false imprisonment

Several people have reported false imprisonment by Scientology.

More about false imprisonment

Scientology and False Imprisonment

Two Scientology programs call for false imprisonment - the Introspection Rundown, applied to Scientologists deemed to have had a psychotic break, and the RPF, Scientology's labor camps.

Affidavit of Margery Wakefield

April 13, 1990: Testimony tells the story of her experiences in Scientology.">Margery Wakefield's affidavit describes illicit activities, hearing plans to murder individuals, and false imprisonment by the Church of Scientology.

false imprisonment in the News

Datesort icon Title Blurb Tags
November 8, 2002 Trio Arrested After Wife's Wrists Are Bound A man was arrested Tuesday and accused of enlisting two friends to help him tie up his wife so he could take her to the doctor. Largo police arrested Terry Ray Hemphill, 54, on charges of felony false imprisonment and misdemeanor domestic battery. Jamie J. Popa, 33, and Laurie Lynn Miller, 32, also were arrested on false imprisonment charges. Clearwater, false imprisonment, Press
April 8, 2000 Judge Rejects Church Argument In a ruling that stunned the Church of Scientology and its lawyers, a Hillsborough County judge said Friday that religious rights are not a central issue in the 1995 death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson. Hea also said it is not clear whether McPherson consented to her treatment by Scientology staffers before she died in their care. That question should be left to a jury, the judge said. deaths, false imprisonment, lawsuits, Lisa McPherson, Press
April 8, 2000 Scientology Suit For Jury To Decide, Circuit Judge Says A judge says issues of consent - not religion - are at the core of a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology. As criminal charges against the Church of Scientology over the 1995 death of Lisa McPherson hang in the balance, a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the church by McPherson's family grinds toward a June trial. McPherson, 36, died after a 17-day stay at the hotel. Lawyers for McPherson's family contend the 13-year Scientologist was held against her will and force-fed medication. deaths, false imprisonment, lawsuits, Lisa McPherson, Press
April 6, 2000 Scientologists Are Saying Church Being Persecuted Lawyers for the Church of Scientology argued yesterday that criminal charges filed against them in a church member's death were brought by prosecutors determined to negatively brand the church. Prosecutors countered this case is not one of religious freedom, but one of medical neglect. Lisa McPherson had been under the care of Scientology for 17 days following a minor car accident and a mental breakdown. Prosecutors said she was badly dehydrated, malnourished and that the medical care church members gave her was unlicensed and inadequate. crimes, deaths, false imprisonment, Lisa McPherson, Press
January 31, 1994 Independent: The Prisoners of Saint Hill The Scientologists call it "baby-watching", but it has nothing to do with looking after infants. TIM KELSEY and MIKE RICKS investigate the potentially dangerous, and possibly illegal, secret treatment that the world's largest cult uses to deal with difficult members. false imprisonment, Press, Saint Hill
January 21, 1990 Akron Beacon Journal: A Tale of Capture and Brainwashing A Medina dentist, Geary said he also nearly lost his 5-year-old practice, and his wife wound up requiring hospitalization after allegedly being held captive for more than two weeks by Scientologists in California. false imprisonment, Press, San Francisco, CA
April 2, 1982 Suit Against Church Whittled A District Judge has dismissed seven of 14 allegations of wrongdoing against the Church of Scientology by a Boston-area woman and said he will consider whether the First Amendment bars some of the remaining allegations in the $200 million class action suit. The claims were filed by a former member of the church, La Venda Van Schaick, who claimed she was induced into joining the church by false representations, defrauded, subjected to emotional distress, locked in a room, and harassed in many other ways. Boston, MA, false imprisonment, fraud, harassment, La Venda Van Schaick, lawsuits, Press
April 14, 1980 Scientology Suit Says Secret Spa Was Labor Camp A disillusioned former official of the Church of Scientology says sect founder L. Ron Hubbard has been secretly running the organization from a spa 80 miles east of Los Angeles. Sylvana Garritano, 25, described the Scientology enclave as "part insane asylum, part forced labor camp" ruled by the 69-year-old Hubbard and a dozen teen-age servants called "Commodore Messengers." false imprisonment, Hemet, L. Ron Hubbard, Press

false imprisonment in the News

Date Titlesort icon Blurb Tags
June 1, 1996 False Imprisonment - Michael Pattinson Michael Pattinson’s notarized statement describes being held against his will in Clearwater and on the "Freewinds" ship in attempts to extort money from him. In May 1998 he filed a suit against Scientology. false imprisonment
January 1, 1991 Independent: German Man Held at St. Hill, UK, in 1991 The Independent reports on "baby-watching", the potentially dangerous, and possibly illegal, secret treatment that the world's largest cult uses to deal with difficult members. false imprisonment
April 13, 1990 Affidavit of Margery Wakefield Testimony tells the story of her experiences in Scientology.">Margery Wakefield's affidavit describes illicit activities, hearing plans to murder individuals, and false imprisonment by the Church of Scientology. crimes, Documents, false imprisonment, Margery Wakefield