Scientology & Suicides, Part 1
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Scientology & Suicide
As you may realize, it is not easy to gather information on this
subject. Incomplete reports may serve as reminders to others and
result in more complete information. We must use the incomplete
reports as a starting point. We apologize for any errors. The sheer
volume of information and the fear surrounding Scientology make some
errors inevitable. We do not intend any discourtesy to the victims of
Scientology and we want to correct any inaccuracies or
misrepresentations in our data. Any inaccuracies will be corrected
upon receipt of documentation that our information was, in fact,
inaccurate.
Further corrections will be posted immediately on the FACTNet site.
Organization of this material:
DATE, NAME, and SUBJECT are listed on the first line of each entry in
this format:
DATE NAME SUBJECT
Entries for which we have dates are in date order from recent to old.
Entries with no date are in alphabetical order by last name. When the
same case was reported by multiple informants, separate entries were
made for each significant report. When multiple cases were reported by
one informant, separate entries were made for each case. Exceptions to
each of the above rules will be obvious in context.Those entries
containing (xxxx) represent requests from the sources to remain
anonyrnous or confidential. The list is in four parts.
Part One is in DATE ORDER. Part Two is in ALPHABETICAL ORDER. Part
Three is miscellaneous and combined lists. Part Four contains entries
which have no name or date.
This list contains allegations, opinions, and beliefs protected by the
First Amendment. These allegations, opinions, and beliefs are made
about activities committed in a claimed religious setting which may be
a serious threat to public health and well being. This also may
contain statements in which individuals are exercising their First
Amendment fights of religious freedom in openly discussing claimed
religious matters or their former or current religious beliefs. The
questionnaire was created to assist in investigating and verifying the
listed allegations, opinions, and reports.
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nforming the public about human fights abuses caused by coercive
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Part One: LISTINGS IN DATE ORDER
1994 Gunnarson, Vicktor death Vicktor Gunnarson died somewhere between
the 3 and 7 of January of 1994. Vicktor was the individual aquitted in
the assassination in Sweden of Olay Palme, the high ranking Swedish
politician. They are tracking Gunnarson's connection to Scientology.
Detectives found a number of Scientology books at his place of
residence. A reporter mentioned something about a $2 million offer to
assassinate Palme being found or implicated or implied somewhere in
his records.
1993 Argue, Michael psychosis In 1993, Michael Argue had two psychotic
breaks. He became involved in Scientology in 1971. His first break was
in the 1980s while doing OT levels at the LA Organization. He is
living on Family Benefits (disability pension) for chronic depression.
He is on Prozac for depression and valium and states that he looks
forward to bodily death to escape his situation in life.
1992-3 Todd Hunter, Sue inducement to suicide Sue Todhunter was about
46. It happened around 1992-93. Her brother-in-law, George Ward is now
out of Scientology and lives in LA. (suspected "end-of-cycle"
auditing)
1992 Luell, Mickey negligence Mickey Luell, a Scientology course
supervisor, died of a flu but was at the time involved in Scientology
auditing and processes. FACT's source is suspicious that Scientology
prevented or discouraged his getting proper medication.
1992, Oct. Baker, (first name unknown) suicide A person with the last
name of Baker committed suicide somewhere in Europe.
1992 name unknown attempted suicide FACT's source described a young
guy who tried to conunit suicide in early 1992 at the Gold Scientology
Center. He was in his teens to early 20s. He was a jumor of a guy
named Ulf who was a foreigner, maybe from Sweden. This guy was in the
mixing group with the sound people. He had brown hair, puggy and
boyish looking, obviously young. Something happened to cause him to
attempt suicide at the Gold Center.
1991, May Simon, Karen suicide Karen Simon died by hanging herself in
London England in May 1991, shortly after she refused to sign a Sea
Organization contract. She was preparing a negative report on
Scientology at the time of her death.
1990-2 name unknown death A young guy at the Gold Land base died while
taking high doses of hydrogen peroxide as part of some brain research
project. They had to get an ambulance out to the Scientology Gold
Center to haul him away. There was quite a commotion to get his body
out of there.
1990, Sept. names unknown suicide Reported by the October 21, 1991
"DER SPIEGEL" and reprinted in the Newkirk Herald Journal. The last
two paragraphs report a drug therapist who knew of two addicts who
committed suicide after leaving Narconon, where the purification
rundown was done. They committed suicide just after they left the
program.
1990, Sept. Keel, Pius suicide Reported in October 21, 1991 DER
SPIEGEL Pius Keel, 22, Germany, threw himself under a tram after
Scientology got all his money.
1990s Petschek, Cladia suicide A women named Cladia Petschek committed
suicide. She was a mission staff member, and she committed suicide in
Canada within the last 4 years. She was still active in Scientology.
1990 (last name unknown), Bob suicide Bob was a real estate agent who
lived around the Utica, Michigan area. He committed suicide in 1990
while receiving Scientology services.
1990 Mooney, Ed negligence Ed Mooney or Money, C 16 and OT8, died at
age 37 of aneurysm about 3 weeks after completing OT8 at Flag m the
fall of 1990. He was a very good FSM in LA. Scientology and family
postulated he'd get better. He was in a hospital - but not a really
good one. His wife, Patty Mooney, remarried about 6 months later in
LA.
1989 Wakefield, Margery attempted suicide 9 April 1989, Margery had
started in treatment with a counselor at Northside Center, and was
being seen by Dr. Dagon for medication. However, her functioning on
the unit continued to deteriorate to the point that her relationships
with her peers disintegrated and at one point she became totally
unable to work on the unit and left work early. On this occasion, she
apparently made a suicide gesture and was subsequently hospitalized.
Her suicide attempts are directly related to past Scientology
auditing.
1989 or 90 name unknown coverup of death An older Sea Organization
member died. FACT's source heard OSA agents talking about keeping it
quiet. The death of this individual occured between November '89 and
April '90.
1988-90 Kugler, Ryan attempted suicide Ryan Kugler is an adolescent
(age 10) who tried to commit suicide at Delphi, Oregon by hanging
himself. He had been kicked out of school but was admitted to LA
Delphi about 1986 and Oregon Delphi about 1988-1990. He is still in
Scientology now.
late 1980's. three names: Jane Winkler, Gene Trout, and David
Sandieweis suicides? No locations reported.
1987 Argue, Michael attempted suicide In 1987, Michael Argue attempted
suicide after his marriage break-up. His wife was in Scientology too.
1986-7 Filmsky, Betty cancer The first Solo NOTS completion (what
Scientology calls honest) was Betty Filinsky. She was also highly
trained. She died of lung cancer around 1986 or 7. She was the ex-wife
of John Filinsky.
????? Filmsky, Betty cancer John Filinsky's first wife, Betty
Filinsky, was first Solo NOTS completion and died of lung cancer, I
think right after her "world tour" as the latest great success of NOTS
auditing.
1986-8 Moro (Klinger), Cat psychosis Between 1986 and 88 Cat Moro
(Klinger) became psychotic while on auditing and was taken to the home
of wealthy Scientologist, Marshall Goldblatt, and kept there for
months while she was psychotic. Her husband, Jim Moro, and she were
both in the OSA/GO. Jim was in charge for tax task force which helped
get them their IRS tax exemption.
Apparently, after 3 or 4 months at Goldblatt's Cat was transferred
back to where she could be watched all the time and became a folder
administrator at AOLA. These incidents all occurred between 1986 and
88. Maggie Butterworth is the person who supervised the situation with
Cat Moro, the security risk who became psychotic.
1986 Rimando, Rodney CORRECTION suicide Rodney Rimondo jumped out a
window at either the Celebrity Center or the LA Organization. Irene
was the mother who allegedly got no settlement from Scientology. IN
FACT'S JANUARY MAILING THIS NAME WAS INCORRECTLY SPELLED "RAMANDO."
1986 name unknown psychotic A young man m his 20's jumped from the
Manor m Hollywood, though the report does not say that he died. He was
a new recruit. There was a shore story alleging that he was a CIA
operative sent to discredit Scientology by killing himself.
1985 Johnstone, Lee suicide Lee Johnstone was baby watched. He was a
member of the Guardian's Office Staff m 1985 before he flipped out and
committed suicide.
1984-? name unknown suicide Hawaiian mission holder was physically
thrown out of his mission by three or four missionaires. Shortly
thereafter he committed suicide.
1984-5 (last name unknown), Jean-Marc suicide In New York; some
connection with Celebrity Center; involved with a girl who had joined
the Sea Organization. He had pockets full of Scientology promo when he
died.
1984 Baker, David. suicide Technical Secretary David Baker of St. Hill
was an OT 3 in 1984. Committed suicide.
1982-84 Lionini, Paolo cancer At Ben Kugler's Florida condo, Paolo
Lionira -- a staff member at Delphi Oregon -- died while on lines at
Flag. Poalo wrote the book called Lepsig Died. He died in Clearwater,
FL between 1982- 84 at 100 Pierce St #602 or 603. He was getting
auditing at Flag while he had cancer.
1983 Cloud, David Orin death David Orm Cloud died on June 5, 1983 in a
car accident. He was in LA for auditing before he died. He thought he
was going to die. FACT's source said his comments were, "He thought he
was going to die, because he was just giving up." She doesn't know
much more. He was thirty years old. He was involved with the Better
Baby Institute. He was involved in Scientology for 8 or 9 years
beginrang in 1977.
1983 McCann, Terry Purification Rundown - death Terry McCann had his
retinas detach while on the purification rundown from all the sweat
outs and whatever they were putting him through. He went blind from
this. He went into a depression from this and died or committed
suicide.
1983 xxxxx Purification Rundown - injury "I nearly died on the Purif
at the Boston Organization. I didn't know it at the time. I had a heat
stroke in the sauna, stopped perspiring, teeth started chattering, and
things kept blacking-out on me, visually. I put on all of my winter
clothes and went back into the sauna (I was by myself at this point,
as there was only one other guy on the Purif with me, and our
schedules weren't quite the same), and I still felt freezing cold. I
climbed from the basement to the second floor (lots of stairs) where
the D of P told me that "the way out is the way through," and that's
what came back from the CS, too. If the Admin who was supposed to see
that I got back into the sauna, hadn't violated orders and forcibly
pushed me into a cool shower, I might well have died, "just following
orders." I had another heat stroke, or at least heat exhaustion (I had
different symptoms, and the diagnosis varied between the two), in
1990. My last doctor suspected that I have hypothalamus damage - which
can be neither tested nor treated. He checked my electrolyte reports
from the last heat stroke, and he said that they didn't seem in a low
enough range to have caused the damage he suspects. I've been too
embarrassed to tell my doctor about the Purif heat stroke - it may be
where I started having these problems - but I can't do a whole lot
about it anyway. When I had a heat stroke on the Purif, the D of P was
Jeannie Scoglio, the C/S was either Ken Sermo or Rick Siegal
(spelling?) at Boston Organization. The Admm who pushed me into the
shower/saved my life was Rich Gerard. Otherwise, I'd have died all
alone in that sauna in a lonely comer of the Boston Organization
basement. I believe that all of these people are still in Scientology,
and most are still at the Boston Organization, Day staff.
1982 Brewer, Ed negligence Ed Brewer was involved in a car accident.
Several other Sea Organization or Scientology Staff members were in
the car with him. They left him in the car to bleed to death while
they went back to the Scientology organization to talk to the people
in the intelligence division, because they didn't know what to do.
They didn't want to create a public relations flap for Scientology.
When they did this, they failed to call for medical help. Brewer
literally bled to death pinned in this car.
1981-2 Spheeris, Jimmie death Jimmie Spheeris died in an auto accident
on approximately July 4, 1981 or 82. At the time he was on the
Philadelphia doctorate course and getting auditing. He was a
homosexual and was being given a lot of stress about being a
homosexual and being in Scientology courses.
This somehow may link into the homosexual pressures that Travolta has
been put under involving Scientology. It may not. The implication from
the contributor is somehow the stress and pressure that Shpeeris was
put under was connected to Scientology and his death. His sister was
director Penelope Shpeeris.
1981 name unknown uncertain Chuck Newton called himself "Detective
Chaz Dee" when he'd go snooping. I remember him telling me about a guy
who lived near Willows or maybe Marysville, and both he and his dad
were OT's.
1981 Maxwell, Robert and ????? cancer Robert Maxwell. Robert & his dad
were Flag public. Anyway, xxxxx said that Robert's father developed
terminal (I think) cancer, but didn't have to quit auditing because he
heard (at Flag? I think so) that you could cure cancer by drinking
rocket fuel, and he did, and it cured the cancer, and he kept getting
his auditing. I don't know what happened to Robert or his dad after
this, which was around 1981, I think.
early 1980's (last name unknown), Hugh suicide A male named Hugh (last
name unknown), who was an independent C\S at the advanced organization
of Los Angeles (AO), committed suicide.
1980-1 Duchette, Gay suicide In 1980, I received a call from Gay
Duchette. She had left the Riverside Scientology Mission. She related
to me that she had given all she owned to Scientology. When her money
was gone she was persuaded get a loan on her home to continue with
Scientology. When she could not repay the loan she lost the house. Her
father, who had given her the house or paid the down payment for it,
was in a rage. She said several men had kept her in a room trying to
make her sign over the house to Scientology. She had due cause for a
suit aganst Scientology. It was in big trouble over loans in Riverside
but she was not strong enough to stand up to the pressure of a suit. I
gave her what support I could. I wanted to talk to her father but she
was against it. I put her in touch with another former Scientologist.
Gay was unmarried so Duchette is the family name. I think she had a
brother named Jim. She came to a CFF meeting in Culver City and may
have visited our house. I spoke with her by phone several times. When
I called sometime after Sept 81 I was told she had taken her life.
Riverside is a long way from Redondo Beach so I cannot research
Riverside records for date of death. This is the best data I can
provide from memory.
1981 name unknown suicide (Reported by the actual C/S of the person
who committed suicide) A female doctor from Flint, Michigan committed
suicide. FACT's source remembers the person having problems with her
boyfriend. "This women is still involved in doing some auditing. I
don't know if she is yet willing to admit the upsetting influence
auditing can be and the coercive influence."
1981 Streim, Melvin psychosis I went to junior high and high school
(Belmont, MA, Class of 1969) with Melvin Streim. He went to Harvard,
and I went on to my life. I saw him again in early 1981 at the Boston
Foundation Organization, where he was on staff, probably Estates. He
was completely spaced and barely remembered me, though we'd shared
years of classes ("accelerated" and AP) together, usually sitting just
two seats away. He vaguely remembered the name of his best friend
(they were best buddies for at least 6 years) when I mentioned it. His
second job (moonlighting) was as a bag boy at the Star Market on the
Cambridge/Watertown line. He was getting worse and worse in
Scientology, forgetting to shave, dressing in dirty clothes, and
generally out-of-touch with reality. They off-loaded him around 1983
or 4. I don't know what happened to him. I tried to find his family in
Belmont, but they've either died or moved. I didn't work very hard on
that, but I've felt badly about him. Mel was always a bit of a misfit
in school but he wasn't nuts. When he was off- loaded, he was
defimtely schizophrenic, and broke. How does a former Harvard student,
end up as a bag boy? Tragic.
1980-82 Hubbard-Horwich, Diana psychosis In 1980-82 1 was
corresponding with Diana Hubbard Horwich who was definitely close to
the edge in late 1980 and early 1981. I wasn't in great shape, myself.
We kept exchanging hopelessly inane letters about the weather. I don't
have any positive proof, but we had an understanding, a certain
undercurrent where we were both severely stressed. I'll bet you can
find people with more definite info. I can just say, yes, absolutely,
she was having a very difficult time back then.
1980-81 Newton, Chuck psychosis My ex-husband, Chuck Newton, went nuts
on audited NOTs. He was not very stable to start with, and he kept
"going PTS" by "having problems" at work, problems where he just
couldn't stay faithful, etc. He was miserable, and his behavior was
just out of control. One night, he beat a litter of newborn puppies to
death with a shovel. He felt that his behavior was out of control. We
moved, but it didn't seem to help. We sent him to Flag to "get
handled." He reached a "flat point" on audited NOTs (meaning: he ran
out of money) and he came home completely bizarre. He sat and watched
Cable Network News almost 24 hours a day. [ don't know when he
slept ....
1980-81 Karr, Dale psychosis The woman my ex-husband is living with is
Marilyn Fox. Her last husband--I'm trying to remember his name--Dale
Cart or Karr, I think. Anyway, he was an ethics officer at some
mission around LA, and in the mid-1980's. He cracked up one night and
kidnapped Marilyn's two children plus the one they'd had together. He
took off to another state. I don't know if she ever got the children
back again, or what happened. I know that only one child is living
with her, and the other two are still young enough to be at home, but
they aren't with her. This is fuzzy, but I'm trying to think of
everthing in case my pieces fill in the gaps of someone else's
memories.
The people who will talk about Dale Karr/Carr are Marilyn's first
husband's family, since her first husband was the father of two of the
children who were kidnapped. His name is Chuck Peden, his mother is
Lorena Peden, and his sister is Jonna or Janna Jones (Mrs. Steve ?
Jones), all of Chico, CA. They don't want to talk with me anymore, due
to my connection to Chuck Newton, who Marilyn's living with.
1980 Duchette, Gay vulnerable and bilked Gay Duchette had left the
Riverside Scientology Mission. She related to me that she had given
all she owned to Scientology. When her money was gone she was
persuaded get a loan on her home to continue with Scientology. When
she could not repay the loan she lost the house. Her father, who had
given her the house or paid the down payment for it, was in a rage.
She said several men had kept her in a room trying to make her sign
over the house to Scientology. She had due cause for a suit aganst
Scientology. It was in big trouble over loans in Riverside, but she
was not strong enough to stand up to the pressure of a suit. Gay was
unmarried so Duchette is the family name. I think she had a brother
named Jim.
1980s name unknown vulnerable and bilked Jean (Mrs. Paul) Discher
(then D of P, Boston Day Organization) told some woman from Maine (he
hasn't remembered the name yet) that she would die if she didn't buy a
certain service.
early 80's Clark, Robert cancer Robert Clark, tech sec fdn. in the
Adelaide Cof S, had throat problems. He had been undergoing such
treatment as being locked in all night because his stats were not up.
He had been coerced into leaving his wife and selling some of their
property to send money to Flag. Bob developed the cancer in the
Organization before he left. I am in contact with his ex-wife who is a
prominent musician recently retired.
early 80's Vigeland, Eric psychosis Eric Vigeland was in Scientology
in Boston in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I worked with him on "The
Show," a covert Scientology "free concert" at which we distributed Way
to Happiness booklets. Eric had been a psych case, I think. He
inherited some money, gave it all to the fund to help Mary Sue in the
USGO/FBI lawsuit, and got a bunch of auditing as a "reward." He was
not a very stable person, and even by Scientology standards, he should
have been shown the door. Scientology knew Eric was not stable when
they took him in, and it's not rlght to take every cent from someone
who is ill-equipped to survive on his own in society. I expect that's
why his parents left him the money, so they wouldn't have to worry
about his care when they were gone.