Lisa McPherson

Lisa McPherson was a Scientologist who died after 17 days in the custody of the Church of Scientology.

More about Lisa McPherson

Commendation

May 5, 1993: Commendation written by Carol South on Lisa McPherson (Skonetski)

Commendation

May 30, 1993: Commendation written by Robert Frybarger on Lisa McPherson (Skonetski)

Commendation

May 30, 1993: Commendation written by Robert Frybarger on Lisa McPherson (Skonetski)

Log of Lisa McPherson Watch

November 18, 1995: The Scientologists watching Lisa McPherson write logs summarizing events during their watch.

Log of Lisa McPherson Watch

November 19, 1995: The Scientologists watching Lisa McPherson write logs summarizing events during their watch. An excerpt: "This afternoon Lisa walked like a robote [sic]. What is new: if she starts talking she talks and talks, than she stares at a spot."

Log of Lisa McPherson Watch

November 20, 1995: The Scientologists watching Lisa McPherson write logs summarizing events during their watch. She is getting very little sleep, food, or water. She is staring into lights.

Log of Lisa McPherson Watch

November 21, 1995: Valerie Demange, watching Lisa McPherson, writes logs summarizing events during her watch. Lisa gets more sleep today, and lots of vitamins, but isn't eating much. She's talking in her sleep, mostly saying "Thank you" (a phrase used during Scientology drills and practices).

Log of Lisa McPherson Watch

November 22, 1995: The Scientologists watching Lisa McPherson write logs summarizing events during their watch. Alice Van Gondelle is woken at 1:30 in the morning to take a shift watching Lisa, which lasts until 4 in the afternoon: "I went into the room & she was total Type III. Blabbering, incoherent nonstop. Shaking, no warm clothes on -- a old top & shorts & shoes -- no socks. She fell asleep for 4 hours & got up. I finally chased her around the place 50 times & got on slacks, tee shirt, jacket, socks & shoes -- she was like an ice cube. She talked incoherently hour after hour. She refused to eat & spit out everything she took. Her breathe was foul. She looked ill like measles or chicken pox on her face. Had a fever to my touch. After 1 pm she went violent & hit me a few times telling me she was to kill me #s of times. I called in the "guard" outside -- the fellow am HCO staff member -- new one a Mexican gentleman. He stayed with me during the rage -- but she still smacked me around. (I did cover & guard myself but she was out of control). I finally got her to drink a protein shake but she wouldn't eat or sleep any further. This lasted til 4 pm."

Log of Lisa McPherson Watch

November 23, 1995: Scientologists watch over Lisa McPherson, held captive at the Fort Harrison hotel; no logs exist for this day.

Log of Lisa McPherson Watch

November 24, 1995: Scientologists watch over Lisa McPherson, held captive at the Fort Harrison hotel; no logs exist for this day.

Lisa McPherson in the News

Date Title Blurb Tags
January 18, 2003 Lawsuit Grinds To Another Delay After six years, it finally appeared the wrongful death suit against the Church of Scientology was headed for trial, but a clearly frustrated judge postponed the highly publicized case once again, probably for at least several months. Schaeffer granted the delay so the church could appeal her earlier ruling that Ken Dandar should not be disqualified as attorney for the estate of Lisa McPherson, the church member who died in 1995 after 17 days in the care of Scientologists in Clearwater. Clearwater, crimes, lawsuits, Lisa McPherson, Press
December 9, 2001 Church Loads Up For One Last Fight A civil wrongful-death lawsuit, itself now almost 5 years old, alleges church workers let McPherson die Dec. 5, 1995, in the Fort Harrison Hotel, where she spent the last 17 days of her life being cared for by fellow Scientologists. The lawsuit contends that church staffers allowed McPherson, 36, to become so dehydrated she was too weak even to stop cockroaches from biting her. Paperwork alone has swelled to near epic proportions. The case now sports 194 volumes - stacked up, they're as tall as a two-story building. Clearwater, lawsuits, Lisa McPherson, Press
August 4, 2001 Doctor in Lisa McPherson case suspended St. Petersburg Times: Doctor in Lisa McPherson case suspended Lisa McPherson
June 22, 2001 A judge dismisses the allegation that Lisa McPherson was falsely imprisoned St. Petersburg Times: A judge dismisses the allegation that Lisa McPherson was falsely imprisoned lawsuits, Lisa McPherson
July 21, 2000 Judge releases McPherson autopsy photos St. Petersburg Times: Judge releases McPherson autopsy photos lawsuits, Lisa McPherson
July 21, 2000 Judge releases McPherson photos Tampa Tribune: Judge releases McPherson photos lawsuits, Lisa McPherson
June 16, 2000 Photos of McPherson autopsy stir new conflict St. Petersburg Times: Photos of McPherson autopsy stir new conflict Lisa McPherson
June 13, 2000 McPherson case expected to haunt medical examiner St. Petersburg Times: McPherson case expected to haunt medical examiner Lisa McPherson
April 9, 2000 2 Judges, 2 Counties, and a Lot of Baloney How to explain the mental nose dives of the medical examiner and the chief circuit judge when they were confronted with the story of the slow, miserable death in 1995 of Scientologist Lisa McPherson at the Fort Harrison Hotel? This is the part I gag on: The Internal Revenue Service gave Scientology the tax-exempt protection of a religion. If what they do at Scientology headquarters in Clearwater is a religion, then I'm a planet. Saturn, say, rings and all. deaths, lawsuits, Lisa McPherson, Press, Scientology and Society
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

Lisa McPherson in the News

Date Titlesort icon Blurb Tags
February 26, 1987 Battle Plan Lisa Skonetski (later Lisa McPherson) writes a Battle Plan Lisa McPherson, Scientology
February 22, 1987 Danger Condition writeup Lisa Skonetski (later Lisa McPherson) writes a Danger Condition writeup on her 1st Dynamic. Lisa McPherson, Scientology
February 22, 1987 False Report Report Lisa Skonetski (later Lisa McPherson) writes a False Report Report on a fellow Scientologist. Lisa McPherson, Scientology
February 22, 1987 Job Endangerment Chit Lisa Skonetski (later Lisa McPherson) writes a Job Endangerment Chit on a fellow Scientologist. Lisa McPherson, Scientology
February 22, 1987 Late Report Carol Chamberlain writes a Late Report on Lisa McPherson. Lisa McPherson, Scientology
February 20, 1987 Commendation Chit Kathy Brod writes a Commendation Chit on Lisa McPherson. Lisa McPherson, Scientology
February 20, 1987 No Report Carol Chamberlain writes a No Report on Lisa McPherson. Lisa McPherson, Scientology
February 19, 1987 Conditions Order Force Chamberlain writes a Conditions Order on Lisa McPherson. Lisa McPherson, Scientology
February 19, 1987 Conditions Order Force Chamberlain writes a Conditions Order on Lisa McPherson. Lisa McPherson, Scientology
February 18, 1987 Conditions Order Force Chamberlain writes a Conditions Order on Lisa McPherson. Lisa McPherson, Scientology