Wolfstrike
Gold Member
Allegations of disappearance[edit]
Shelly Miscavige has not appeared in public since August 2007. This has provoked allegations by critics of the church that she is missing.[3][12]
In 2006, Shelly's husband, church leader David Miscavige, left the Scientology's international base, while Shelly remained.[13] While her husband was absent, Shelly Miscavige decided to make a number of changes to the management operations of the church. Tom DeVocht claims that she "tried to put a stop" to David Miscavige's relationship with actor Tom Cruise by rearranging the schedule to prevent the two from meeting.[14]
Upon her husband's return, Shelly Miscavige was said to have "visibly changed" her mood and to have "looked cowed". Mike Rinder, then the church's chief spokesman, says that she asked him if her husband was still wearing his wedding ring. Shortly afterwards, in June 2006, she no longer made any appearances in public.[15]
She was absent from the November 2006 wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.[16] In July 2013, it emerged that actress Leah Remini had left the Church, after reportedly receiving "an unbelievable torrent of attack" for asking fellow Scientologists at the wedding why Shelly Miscavige was not present.[17]
Missing-person reports have been filed with the Los Angeles Police Department concerning Miscavige. At least two such reports have been filed; one is reported by Lawrence Wright, though he does not state who submitted it,[18] while another was filed in August 2013 by the actress Leah Remini.[19] Detective Gus Villanueva, in response to the missing person report, said: "The LAPD has classified the report as unfounded, indicating that Shelly is not missing."[4] In August 2013, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that detectives met with her in person following a missing-persons report filed by actress Remini.[20]
The Church of Scientology will not comment on Miscavige's location,[21] though its former spokesman Tommy Davis said he knew her whereabouts and refused to reveal her location.[22] In July 2012, responding to press accounts of speculation on Miscavige's whereabouts, two UK newspapers were informed by lawyers indicating they represented Mrs. Miscavige "that she is not missing and devotes her time to the work of the Church of Scientology."[23][24]
Miscavige's location is the subject of much speculation. Former members of the Sea Org have said that they believe Miscavige is at the compound of the Church of Spiritual Technology – a Scientology corporation – at Running Springs in San Bernardino County, California.[3] According to Noriyuki Matsumaru, who worked for David Miscavige as a finance officer in the Religious Technology Center, her husband sent her a sweater and gloves for Christmas one year.[2] Others have said that she may have been sent to "The Hole," a facility operated by the Church of Scientology at its Gold Base in Riverside County, California.[12]
Family and personal life[edit]
Michele Barnett married fellow Sea Org member David Miscavige on December 30, 1980.[13]
Michele's mother, Flo Barnett, was a long-time Scientologist.[25] On September 8, 1985, 52-year-old Flo Barnett was found dead from three rifle shots to the chest and one to the head. There was a previous suicide attempt, and there were fresh slash marks on her wrist.[26] Two suicide notes were found, but the labeling of the death as a suicide or homicide was inconclusive.[27]
Shelly Miscavige has not appeared in public since August 2007. This has provoked allegations by critics of the church that she is missing.[3][12]
In 2006, Shelly's husband, church leader David Miscavige, left the Scientology's international base, while Shelly remained.[13] While her husband was absent, Shelly Miscavige decided to make a number of changes to the management operations of the church. Tom DeVocht claims that she "tried to put a stop" to David Miscavige's relationship with actor Tom Cruise by rearranging the schedule to prevent the two from meeting.[14]
Upon her husband's return, Shelly Miscavige was said to have "visibly changed" her mood and to have "looked cowed". Mike Rinder, then the church's chief spokesman, says that she asked him if her husband was still wearing his wedding ring. Shortly afterwards, in June 2006, she no longer made any appearances in public.[15]
She was absent from the November 2006 wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.[16] In July 2013, it emerged that actress Leah Remini had left the Church, after reportedly receiving "an unbelievable torrent of attack" for asking fellow Scientologists at the wedding why Shelly Miscavige was not present.[17]
Missing-person reports have been filed with the Los Angeles Police Department concerning Miscavige. At least two such reports have been filed; one is reported by Lawrence Wright, though he does not state who submitted it,[18] while another was filed in August 2013 by the actress Leah Remini.[19] Detective Gus Villanueva, in response to the missing person report, said: "The LAPD has classified the report as unfounded, indicating that Shelly is not missing."[4] In August 2013, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that detectives met with her in person following a missing-persons report filed by actress Remini.[20]
The Church of Scientology will not comment on Miscavige's location,[21] though its former spokesman Tommy Davis said he knew her whereabouts and refused to reveal her location.[22] In July 2012, responding to press accounts of speculation on Miscavige's whereabouts, two UK newspapers were informed by lawyers indicating they represented Mrs. Miscavige "that she is not missing and devotes her time to the work of the Church of Scientology."[23][24]
Miscavige's location is the subject of much speculation. Former members of the Sea Org have said that they believe Miscavige is at the compound of the Church of Spiritual Technology – a Scientology corporation – at Running Springs in San Bernardino County, California.[3] According to Noriyuki Matsumaru, who worked for David Miscavige as a finance officer in the Religious Technology Center, her husband sent her a sweater and gloves for Christmas one year.[2] Others have said that she may have been sent to "The Hole," a facility operated by the Church of Scientology at its Gold Base in Riverside County, California.[12]
Family and personal life[edit]
Michele Barnett married fellow Sea Org member David Miscavige on December 30, 1980.[13]
Michele's mother, Flo Barnett, was a long-time Scientologist.[25] On September 8, 1985, 52-year-old Flo Barnett was found dead from three rifle shots to the chest and one to the head. There was a previous suicide attempt, and there were fresh slash marks on her wrist.[26] Two suicide notes were found, but the labeling of the death as a suicide or homicide was inconclusive.[27]
