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 Chit

June 15, 1986: Commendation Chit written by Mark Muir about Lisa Skonetski [McPherson].

No Report

June 25, 1986: No Report written by Kathy about Lisa Skonetski [McPherson].

No Report

June 25, 1986: No Report written by Kathy about Lisa Skonetski [McPherson].

Knowledge Report

July 7, 1986: Knowledge Report written by Katie Chamberlain about Lisa Skonetski [McPherson].

Job Endangerment

July 8, 1986: Job Endangerment written by Lisa Skonetski about Lisa Skonetski [McPherson].

FSM Commission

July 16, 1986: FSM Commission written by Sandi Porter about Lisa Skonetski [McPherson].

Non-Compliance Report

July 18, 1986: Non-Compliance Report written about Lisa Skonetski [McPherson].

Commendation Chit

July 24, 1986: Commendation Chit written by Kathy Brod about Lisa Skonetski [McPherson].

No Report Report

July 26, 1986: No Report Report written about Lisa Skonetski [McPherson].

No Report

July 30, 1986: No Report written about Lisa Skonetski [McPherson].

Lisa McPherson in the News

Date Titlesort icon Blurb Tags
December 6, 1998 The Life and Death of a Scientologist Within 17 days, McPherson - who'd spent most of her adult life and tens of thousands of dollars as a devotee of Hubbard's teachings - would be dead. The once-voluptuous 36-year-old - she stood 5 feet 9 and wore a size 12 dress - lost an estimated 40 to 50 pounds during the ordeal, dropping to 108, her bruised body pocked by insect bites and scabs. She was never seen by a licensed physician during that time. Clearwater, crimes, Lisa McPherson, Press
December 6, 1998 McPherson Relatives Lead Protest Relatives of Lisa McPherson made a tear-filled trip Saturday night to the Scientology hotel where she spent her final days under guard and in the grips of a mental breakdown. Her aunt and uncle, Dell and Art Liebreich, and her cousin Kim Krenek led a group of about 60 anti-Scientology protesters who held candles and laid a wreath outside a privacy wall at Scientology's Fort Harrison Hotel. A few feet away, just beyond the wall, was Room 174, where McPherson is said to have spent 17 days under the care of fellow Scientologists. She died at 36 on Dec. 5, 1995, and the Church of Scientology was criminally charged last month with abuse and practicing medicine without a license. Clearwater, Lisa McPherson, Press
December 5, 1998 Ex-Scientologist Shares Familiar Tale of Force-Feeding A former Scientologist from Denmark said Friday that he helped force bread, fruit and liquids into the throat of an unconscious woman as part of an effort help her recover from a mental breakdown. Karsten Lorenzen's detailed account at a news conference held by a group of Scientology critics resembles the experience of Lisa McPherson, as documented by state investigators and Clearwater police. McPherson was the 36-year-old Scientologist whose 1995 death has resulted in criminal charges of abuse and practicing medicine without a license against the Church of Scientology in Clearwater. Clearwater, Lisa McPherson, Press
December 1, 1998 Scientology Pleads Not Guilty in 1995 Death The Church of Scientology pleaded not guilty today to criminal charges in connection with the 1995 death of a member whose family maintained that she had been held against her will by the church for 17 days. The church's Flag Service Organization, its chief operating arm here, was charged in the case this month with abuse or neglect of a disabled adult and practicing medicine without a license, both felonies. No individuals were charged. Clearwater, crimes, Lisa McPherson, Press
November 23, 1998 State Takes Middle Road Against Scientology The Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization Inc. was charged with abuse and/or neglect of a disabled adult and practicing medicine without a license. Though serious, the lawyers said, the charges carry less emotion than manslaughter and less of a stigma for Scientology than if church members faced individual charges that could put them in prison. Because the Scientology entity was charged corporately, no single person faces prosecution or punishment. "They probably determined that this is the charge that can be best proved, most easily proved, as opposed to manslaughter," said Michael Cheek, a veteran criminal defense lawyer in Clearwater. Clearwater, crimes, Lisa McPherson, Press
November 23, 1998 Death in the Sunshine State Scientologists share at least one strongly-held belief with mainstream sceptics: they will have no truck with psychiatry. So McPherson was taken instead to the Fort Harrison hotel, owned by the organistion. Seventeen days later, she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at HCA hospital, New Port Richey. Her family blames Scientology for her death, for her dehydration, the bruises on her arms and legs, the abrasions and lesions, the apparent bug or animal bites. A medical examiner said she had died of a blood clot complicated by dehydration. She also had an infection, which the church blames for all her symptoms. Clearwater, Lisa McPherson, Press
November 22, 1998 Of Right, Wrong And A So-Called Church With Thanksgiving coming up later this week, I'd like to suggest that as you baste your turkey with your handy-dandy turkey baster, you imagine for a moment what it would be like if somebody tried to stick one of those gizmos down your throat. While you were being held down, of course. I speak not on behalf of the rights of some noisy, plump bird from Frank Perdue but on behalf of a starved, severely disturbed woman, Lisa McPherson, now quite dead. Lisa McPherson, Press
November 20, 1998 Scientology's New Tack When Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe filed two criminal charges against the Church of Scientology last week over Lisa McPherson's death, the reaction of church officials was unusually benign. "We'd like to see how to move forward and put this unfortunate incident behind us," said Mike Rinder, a top Scientology official known more for his attacking style. The church's attitude in January 1997 was very different. It sued Pinellas County Medical Examiner Joan Wood after she said McPherson went without fluids for five to 10 days before her death, and a Scientology attorney called the respected medical examiner a "hateful liar." Clearwater, Lisa McPherson, Press
November 14, 1998 McPherson's death incites web protests St. Petersburg Times: McPherson's death incites web protests deaths, Lisa McPherson
November 14, 1998 Scientology Charged in Member's Death The Church of Scientology in Clearwater has been charged with criminal neglect and practicing medicine without a license in the 1995 death of Lisa McPherson, the mentally disturbed Scientologist who turned to outsiders for help before church officials intervened and placed her under their care. Unlicensed Scientology staffers "medicated her without her consent," isolated her and took other measures to treat her physical and mental condition at Scientology's Fort Harrison Hotel, according to an affidavit filed Friday in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court. Clearwater, crimes, deaths, Lisa McPherson

Lisa McPherson in the News

Date Titlesort icon Blurb Tags
December 1, 1995 Log of Lisa McPherson Watch Scientology Medical Officer Janis Johnson writes a report on Lisa McPherson: "...Given 2 gm MgCl2 IM at 1030 + 2 - 500mg Chloral Hydrate (capsule pierced and as much possible squirted into her mouth). She swallowed and fell asleep in the middle of a sentence. ... Needs 2L fluids when awake and attempt to feed..." Lisa McPherson, log
November 30, 1995 Log of Lisa McPherson Watch The Scientologists watching Lisa McPherson write logs summarizing events during their watch. Excerpts: "Dr Johnson just visited. Not possible for her to have any more chloralhydrate. I need to get 4 more valarian root capsules into her & a quart of fluid. ... She is using her legs to kick again. Yesterday it wasn't much of a threat. ... This AM she is deliberate & nasty -- even evil. ... She's asleep! Dr Johnson was here & gave her 2 chloralhydrates. I believe she got the entire amount in each capsule. ... She became very restless & almost awakened. I used 2 chloralhydrates & got approx 1 in her." Lisa McPherson, log
November 29, 1995 Log of Lisa McPherson Watch The Scientologists watching Lisa McPherson write logs summarizing events during their watch. Valerie Demange says that "She was violent for about 2 hours yesterday night, the rest of the time she was calmer and looks very tired." A later watcher says "The 'watch' said she was quieter, but suspects its because she's weak." Lisa McPherson, log
November 28, 1995 Log of Lisa McPherson Watch The Scientologists watching Lisa McPherson write logs summarizing events during their watch. Rita Boykin notes "Valeri & I gave her 2 valerian root capsules 2 of the little gel tablets & 2 white tablets ... 1/3 of a bannna shake with five more of the small white tablets. ... the rest of the bananna shake with the 5 white tablets & 2 more valarian root capsules" and says Dr. Johnson was called about Lisa's lack of sleep. Lisa McPherson, log
November 27, 1995 Log of Lisa McPherson Watch Scientologists watch over Lisa McPherson, held captive at the Fort Harrison hotel; no logs exist for this day. Lisa McPherson, log
November 26, 1995 Log of Lisa McPherson Watch The Scientologists watching Lisa McPherson write logs summarizing events during their watch. Rita Boykin and Valerie Demange describe difficulties getting Lisa to eat; Valerie says "she was very nervous and violent." Lisa McPherson, log
November 25, 1995 Log of Lisa McPherson Watch Scientologists watch over Lisa McPherson, held captive at the Fort Harrison hotel; no logs exist for this day. Lisa McPherson, log
November 24, 1995 Log of Lisa McPherson Watch Scientologists watch over Lisa McPherson, held captive at the Fort Harrison hotel; no logs exist for this day. Lisa McPherson, log
November 23, 1995 Log of Lisa McPherson Watch Scientologists watch over Lisa McPherson, held captive at the Fort Harrison hotel; no logs exist for this day. Lisa McPherson, log
November 22, 1995 Log of Lisa McPherson Watch 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." Lisa McPherson, log