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(Description of video is in italics. VO=VOICEOVER)
MAUREEN O’BOYLE: Hi, everyone, I’m Maureen O’Boyle, and this is "Extra".
opening theme music
picture of Lisa McPherson with caption "Mysterious Death" on right side of screen
O’BOYLE: Lisa McPherson spent half of her life in the Church of Scientology. And now Florida police say the church may have contributed to her death. It’s been three years since the 36-year-old woman died while in their care, a death the family describes as horrible and slow. Now, after denying any responsibility, the Church of Scientology will have to explain Lisa’s death in court. Bill Shuman with the story.
footage of Lisa dancing; lettering "CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY" over church doorway
VO: The home video is grainy, but Lisa McPherson’s zest for life comes through, her love of country dancing eclipsed only by her love for her church, the controversial Church of Scientology.
KEN DANDAR (caption--"Ken Dandar, attorney): They killed Lisa McPherson. She’s dead. Her entire death was preventable. They chose to let her die.
picture of Lisa; close-up of someone holding legal folder; door of State Attorney’s office; aerial shot of Big Blue Scn building in Los Angeles; picture of Lisa
VO: Incredible claims by McPherson family attorney Ken Dandar. And now the Clearwater, FL Police say there’s evidence to support those claims. In this 18-page document, the State’s Attorney filed two criminal charges Friday against the Church of Scientology in the 17-day ordeal that ended in the death of Lisa McPherson.
WAYNE SHELOR (caption--"Wayne Shelor, Clearwater Police Dept.): We got involved in what, in retrospect, has become the most expansive and one of the most expensive investigations in this department’s history.
footage of Wayne Shelor in his office; picture of Lisa; re-enactment of accident scene showing woman from the knees down walking down the street with clothing scattered on the ground; entrance to Morton Plant Hospital; Fort Harrison Hotel
VO: As Clearwater Police spokesperson Wayne Shelor explains, this bizarre story began November 18, 1995. Lisa was involved in a minor traffic accident. She suddenly stripped off her clothes and ran naked down the street. Psychiatric care was recommended; but after church members arrived at the hospital, Lisa had been taken to them. She discharged herself and was taken to Scientology’s Fort Harrison Hotel.
picture of Lisa; court documents with the phrase "...hyperactive, delusional and hallucinating. She further tried to harm herself and others..." enlarged; another picture of Lisa
VO: Prosecutors say she was held against her will and placed under the care of a doctor not licensed in Florida. According to a Florida law enforcement investigator, Lisa was, quote, hyperactive, delusional and hallucinating. She further tried to harm herself and others. Lisa died after 17 days. She’d lost 40 pounds. She was covered with bedsores.
outside of Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office; outside Scn church; court documents with phrase "ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT OF A DISABLED ADULT," and "UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF MEDICINE," enlarged
VO: The coroner said the cause of death: A blood clot brought on by severe dehydration. So now prosecutors have charged the church with abuse and/or neglect of a disabled adult and unauthorized practice of medicine.
DELL LIEBREICH (caption--"Dell Liebreich, Lisa’s aunt): They, um, isolated her and did not get her medical help when it was needed, they starved her, tortured her to death.
Dell Liebreich outside her home; picture of Lisa
VO: That’s Dell Liebreich, Lisa’s aunt, her closest living relative. In an interview with "Extra" last year, Liebreich said the real reason Lisa was treated the way she was, was because she wanted out of the church.
outside Scn org; title "Church statement" Scientology’s logo (the word "Scientology" with the "I" in the shape of their trademarked cross; the phrases "There are no allegations that anyone intentionally harmed Lisa McPherson. " and "...make sure a similar situation would never happen again." enlarged
VO: In response to Friday’s criminal charges in Lisa’s death, a Scientology spokesperson released this statement, quote: There are no allegations that anyone intentionally harmed Lisa McPherson, and the church will make sure a similar situation would never happen again.
Laura Vaughn walking down hallway; outside Scn church
VO: And in another interview done with "Extra" last year, church attorney Laura Vaughn blamed an anti-Scientology mentality for this Clearwater Police investigation.
LAURA VAUGHN (caption--"Laura Vaughn, church attorney": The reason that we’re having this discussion, the reason that all of this is happening, is because it’s the Church of Scientology.
Gabriel Cazares walking down street; Cazares at desk looking at clippings from newspapers, holding one clipping from the Tampa Tribune with the headline, "Doctor details Scientologist’s death"
VO: And much of that anti-Scientology feeling comes from community leaders like Gabriel Cazares. He’s a former mayor of Clearwater and a long-time critic of the church.
GABRIEL CAZARES (caption--Gabriel Cazares, former Clearwater mayor): I think this ought to be pursued to the fullest extent, and I think it will lead to other crimes of Scientology.
picture of Lisa
MAUREEN O’BOYLE: Meanwhile, Lisa McPherson’s aunt Dell Liebreich is continuing to pursue an $80 million wrongful death lawsuit against the church.
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