this, and we hope he succeeds.

——————–

Sign up for a daily email when we post a new story on Scientology.

Did you know you can get an email every morning when we post our daily Scientology story? We know some of the folks who come to the Underground Bunker aren’t here to talk about the politics of the day, and that’s why we created a daily politics feature over at our other blog, The Lowdown, and we ask readers to take their political discussions over there. And if you drop us a line at tonyo94 AT gmail, we’ll put you on the list so you get a morning reminder that a new Scientology story has been posted — and only for our Scientology stories.

——————–

“The Romans were very kind; the early Christian was very, very cruel. So now we find out the Romans were very cruel and the early Christians were very kind. But the records don’t bear this out. Now, as far as survival is concerned, if you want to survive, I guess, be cruel. I suppose that’s the most short-term method of survival. But it’s not any long-term method of survival. But being kind and being ineffective, of course, is a fast way to the electric chair; it is a fast way to insolvency; it’s a fast way to bankruptcy of all kinds and descriptions; it’s a fast way to the death chamber and the cemetery. And more important to us, it is a fast way to oblivion on the whole track, being very kind.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 15, 1961

——————–

“We have an overnight trip to our next port and arrive at 0700 hrs. Wake ups to be done at 0615 hrs so that ALL Condition I are on post by 0700, not just my Org Officer and I. A rapid turnout is expected. As it usually takes us more than an hour to enter, dock, neat up lines and secure to breakfast, Dept III must arrange to have coffee and rolls ready, at 0615 for Cond I to give ’em some vittles so they can lift hawsers and fenders. Have a good day.” — Lt. N.F. Starkey, Captain Apollo, June 15, 1971

——————–

“I cannot say enough good things about NOTs — it is the most incredible level there is and there are many incredible levels. I was fortunate in not getting it in the Church of Scientology, but unfortunate in not getting it for so many years that I could have. I have also cleaned up people who have gotten it in the church to where they are really winning with it now. SPs don’t want you to do NOTs correctly as they will fade away into oblivion, which is their correct place in this world.”

——————–

1996: The Cult Awareness Network (CAN) was forced to disband this week, as a result of the $1 million award against CAN in the Jason Scott case. Scott’s attorney was cult member Kendrick Moxon. Reuters reported: “A jury’s decision to award $1 million to a Kirkland man who had sued the Cult Awareness Network is forcing the non-profit group that monitors religious cults to shut down. The bankruptcy will force the network, based in Barrington, Ill., to liquidate its assets and shut down its telephone hot line, which takes an average of 20,000 calls a year.”

——————–

“Miscavige became emperor through the Hubbard-approved Roman rules of ascension which he achieved by his control of the Praetorian guard of the Sea Org, the CMO. Once becoming Caesar how could he smash his name into the history books of his hermit kingdom? He can’t add to the ‘tech’ so all that is left for him to do is BUILD BUILD BUILD. It’s all about the ruinous runt’s ego.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next pretrial conference June 30. Trial scheduled for October 11.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Readiness hearing scheduled for August 22 in Los Angeles

— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— 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.
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Valerie’s motion for reconsideration denied on March 15.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Next hearing scheduled for June 29.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— 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.

——————–

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, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] What lessons from the Nxivm prosecution should Scientology watchers take?
[TWO years ago] DONE SIR: Scientology leader David Miscavige caught flattering himself for virus PR ploy
[THREE years ago] Spend hundreds of thousands on Scientology, and the rain will part for you!
[FOUR years ago] First person: In Scientology, children are punished for being kids
[FIVE years ago] Marty Rathbun, Victoria Britton has a question for you about Scientology and judges
[SIX years ago] Wacky scenes from Scientology’s ‘Battlefield Earth’ launch on Hollywood Boulevard
[SEVEN years ago] The Scientology spy who came in from the cold: Len Zinberg, who apologized to Paulette Cooper
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Valley rocks as the fundraising rolls ever onward
[NINE years ago] OT Powers: Jon Atack on Scientology’s Promise to Make You Superhuman
[TEN years ago] VIDEO: Watch Sacto Mayor and Former NBA Star Kevin Johnson Suck Up to Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Inside Scientology Promises a Lot, and Delivers

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,696 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,201 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,751 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,741 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,632 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,938 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,807 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,581 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,912 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,385 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,701 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,267 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,186 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,354 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,934 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,196 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,232 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,947 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,472 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 827 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,002 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,553 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,702 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,022 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,877 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,996 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,352 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,655 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,761 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,159 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,035 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,618 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,113 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,367 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,476 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on June 15, 2022 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.

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.

Endorsed by the Oregonian, Scientology school is full steam ahead with its real purpose

Tony Ortega — Thu, 19 May 2022 11:00:24 +0000

Remember not too long ago we said that Scientology’s expensive boarding school, the Delphian, was named best small employer in the state of Oregon by the state’s largest newspaper, the Oregonian?

Well, here’s the heartwarming follow up to that. With the endorsement of the local press (which also included an award for the school’s values), the Delphian continues its grand tradition, which is to prepare young Scientologists for enrollment in the church’s indentured servitude, the Sea Organization.

We received this message from a reader, along with the Facebook item, which we have redacted.

I’m a longtime reader, second-gen ex-Scientologist, and a Delphi graduate who thankfully escaped the mental trap of the church. I wanted to forward these posts from the Scientology Facebook group, as I think they illustrate something awful that is still happening at Delphi.
Advertisement
This post shows a student who was very recently recruited to the Sea Org, who I believe was close to graduating. The two Sea Org members shown in a photo with him were both recruited to the Sea Org immediately after graduating Delphi themselves about 10 to 12 years ago. It’s true that this student does have a staff member mom at Portland Org and was probably more susceptible than most to recruitment, and I don’t think Delphi allows recruiting on campus anymore, but it is shocking to see kids who haven’t even graduated signing billion-year contracts. This post was deleted shortly after it was posted, I was able to get screenshots because I suspected that they’d take it down.

Just to be clear, this Scientologist mother is thanking the predatory Sea Org recruiters for helping to “drive this home” to her youngest child that he should end his schooling early, sign a billion-year contract, and give up the rest of his adult life as an abject slave to Scientology, working 365 days a year for about 50 cents an hour.

The Oregonian must be so proud.

——————–

Valeska Paris couldn’t get help from police

Tracey McManus has a great new piece this morning at the Tampa Bay Times. She points out that before filing the new labor trafficking lawsuit a few weeks ago, Valeska Paris had filed a lengthy affidavit about her mistreatment as a child in Scientology with the Clearwater Police, who were unable to get anything meaningful out of Scientology itself about her allegations.

This, McManus points out, despite the fact that Scientology keeps very detailed records about any parishioner.

“The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office denied the department’s request for a subpoena in Paris’ case in June 2020 because the justification did not meet the criteria to compel records, according to the police report. But when police Det. Eliad Glenn requested the church provide Paris’ records without a subpoena, Scientology legal director Sarah Heller responded that ‘notwithstanding any religious or privacy issues’ she found no documents.”

In other words, Scientology says it has no records, and law enforcement doesn’t press the issue.

Once the police dropped the ball, Valeska sued.

——————–

Bonus items from our tipsters

Aspiring superhuman, here’s your invite!

YOU ARE INVITED!
NED, Clears and all the way through OT Vs who are not yet on OT VII!
Flag OT Committee is hosting our next Clear to Eternity event on June 5th at the home of Lorianne Isaacson and Tibor Baranyai in Clearwater.
The event will feature Mr. Clive Rabey, Deputy Captain Flag AO and April Mellor, Solo D of P. Also hear From the Power Couple Lorianne and Tibor on their successful actions.
At 11:15 am there will be a brunch prepared fully by Master Chef Tibor Baranyai.
The event starts at 11:45am and will go for one hour.
You can attend LIVE or on Zoom.
CONFIRM NOW!
If attending LIVE, reply here for address.
If attending via Zoom, reply here for Zoom link.
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Please respond ASAP!
Much Love,
Evelyn Bueno
Clear In-Charge, Flag OT Committee

——————–

Sign up for a daily email when we post a new story on Scientology.

——————–

“We are the only science of mind that has ever come up the line and sat back on its haunches and proved itself across the board, we can also undo that. If we want to take enough trouble we can also save Gracey Zilch. One auditor sits on her head and the other straps the cans to her feet and a third, as she’s being held down, locates what she has been doing on an E-Meter, you see something like a Joburg or something like this, you see, and actually gets the thing taped out and then finally says, ‘Well, Gracey, we’ve got the goods on you. And now why don’t you go off someplace and realize that if you don’t do something decent about this, you’re sunk.’ And I don’t care it might take two hours, two years or two lifetimes; sooner or later she’s going to come in and tell all. Fascinating, huh? We can undo it. So, in a little, tiny, microscopic way, not accepting a half a million dollars from the Communist Party of America to do in a Central Organization; that of course killed a man. I bet you right now he’s tagging around in a schoolroom someplace or another, wondering what is wrong with him and why he feels so spinny. Fellow by the name of Don Purcell. He died. He did this, and for three years he just went on a toboggan and died. One of the reasons was is nobody was interested enough to even try to do anything for him. And the other thing was he had made it impossible to arrive at that data earlier by causing such a tremendous disturbance that he slowed up research.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 19, 1961

——————–

“The technical material I developed from ’68 to ’71 on Flag is published here, trained on here and applied here. We have the best auditors in the world. They are very few. While the Flag Ship Org keeps a ship here, keeps ports here and services those abroad, so that these activities can take place. The Flag Bureaux pushes the Administrative planning and programming which forms up the Continental Liaison Offices which hold the orgs there for FEBCs to return to. Everyone on Flag contributes to these successes, no matter what his post is. We are all operating directly on the VFP of a Cleared Planet. Sometimes this may not be as visible as it might be to someone with his head down into some routine job. But you can measure the success of what you’re doing. Look at the sky-rocketing rise of stats over the world. That’s my stat and Yours. It is in Power.” — The Commodore, May 19, 1971

——————–

“Running anything other than composite case after Clear — utilizing New Era Scientology processing and NOT (NOTS) — which only leads one to endlessly run circuits and entities without a subjective reality on actual case factors. Doing so has been shown to be almost fatal at times to one’s health and sanity — and the probable reason why so many have passed away from cancer after having run NOTS.”

——————–

1997: Rod Proctor reported that Scientology sent a letter to his editor in response to a posting to a.r.s. “I received not long ago a three-page letter from Scientology’s Public Affairs Director, Karin Pouw, taking issue with opinions that I — acting off-duty and as a private citizen — had expressed in the alt.religion.scientology newsgroup some weeks back. It was jarring enough that Scientology had gone to the effort to discover both where I work and my specific job title. But something even more chilling was included at the end of that letter: A CC notice to the editor of my newspaper — my top boss. Their intent was quite clear: Let his boss know what he’s writing (in his off time as a private citizen) and he’ll choose to shut up. [I]t seems to me that the ongoing tactics of Scientology pose a greater threat to that free exchange than anything Congress has dreamed up. The tactics of Scientology — aimed personally and individually at our very livelihoods — can be far more effective at silencing dissent than anything government could possibly come up with.”

——————–

“Thank god I didn’t have to go to confession. It would have taken a team of priests working in shifts to cover my multitude of sins.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next pretrial conference May 31. Trial scheduled for August 29.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for June 2.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.

——————–

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, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Day two of the Danny Masterson prelim: Jane Doe 1’s cross-examination continues
[TWO years ago] Mark Bunker wants to get the FBI looking at Scientology in Clearwater
[THREE years ago] Free of measles, Scientology’s cruise ship gets back to separating OTs from their money
[FOUR years ago] When Scientology leader David Miscavige targets you for a beatdown: A Jefferson Hawkins classic
[FIVE years ago] Elisabeth Moss in this week’s ‘Handmaid’ sure sounded like FBI testimony about Scientology
[SIX years ago] Here are the instructions Scientologists are getting for the May 28 media center opening!
[SEVEN years ago] Leah Remini helps us celebrate our book in Los Angeles with a gang of Scientology ‘SPs’
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s drug rehab network sued for conspiring to misuse counseling credentials
[NINE years ago] How Not to Protest Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Deathwatch: Kenickie Edition

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,669 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,174 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,724 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,714 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,605 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,911 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,780 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,554 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,885 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,358 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,674 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,240 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,159 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,327 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,907 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,169 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,205 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,920 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,445 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 800 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,975 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,526 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,675 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,995 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,850 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,969 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,325 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,628 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,734 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,132 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,008 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,591 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,086 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,340 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,449 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on May 19, 2022 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.

Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…

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YouTuber takes a deep dive into Teami Blends and its connections to Scientology

Tony Ortega — Sun, 08 May 2022 11:00:44 +0000

[Adi Arezzini of Teami Blends]

Several weeks ago we heard from YouTuber Mary Betsy, who had some questions for us about Scientology and a family we’ve mentioned in numerous posts over the years, the Arezzinis.

Jeremy Arezzini is Executive Director of the Portland Ideal Org and his wife Hailley is also a staffer, so they first popped up here at the Bunker around the time that the Portland org was being opened in 2013. (Remember what a wild day that was?)

But Mary said she was interested in another member of the family, Adi Arezzini, who is CEO of a “wellness” company called Teami Blends.

Uh-oh. Scientology and wellness? Yeah, that’s a bad combination.

Adi Arezzini has also been identified as a condo owner in the Skyview, the new home to Tom Cruise in Clearwater at Scientology’s Flag Land Base, and we’d been meaning to check her out for some time.

But Mary’s done the hard work, and wow, this is a very nice job she’s done, not only showing the connections between Arezzini, Teami Blends, Scientology, and its front group World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE), but she’s also pulled together a lot of archival footage of Scientology investigations, from Leah Remini and Mike Rinder to stuff done in the 1960s and 1970s.

With interviews and other accounts by former Teami Blends employees, Mary describes a company that is not only owned and run by Scientologists, but that shares many of its values. And, like Scientology, Teami has been able to increase its visibility through the use of celebrities — in this case, with the use of Instagram “influencers” who gush about the products.

For us, one of the most interesting connections Mary found in her look at the Arezzini family was the Portland contingent and what they’re doing there.

Adi (Halevy) Arezzini is married to Alex Arezzini, a former Portland Ideal Org staffer who announced in 2017 that he’d gone clear…

The Executive Director of the Ideal Org was Jeremy Arezzini, and we believe they are ~~cousins~~ brothers.

Here’s Jeremy Arezzini, from a promo we published here at the Bunker back in 2013 raising money for the Ideal Org in the San Fernando Valley…

You’ll notice the reference to being “New Civilization Builders” in Portland, which means they personally gave at least $1 million to the project.

Well, Mary found that Jeremy co-owns a coffee house in Portland called Morse Coffee Company, which is also owned by David Morse.

Yes, that David Morse, the Scientologist whose private investigations company, David Morse & Associates (DMA) became a sort of employment agency for former Scientology spies after the Snow White Program, from Duke Snider to Henning Heldt, and others.

There’s lots of good stuff here, and if you’re familiar with Scientology’s talk about the Purification Rundown, you’ll certainly recognize Teami Blends and its come-ons.

——————–

Meanwhile, on Scientology Facebook

Changes coming to Flag!

Says a tipster: “As of a week or so ago, Flag has updated their Covid protocols. Miscavige gave a briefing at Flag going over the changes and a 7-phase program to fully reopen. Decon7 is still in full use. Staff are required to wear masks, but not gloves. Public don’t have to wear masks or gloves, but still have to quarantine for three days before being allowed on services, and are still required to use Decon7 as per the protocols. Nothing has changed for Class V orgs. The Miscavige briefing is being shown at Flag only. But of course, news travels fast in the small world of Scientology.”

——————–

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——————–

“The nitty-gritty of the West German raid on the dollar is to be found in a proposal to form a World Central Bank that ‘adjusts all the worlds currency.’ This is about the most cold-blooded effort at world domination I’ve ever seen. A country that surrenders its currency surrenders its sovereignty. It was Nazi banking expertise that saved the Third Reich and opened the door to WW II. What we DON’T need is Nazi control of all nations. Along with that goes psychiatric control, gas chambers, obliterated ‘impure’ minority groups. Heil Hitler. For the sake of German Scientologists of which there are now many, and the rest of the world, the new Nazi resurgence must end before it winds up in another blood bath.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 8, 1971

——————–

“FB: The FB including CS-G did a splendid fast job on the program to beef things up in event of a hostile UK ‘Enquiry’ finding release. Some Enquiry! Never called on us to testify on anything. Its secretary, Miss Lee, was a member of Smersh! Correction: Sir Joseph is the Minister of Social Services. He has it now. When the cabinet okays it maybe it will be out.” — The Commodore, May 8, 1971

——————–

“Suggestion: don’t go into the light after death. it’s probably better to create your own if you want. talk about a mismash of flows, data, beingness and identities. Further suggestion: maintain your own identity at all times. if you want to go into the light after death, at least maintain your own beingness. maintaining a position in space is vital to power and sanity as a thetan.”

——————–

2000: The Guardian, on watching Battlefield Earth during its run in theaters: “I felt my brain cells dying at a worryingly rapid rate while watching Battlefield Earth. Not since Forrest Gump have I seen a movie that made me feel stupider with every passing minute of screen time. If I write another word about it, I’ll start forgetting my alphabet and soon they’ll have to water me twice daily.”

——————–

“They sent me a notice for jury duty last year and I scrawled across it ‘I am a Scientologist and we do not recognize your authority in this sector of the galaxy.’ They sent me a notice back about having to get a letter from my clergyman and to bring it down to the court. I threw that in the garbage.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next pretrial conference May 31. Trial scheduled for August 29.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for May 5.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.

——————–

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, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] With lawsuit in limbo, Danny Masterson accusers still trying to serve David Miscavige
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s mystery sandwich: A ‘church’ where deception is a sacrament
[THREE years ago] New York Scientologist chiropractor pleads guilty in $80 million Medicare scam
[FOUR years ago] Witness to Dianetics: For the first time, the letters of key Hubbard ally Donald H. Rogers
[FIVE years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: Scientology’s Int Base and its hilltop camouflaged ‘Eagle’s Nest’
[SIX years ago] Giant certificates and other weirdness from Scientology in our weekly online review
[SEVEN years ago] A voice from inside the Church of Scientology: Yes, the ‘Survival Rundown’ drives you insane
[EIGHT years ago] OREGON SENATOR RON WYDEN ASKS IRS FOR SCIENTOLOGY REVIEW

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,658 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,163 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,713 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,703 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,594 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,900 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,769 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,543 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,874 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,347 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,663 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,229 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,148 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,316 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,896 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,158 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,194 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,909 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,434 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 789 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,964 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,515 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,664 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,984 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,839 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,958 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,314 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,617 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,723 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,121 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,997 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,580 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,075 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,329 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,438 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on May 8, 2022 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.

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.

A Balance of Nature employee wanted to prove Scientology’s influence, so they sent video

Tony Ortega — Mon, 02 May 2022 11:00:35 +0000

[L. Ron Hubbard’s blue WISE manuals sit on desks at Balance of Nature]

Last year in February we revealed that an employee at the dietary supplement company Balance of Nature had contacted us, wanting to expose that the company has a cozy relationship with the Church of Scientology.

How cozy? As in, the Balance of Nature headquarters in St. George, Utah actually has a “Hubbard College of Administration” housed inside the building, and employees are encouraged to take courses there, which are given by Scientology instructors flown out regularly by Balance of Nature.

We learned this not only from the employee, but also in a series of photographs of the offices and even an excerpt from the employee manual. As a result of the story, the company had its VP of public relations, Dennis Leavitt, try to lean on us and get us to retract some of the article. But the photos and the employee manual spoke for themselves, we figured, and we didn’t change the story. (We did, however, gladly include Leavitt’s statement as the final word in the story.)

Balance of Nature promises all sorts of health benefits if you consume their capsules containing ingredients from fruits and veggies. The company is all over the place, particularly on conservative talk radio, and its Internet ads pop up all over. Before our story in February, some of our readers had spotted a set of Scientology manuals in one television ad for the product.

And now, we have something really special. Another Balance of Nature employee has come forward wanting the public to know how shot-through with Scientology the company is.

The employee recorded some short videos inside the company headquarters and sent them to us. As you’ll see, we first get a glimpse inside the HCA, where Scientology courses are held, and you can see the blue L. Ron Hubbard manuals that are used in the front operation World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE) and its lion logo.

But then the employee recorded short glimpses in other parts of the office, showing that the blue manuals are a regular feature.

“There’s a full reference set in almost every office, not just the rooms designated as ‘Hubbard classrooms’,” our source says.

And the instructors are still flying out regularly from Los Angeles.

“’Professors’ from Hubbard College will be here teaching classes every day starting next week until the end of the month. I’ve heard there’s dozens of people in attendance each day. We only have 400 employees. So we potentially have 10 percent of our workforce in Hubbard training regularly,” the source says.

We reached out to Leavitt in an effort to give him a head’s up this time, and we sent him a sample image of a Balance of Nature desk with its set of Hubbard manuals. But he told us that he was in a new position and he forwarded our message to the current Balance of Nature vice president of public relations. We are still waiting for a response.

In the meantime, enjoy these brief glimpses into Balance of Nature’s offices. With this much guidance from L. Ron Hubbard lying around the offices, how could it not clear the planet with its fruits and veggies in pill form!

——————–

Sign up for a daily email when we post a new story on Scientology.

——————–

“Today I’m going to talk to you severely. Ordinarily I jolly you along, you know, and everybody looks… Well, I hate to be this severe, but you are on the edges of the great adventure. And this separates the sheep from the goats, man. And separates the children from the characters who can do it. And you are adventured upon a period of auditing which requires far more precision, auditor presence and TRs than any auditing we have ever had. There’s certain ways to do this right, and there’s certain ways to do it wrong. The number of ways to do it wrong far exceed the ways to do it right. Any time you have somebody in training, he can always invent some new ways to do it wrong, but it’s very, very funny that he never invents — almost never — some way to do it right. Because the odds are very bad. The truth of the matter is that the auditing which you are embarked upon is in actual fact simpler than you would believe and simpler than you will believe for some time. And the main thing you are doing with it is far too much complication. That’s all. Just the complexities you’re adding into it are defeating you. And you’re taking too much time to accomplish what you’re accomplishing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 2, 1963

——————–

“The UK and SA inquiry scenes look hopeful if we keep our fingers crossed and the Gdn Office keeps as active as it has been, which we’re sure it will. This is the real power house that’s in action… We now own the 174′ MY Grinnel and as soon as it’s out of dock it will be the US Station Ship. It’s very sleek, has engines only slightly less HP than Apollos. Two strong 2000 HP GMs… Flag is now a happier atmosphere. In the field thanks to the days of raw recruits and Berez and the lies of B. Green in NY we’re looked on as a violent and savage ship. It’s a lie so it will blow away. Doesn’t do any harm anyway.” — The Commodore, May 2, 1970

——————–

“Before, I was part of a very known group of Indies on the Internet. Hard core, highly trained, Tech wise and Admin wise old-timer Scientologists. Very good guys indeed. When I told their leader about Ron and his new tech, she made a point to be ‘honest’ and demonstrate to me that he was a crook, a con man, and that the floor was going to drop under my feet. Wow, frightening, really frightening! Well, I never had so much wins in my 40-year career as a Scientologist.”

——————–

2001: An article in Scientology’s Freewinds magazine describes efforts against the Lisa McPherson Trust. “I announced my new intentions to create a safe environment to disseminate into, but found that my home town had a little clan of SPs. I began to attack them. My attack turned into the Foundation for Religious Tolerance which I founded. This Foundation confronts any critics of Scientology and exposes them for what they really are – hate groups. Since I founded the Foundation for Religious Tolerance I’ve done TV shows, radio shows, and many other activities exposing the SPs. The Foundation was even quoted in a local newspaper announcing that the SPs in my town were nothing more than a hate group. With all the activities against them from my Foundation, these SPs are going wild! They now believe that the Foundation for Religious Tolerance is a worldwide organization attacking them from many sides and from many countries.’ Just to give you an idea of the power of OT Hatting, would you like to know how many people comprise this vast worldwide organization that has the SPs running scared? Just one, me! — M.D.”

——————–

“The visual image of Tom the Jumping Jackass is priceless in itself and will stay with me for a very long time.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for May 5.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— 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.
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Valerie’s motion for reconsideration denied on March 15.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Next hearing scheduled for June 29.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for June 28.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a 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.

——————–

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, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] In Scientology, ‘making it go right’ is everything, even if it wrecks lives
[TWO years ago] Georgia anti-psychiatry legislator goes even bigger for Scientology in the pandemic
[THREE years ago] What it’s like on the Scientology measles ship right now, according to former crew
[FOUR years ago] Fifty years later and post-Scientology, 60’s band People! aims for a comeback
[FIVE years ago] Renovations for Scientology’s planned Mexico City ‘Advanced Org’ halted by local pols
[SIX years ago] ABC’s ’20/20′ let Scientology trash Ron Miscavige — but here’s what you didn’t get to hear
[SEVEN years ago] More testimony that Scientology’s celebrities know all about Sea Org deprivations
[EIGHT years ago] Video Vault: Another dose of L. Ron Hubbard wisdom you aren’t supposed to see
[NINE years ago] Dianetics: Super Colon Blow For Your Mind
[TEN years ago] Kate Bornstein’s Amazing Voyage

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,652 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,157 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,707 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,697 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,588 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,895 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,763 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,537 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,868 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,341 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,657 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,223 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,142 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,310 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,890 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,152 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,188 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,903 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,428 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 783 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,958 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,509 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,658 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,978 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,833 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,952 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,308 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,611 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,717 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,115 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,991 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,574 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,069 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,323 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,432 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on May 2, 2022 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.

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.

Scientology holds its ‘Writers of the Future’ awards back on schedule, same garish display

Tony Ortega — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 11:00:31 +0000

After having its schedule disrupted for a couple of years by the pandemic, Scientology’s sci-fi front operation, “L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers & Illustrators of the Future” is back to having its Achievement Awards gala in the spring.

As usual, contest winners were flown in for an expensive week at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel, various activities, a tux fitting, and then a lavish event held at the Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood on Friday night.

It apparently never dawns on these winners that the only reason this is such a rich experience is that Scientology’s Author Services Inc. is footing the bill so founder Hubbard’s reputation can be burnished.

A decade ago, in fact, we established a direct link between the contest and Scientology’s most notorious abuses when we showed that ASI’s Barbara Ruiz, who was running the contest in the early 2000s, was seen running the infamous prison at Gold Base, “the Hole,” in 2004. She was subsequently a prisoner in the Hole herself (Mike Rinder personally saw here there when he was a prisoner too), and then about the time Shelly Miscavige vanished in 2005, Barbara did too.

And more recently, Galaxy Press, which puts out Hubbard’s dreck from the 1930s, is run by Sea Orgers John Goodwin and Emily Jones, and we have written about how Emily is kept from communicating with her parents, Phil and Willie Jones, who dared to leave the church. One of the reasons we look forward to the annual gala is for opportunities to see Emily. And once again, we weren’t disappointed.

First, we’ll show you some photos that the contest posted from the week and from the gala, and then we have some thoughts from Rachel Denk, who at one time was a major force in the contest.

[John Goodwin makes sure everyone knows why they’re there]

[Emily hands out T-shirts]

[Learning from the master]

[The obligatory pilgrimage to the Hubbard library]

[Emily on the right]

[D&D art great Larry Elmore helps out]

[Gala night, and Emily is having fun with the decorations]

[Nancy Cartwright lends some celebrity presence]

[Gala emcee Gunhild Jacobs gets things going]

[Everyone is so shiny!]

Here’s Rachel’s report…

As I hadn’t visited the Facebook site for several months, I thought I better go down the rabbit hole. I was devastated to find that Coordinating Judge and Editor of the anthology, Dave Wolverton, had unexpectedly passed away January 14 of this year. I read everything I could get my hands on, obituaries, etc., and watched video tributes to him. All were very compassionately done and accurately portrayed how loved and respected Dave Wolverton was.
Friday, April 8, arrived and the Awards were scheduled for 7pm. I couldn’t find the link to the Awards on the Facebook site! Ah ha, I thought, maybe if I Google it, I’ll find it. That’s exactly what happened but, regretfully, I missed the very beginning of the Awards as I was about four minutes late. Someone was singing onstage when I joined the Awards.
The Awards were held at the Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood. Dinner was served and it looks as though the room was full of winners, staff and guests. The whole Awards event was not garish in the least and moved right along. Gunhild Jacobs, ED of Author Services Inc, was the mistress of ceremonies. Early on in the program we learned that there were thirty winners in attendance. Seven were those who couldn’t make it to last year’s event, published in Volumes 36 or 37, and twenty-three were from Volume 38, this year’s release.
Nicely spaced throughout the program were videos that included a tribute to Dave Wolverton, a poem for peace by LRH, an original video by Frank Frazetta on how he makes art. Somewhere along in here WOTF Volume 38 was released by John Goodwin, President of Galaxy Press. There was also an overview of the contests and announcement of Jody Lynn Nye becoming the new Coordinating Judge of the WOTF Contest and Dean Wesley Smith becoming the new editor of the anthology, taking over these jobs from the departed Dave Wolverton.
The keynote speaker was Lt. General John F. “J.T.” Thompson USAF, former commander of the US Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base. When the speaker was at the podium, he announced he was going to say “just a few words.” Nope, he spoke for a good ten to fifteen minutes. He was a good speaker and I suppose the speech was interesting to those who could follow it, but it was definitely more than “just a few words.”
Interspersed with the above were the presentation of awards to the winners, all thirty of them. I’m certain each winner was given a piece of white paper on which to write the names of those he/she wished to thank. The men had this sheet of paper in a pocket and whisked it out once they had stationed themselves at the podium. The ladies white sheet of paper was usually carried in their hand as far as I could tell. Those white sheets of paper became ominous because one never knew how many people were going to be thanked. I started to listen for words that would portend what we were in for: “I have a lot of people to thank.” “Last but not least” ended many of winner’s lists.
The presenters of awards included not only judges of the contests but a few celebrities. Nancy Cartwright and Lee Purcell are the only names I recognize. There were several others but I cannot find the video again to jot them down.
At the end of the evening Joni Labaqui took the stage and the Grand Prize winners were announced. Fortunately, all the thank you’s had been already stated and we ended up with a couple of jubilant winners. That’s a wrap.

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“My Christian friends want me to stop studying Scientology. I think it’s a loyalty thing. I have to choose between Christ and L. Ron Hubbard, apparently.”

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2002: The Associated Press reported that Heber Jentzsch, the president of the Church of Scientology International, has been acquitted of conspiracy and fraud charges. “A Spanish court on Thursday acquitted the American leader of the Church of Scientology of conspiracy and other charges, ending a case that dated back to 1988. In December the Madrid Provincial Court had acquitted 15 members and employees of the Spanish branch of Scientology who had been charged along with church leader Rev. Heber Jentzsch. When Jentzsch did not appear for trial as it began in February, the court decided to try him separately. The court said in December there was no evidence to support prosecutors’ allegations that drug rehabilitation and other programs sponsored by the Church of Scientology in Spain amounted to illicit gatherings aimed at activities such as bilking people of money. In 1988 Jentzsch was arrested when he arrived in Madrid for a Scientology conference. He was held for 4 months before being released, but indicted in 1994.”

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“Believe it or not, ‘Wichita Lineman’ is one of my all time favorite songs. I’m usually in tears by the end of it.”

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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Valerie’s motion for reconsideration denied on March 15.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Next hearing scheduled for June 29.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for June 28.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a 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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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, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology answers Danny Masterson accusers at California Supreme Court, and it’s ugly
[TWO years ago] Scientology continues to see the pandemic as a public relations opportunity
[THREE years ago] Scientology deception and financial fraud spelled out in incredible legal letter
[FOUR years ago] Why Scientology has no business pontificating on mental health — a discussion
[FIVE years ago] Need a boost to your superpowers? Scientology has a (pricey) solution for that!
[SIX years ago] Astra Woodcraft, ex-Scientology kid, wants you to read a short essay
[SEVEN years ago] How Scientology broke up Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers: The story you haven’t heard
[EIGHT years ago] Why is Scientology’s cruise ship caught up in a lawsuit about human slavery?
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Lavish Annual Party for Pampered Sci-Fi Writers, This Sunday!
[TEN years ago] This is How You Finance an “Ideal Org”

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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,632 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,137 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,657 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,677 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,568 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,875 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,743 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,517 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,848 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,321 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,637 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,203 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,122 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,290 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,870 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,132 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,168 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,883 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,408 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 763 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,938 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,489 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,638 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,958 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,813 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,932 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,288 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,591 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,697 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,095 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,971 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,554 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,049 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,303 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,412 days.

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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 12, 2022 at 07:00

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