In late November, 1986, Rodney Rimando fell to his death from the sixth floor of $cientology's Los Angeles center where he lived, breathed, and ate Scientology for the preceding six months.
Family and friends say that for more than a year before moving to Los Angeles, Rimando spent all of his time at the Scientology center on Stevens Creek Boulevard in San Jose.
Rimando did the Purification Rundown and became increasingly distant from family and friends. In May 1986, he told his family that he was being sent to LA for further training, and went despite his parents' opposition. "He said he had to leave the next day," said Brenda Rimando [his sister]. "He was all in a hurry. It seemed they called him up telling him he had to leave." Rodney also told his sister he hoped to train to be a Scientologist minister, and one day have his own church.
Was he ordered to disconnect from his family? Had he been assigned to $cientology's gulag, the RPF, and subjected to sleep deprivation and systematic degradation?
Who left the forged suicide note on his bunk?
Why did $cientology officials repeatedly lie about Rodney?
Rodney Rimando and Lisa McPherson are just two of the Scientologists who have died in unusual and suspicious circumstances. For a more complete list, see the Deaths in Scientology page ( http://www.whyaretheydead.net/ ) or FACTnet's list of death, murder, suicide, and psychosis in Scientology (http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/suicide1.htm ).
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Scientology says: |
But: |
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Rodney had a tearful telephone conversation with his mother over his continued involvement with the church hours before his death. |
His mother denies they spoke that night. |
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He had undergone prior psychological counseling for depression. |
Neither his family nor a former close friend is aware of any such treatment. |
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He showed up in LA with no prior involvement in the church asking to become a staff member. |
In his wallet was a blue six-month Church of Scientology membership card with a January 27, 1985 expiration date. Family and friends say that for more than a year before moving to LA, Rodney spent all of his time at the Scientology center on Stevens Creek Blvd in San Jose. |
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A suicide note was found on his bunk bed. |
The note mentioned a "wife". Rodney was single. His mother says the note was not in his handwriting. |
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Rodney was not sent by the church to study or work at the center. "He just came in one day and asked for a job." |
In May 86, he told his family that he was being sent to LA for further training, and went despite his parents' opposition. "He said he had to leave the next day," said his sister. |
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He applied but was "unqualified" to become a staff member. |
He was given a janitorial job&emdash;which IS staff under Scientology policy, Estates Section, Dept. 21. He told his family he was working and studying 11 hours a day, and being paid room, board and $30 a week&emdash;indicating he was a Sea Org member, one of Scientology's elite. |
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He was "upset over pressures placed on him to go home with his mother and his commitment to the church." |
His mother says they didn't discuss his returning to San Jose during her visit. |
In their statement to the IRS, Scientology mentioned the Rimando family's lawsuit against Scientology, and said:
This suit only came about because a CAN attorney incited the parents to file it. The parents did not really believe the Church to be responsible for their son's suicide. The suit was never served and was voluntarily dismissed with prejudice.
But according to the Mercury article,
His mother, Irene Marshall, believes her son was killed but has no evidence and no idea who might have done it. She rejected Scientology's offer of financial help for Rimando's funeral: "I told them I don't need their money.
I told them it's going to be on their conscience."
This information was taken from an article in the San Jose Mercury News, Dec 5 1986, available on the Web at http://www.whyaretheydead.net/Rodney_Rimando_21/rimando.html.