Supplement/Summary - summary of investigation so far

Date:March 25, 1997
Pages:11


       SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION

       FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department            Report No.            95-29158

       Offense           Death Investigation             Date of Report        3/25/97





       Location          644 Pierce Street              Orig Incident Date  12/6/95

       Victim            Lisa McPherson                 VI Prosecute        Yes No

       Investigator      Det Sgt. Wayne Andrews

       Subject           None

       Impound Inventory None





       FEBRUARY 11, 1997





       At 0900 hours, a deposition was held in which Paul Greenwood gave a statement

       regarding this case to myself, Assistant State Attorney Mark McGarry, and FDLE

       Agent Lee Strope. The deposition lasted approximately two to two and a half hours,

       during which time Paul Greenwood gave pretty much the same statement he had

       previously given to Det. Sudler. See transcript for further details of the deposition

       statement.



       TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1997





       On 2/13/97, a subpoena was issued to the Church of Scientology requesting the

       following records:





       REQUESTED:           Copy of the list of all registered guests in the cabana area of

                            the hotel at 210 S. Ft. Harrison from 11/18/95 to 12/6/95.





       RECEIVED:            Photocopy of some type of list with names of people that were

                            registered at the entire hotel at 210 5. Ft. Harrison. The

                            names of everyone except for those at the cabanas had been

                            blanked out. The names of those at the cabanas were difficult



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          FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department          Report No.     95-29158

          Offense    Death Investigation                  DateofReport   3/25/97



                        to follow up because none of them had any addresses or

                        contact phone numbers. These were not the records we

                        expected to receive from a four-star hotel. This issue will be

                        addressed possibly in a future subpoena to the Church

                        outlining every aspect of the records we want to receive.



          MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1997





          During the previous deposition with Paul Greenwood, he indicated that he, Laura

          Arrunada, and Janis Johnson were ordered by Security to write a report about what

          occurred during the Lisa McPherson incident. He stated that the three of them were

          then taken to a room in Security, where they wrote their statements and turned them

          over to Security personnel. With this information, subpoenas were issued for the

          following:





          SUBPOENA #1



          REQUESTED:    A copy of any and all written statements provided to the

                        Church by Laura R. Arrunada from 11/18/95 to 1/1/96.



          RECEIVED:     A letter from Attorney Lee Fugate indicating that this was a

                        privileged document



                        An indication from Attorney Morris Weinberg that any

                        documents written after Lisa McPherson's death would be

                        considered an attorney work product and therefore be

                        privileged to the subpoena.



     

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       Offense     Death Investigation                 DateofReport   3/25/97





       SUBPOENA #2



       REQUESTED:    A copy of any and all written statements provided to the

                     Church of Scientology by Paul Greenwood from 11/18/95 to

                     1/1/96.



       RECEIVED:     Same as Subpoena #1





       SUBPOENA #3





       REQUESTED:    A copy of any and all written statements provided to the

                     Church of Scientology by Janis Johnson from 11/18/95 to

                     1/1/96.



       RECEIVED:     Same as Subpoena #1





       It should be noted that, along with the letter from Attorney Fugate indicating that the

       three subpoena requests were privileged information, we received additional reports

       from the caretakers of Lisa McPherson.





       THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1997





       Det. Jorge Carrasquillo and FDLE Agent Sharon Feola had conducted interviews with

       Lisa's co-workers at AMC Publishing through Attorney Ron Cacciatore. It was

       apparent that they were having difficulty obtaining the names of all of Lisa's

       co-workers. Therefore, a subpoena was requested and issued on this date as follows:





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      FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department          Report No.         95-29158

      Offense       Death Investigation               Date of Report     3/25/97





      REQUESTED:        A list of all people employed by AMC Publishing from 1/1/95

                        to 1/1/96, to include their full legal name, current home

                        address, and home phone number.



      RECEIVED:         No information received from AMC Publishing other than a

                        letter from Attorney Ron Cacciatore to Assistant State

                        Attorney Mark McGarry objecting to the deliverance of these

                        subpoenas to Benetta Slaughter.



      TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1997





      At 0900 hours, Agent Lee Strope, Assistant State Attorney Mark McGarry, and I met

      at the State Attorney's Office to conduct an investigative deposition of Rita Boykin in

      reference to this death investigation. She was accompanied by her attorney, Attorney

      John Lauro. She is identified as Rita Boykin (maiden name of Hampton), W/F,

      DOB 2/8/52.



      Background: Rita is originally from Marina, California and now resides in New York.

      She is staying at the Church of Scientology in Clearwater and working on staff at the

      present time. She arrived at the Church of Scientology at 210 S. Ft. Harrison in

      Clearwater from New York on Thanksgiving Day, 11/23/95. She presently lives at

      Hacienda Gardens at 551 Saturn Avenue with three roommates. She has medical

      training as a nurse's assistant and at one time worked in the Critical Care Unit of a

      hospital. She listed this on her resume to the Church when she applied for the staff

      position. She joined the Church of Scientology in April 1985 and started as a staff





  

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        Offense     Death Investigation                  Date of Report 3/25/97





        member almost immediately. Her position in the New York organization was as a

        Services Officer. She described this position as being someone who helps fellow

        Scientologists make travel arrangements to Florida. She indicated that the person

        she answers to is Janis Johnson.



        Involvement with Lisa McPherson: Sometime around 11/26/95, when she had

        only been in Clearwater for a few days, Rita was requested to take care of Lisa

        McPherson at the cabanas. Rita was only told that Lisa McPherson apparently had

        some type of behavioral dysfunction and needed care. Rita worked 16 hours a day in

        shifts from 1/26/95 to 1700 hours on 12/5/95 (day of Lisa's death) with only a few

        days off. According to Rita, the door to Lisa's room was always locked.



        The interview with Rita Boykin was recorded by a court reporter. See transcript for

        further details.



        It was apparent after the interview with Rita Boykin that we were missing reports

        that she had written. This was discussed with Assistant State Attorney McGarry,

        who stated that he would attempt to recover the missing records.





        WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1997





        After reviewing my notes and the reports given to us, it was apparent that Rita

        Boykin had given Chlorolhydrate to Lisa McPherson while caring for her at the

        cabanas. I spoke with Dr. Wood of the Medical Examiner's Office and learned that

        Chlorolhydrate was a prescription drug. We therefore had a subpoena issued as

        follows:





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        FL0520300/ Clearwater Police Department         Report No.       95-29158

        Offense       Death Investigation               Date of Report   3/25/97





        REQUESTED:       A prescription summary report for Dr. David Minkoff, DEA

                         #AM1446346, and any and all original prescriptions written for

                         Lisa McPherson and any and all documentation related

                         thereto, during the time frame of 11/1/95 to 12/30/95.



        RECEIVED:        Information from Eckerd Drugs that a prescription was called

                         in to their pharmacy on the corner of Beicher Road & State

                         Road 60 for 30 tablets of Chlorolhydrate tablets (500mg each).

                         The pharmacist who filled the prescription was Ed Karch. The

                         prescription was called in on 11/29/95 by Dr. Minkoff, who

                         left a phone number of 845-9115 (Emergency Room at HCA

                         Hospital in New Port Richey). Eckerd Drugs also supplied us

                         with a third party insurance claim log showing that the

                         prescription for Lisa McPherson (prescription #907960) was

                         picked up and signed for by what appeared to be Susanne

                         Schnurenberger. This information contradicts the information

                         from Dr. Minkoff in his previous taped statement to Det.

                         Sudler that he had no knowledge of anyone named Lisa

                         McPherson or any type of condition she had. This

                         prescription and the inconsistencies in Dr. Minkoff's

                         statement will be explored in a future interview.





        At 1400 hours, a meeting was held between all case agents in this investigation and

        Chief Sid Klein, Deputy Chief Paul Maser, Assistant Director Jim Sewell of FDLE, and

        Special Agent Larry Samms of FDLE. A short briefing and update of what we had

        done so far were provided to the supervisors. This included the information that Rita

        Boykin had supplied us in her deposition and leads we have not yet completed.





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       FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department           Report No.        95-29158

       Offense      Death Investigation                 Date of Report    3/25/97





       THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1997





       At 0900 hours, another caretaker by the name of Valarie Demange was subpoenaed

       to the State Attorney's Office under oath for a deposition regarding this investigation.



       She was accompanied by her attorney, Attorney Robert Poli. She is identified as

       Valarie Demange, W/F, DOB 3/11/65, address of 2105. Ft. Harrison Avenue,

       Clearwater, Florida.



       Background: Valarie spent a year and a half in nursing school but never graduated.

       She also has not worked in the nursing field since that time. She indicated that she

       included this information on her resume to the Church of Scientology. She has been

       a Scientologist since 1985 and came to the Church of Scientology at 210 S. Ft.

       Harrison from Los Angeles in 1993. She came as a project manager and is now the

       staff chaplain. At the time of Lisa McPherson's death, she answered to Alain

       Kartuzinski.



       Involvement With Lisa McPherson: Valarie took care of Lisa McPherson from

       approximately 11/21/95 to 11/29/95 or 12/3/95. She wrote several reports

       regarding this involvement and placed the initials SNR C/S FSO for the person the

       reports were addressed to; that being Alain Kartuzinski. She indicated that the word

       "RUSH" on the top of a report meant that it did not follow the normal mail routine

       and was taken directly to Alain Kartuzinski. I asked her about her report of

       11/21/95, in which she indicated that she gave Lisa McPherson a lot of vitamins at

       9:30 a.m., and asked whose order it was for her to give the vitamins. She stated that

       Emma Schermerhorn had told her to give Lisa the vitamins. According to Valarie,

       Lisa's room door was unlocked from the inside but there was a security guard outside





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         FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department           Report No.         95-29158

         Offense       Death Investigation                Date of Report     3/25/97





         the door the entire time Lisa was there. We asked if Lisa was allowed to leave at

         anytime and she stated no, that they were told Lisa was very crazy and might get

         hurt out in the public. Valarie indicated that it was her understanding after a

         meeting with Alain Kartuzinski on 11/26/95 that they were there to isolate Lisa until

         she became able to begin an introspection rundown. Valarie was present several

         times when Janis Johnson came to Lisa's room. At one point around what Valarie

         believed was 11/30/95 or 12/1/95, she saw Janis Johnson give Lisa an injection.

         Valarie was not taking care of Lisa during the last four or five days. However, she

         was called to an office in the Coachman Building sometime around 12/5/95 or

         12/6/95 and advised that Lisa had died and everyone would be quarantined. She

         was told by Marcus Quirino, the Deputy Chief Officer at the Church of Scientology, to

         write a report on her involvement with Lisa. She wrote the report and turned it in to

         Marcus Quirino. I asked who she remembered was at the meeting at the Coachman

         Building. She stated that it was Janis Johnson, Sylvia DeLavega, Alain Kartuzinski,

         Marcus Quirino, Don Jason, Debbie Cook, Susanne Green, Laura Arrunada, and

         Heather Petsold. According to Valarie, everyone there that had contact with Lisa

         were writing reports.



         The interview with Valarie Demange was recorded by a court reporter. See transcript

         for further details.





         Also on this date, Assistant State Attorney Mark McGarry issued a subpoena for

         Patricia Straecner for a deposition scheduled for the week of 3/31/97. That

         subpoena was delivered to her attorney, Attorney Robert Poli.





   

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        SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION

        FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department            Report No.        95-29158

        Offense       Death Investigation                 Date of Report    3/25/97





        MONDAY, MARCH 24, 1997





        I placed a phone call to the service Dr. Minkoff works for and requested that he call

        me back. I received a call from Attorney Jim Felman, an attorney in Tampa, phone

        229-1118.   I advised him that we would like to meet with Dr. Minkoff further as all

        of the parties involved in the Lisa McPherson investigation were being re-interviewed.

        He stated that he would make arrangements for himself and Dr. Minkoff to meet with

        us, but that he wanted a subpoena for Dr. Minkoff granting him immunity for

        anything he said. I advised Attorney Felman that I would contact Assistant State

        Attorney McGarry and make some type of arrangements for the interview.



        I received a call from Assistant State Attorney MeGarry, who advised me to contact

        Attorney Poli as he had further information about Valarie Demange's interview and

        also about his other two clients, Laura Arrunada and Sylvia DeLavega. I contacted

        Attorney Poli, who advised that Valarie Demange was not completely truthful with us

        during her statement as she was embarrassed to tell us of Lisa's bizarre behavior

        during the time she cared for her. He stated that Valarie said Lisa often stood up on

        the bed, looked directly at her caretakers, and then urinated in her pants as though

        she was doing it on purpose. Valarie also indicated that Lisa would go into the

        bathroom, come out with feces in her hand, and attempt to eat it. I advised Attorney

        Poli that I would include that information in my report. He stated that, if we could

        issue a subpoena for Laura Arrunada and one for Sylvia DeLavega, he would make

        arrangements to bring them back when he flew to Mexico City the week of 3/31/97

        and have them available for depositions. He also indicated that he would attempt to

        have Patricia Straecner available that same week for a deposition.





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       FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department           Report No.       95-29158

       Offense     Death Investigation                  Date of Report   3/25/97



       I contacted Assistant State Attorney McGarry and had the two subpoenas issued for

       Laura Arrunada and Sylvia DeLavega. These subpoenas were then faxed to Attorney

       Poli's office on Tuesday, 3/25/97.





       TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1997





       Subpoenas were issued to Benetta Slaughter at AMC Publishing asking that she

       furnish us with a copy of the entire personnel file on Lisa McPherson,

       SSN # XXX-XX-XXXX, from her initial hiring date to the time of her death. We have not

       yet received any information from AMC Publishing.



       A subpoena was also issued to the Church as follows:



       REQUESTED:      Original registrations of all guests for the cabana area of the

                       hotel from 11/18/95 to 12/6/95. Must include full name of

                       guests, home and business addresses of guests, and contact

                       phone numbers for guests. Hopefully this subpoena will obtain

                       us information regarding individuals that were possibly

                       staying in the area of the cabanas while Lisa was there.



       At 0900 hours, Alphonso Barcenas was interviewed during a deposition at the State

       Attorney's Office. He is a security guard at the Church Of Scientology and was

       stationed outside of Lisa's room during most of her stay. He is identified as

       Alphonso Barcenas, H/M, DOB 9/29/47.





       Background: Alphonso is from Mexico City and is not a U.S. citizen. He is here on a

       religious visa working for the Church. He has no medical background. He has been

       a Church member since 1976 at the Church of Scientology in Mexico City. He



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        Offense        Death Investigation                  Date of Report 3/25/97



        arrived in Clearwater in September 1995 and was assigned to renovations. He has

        completed courses in the Church up to a Grade II auditing and was assigned as a

        security guard in training during the time Lisa was at the cabanas. He answered

        directly to Paul Kellerhaus, who was in charge of the local security office for the

        Church.



        Involvement With Lisa McPherson:  Alphonso was assigned to 12 hour shifts

        outside of Lisa's room at the cabanas and had the key to let people in and out. He

        was a security guard in training and wore no uniform other than the light blue shirt

        and dark blue pants. He had a walkie talkie and worked 8 to 10 days outside of

        Lisa's door. He was relieved by another security guard. I asked him what his

        instructions were in reference to Lisa leaving the room. He stated that she was not

        allowed to leave until he checked with Paul Kellerhaus. I asked if someone such as

        her mother would be allowed to see her if she came to visit. He stated no, not

        without talking to Paul Kellerhaus first.





        The interview with Alphonso Bercenas was recorded by a court reporter. See

        transcript for further details of the interview.





        Ofc. Reporting   Det. Sgt. Wayne Andrews/elg        ID No.     603

        Case Status      Active                             Date Cleared _____________

        Clearance Type        Exception Type

        1. Arrest             1. Extradition declined       3. Death of Offender

         Adult      Juvenile  2. AR of primary offense,     4. V/W refused to cooperate

        2. Exceptional          secondary offense,          5. Prosecution declined

        3. Unfounded            w/o prosecution             6. Juv/No Custody

        Ofc. Reviewing                  Date                SAO Info





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