From: mrteegeack@aol.com (MrTeegeack)
Subject: NYTIMES: Co$ Pleads Not Guilty in '95 Death of..
Date: 1998/12/01
Message-ID: <19981201095142.16775.00000433@ng131.aol.com>#1/1
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Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
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New York Times December 1, 1998

Scientology Pleads Not Guilty in '95 Death of Florida Woman

 By DOUGLAS FRANTZ


  CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Church of Scientology pleaded not guilty Monday 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. 

  A church lawyer delivered the written plea to the clerk's office for Pinellas
County Circuit Court. A hearing is expected within 30 days. 

  The church's Flag Service Organization, its chief operating arm here, was
charged this month with abuse or neglect of a disabled adult and practicing
medicine without a license, both felonies. No individuals were charged. 

  Under Florida law, the maximum penalty is a $5,000 fine for conviction on
each charge, but courts may impose additional penalties, including forfeiture
of property. 

  The charges were filed by the State Attorney for Pasco and Pinellas Counties,
Bernie McCabe, in the death of Lisa McPherson, 36, on Dec. 5, 1995. She had
spent the 17 days before her death under 24-hour watch in a church-owned hotel
in downtown Clearwater, the spiritual headquarters of Scientology. 

  An autopsy found that Ms. McPherson had died of a pulmonary embolism, or
blood vessel blockage, caused by bed rest and severe dehydration. Dr. Joan
Wood, the county medical examiner, said Ms. McPherson had gone without fluids
for at least 5 to 10 days before her death. Ms. McPherson also appeared to have
lost more than 40 pounds, the authorities said. 

  Church officials have maintained that the lengthy investigation and charges
in the case are the result of a 15-year vendetta by Clearwater police and other
local officials. The church says that Ms. McPherson was well-cared-for during
her stay but that she became violent and incoherent and stopped eating. 

  Church officials and lawyers said Ms. McPherson was taken to a hospital after
her condition worsened suddenly. They said their medical experts will testify
that Ms. McPherson's death was unrelated to her stay at the hotel. 

  Ms. McPherson had been involved in a minor traffic accident in downtown
Clearwater. She appeared to be uninjured but took off her clothes and walked
down the street naked. She was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where a
physician wanted to admit her for psychiatric treatment. 

  The Church of Scientology adamantly opposes psychiatric care, and Ms.
McPherson refused the treatment. Instead, she signed herself out of the
hospital and accompanied a group of Scientologists to the church's Fort
Harrison Hotel. 

  Church records show that she hallucinated, became violent and refused to eat
at the hotel. She had to be restrained several times, according to accounts
provided to the police by her caretakers at the hotel. 

  Ms. McPherson's family has filed a lawsuit against the church that is
scheduled to go to trial next summer. The family is seeking unspecified
damages. 


Tuesday, December 1, 1998
Copyright 1998 The New York Times

Mr. Teegeeack

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