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Scourge of $cien+ology Dies in Apparent Suicide

sptimes.com — Shawn Lonsdale, whose one-man crusade made him a public enemy, was found dead at his home over the weekend in an apparent suicide.

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  • Servebot, on 02/19/2008, -20/+718***** $cientology.
    • alpinecow, on 02/19/2008, -37/+8Suck Fientology
    • absentmindedjwc, on 02/19/2008, -10/+88flood the FBI tips form (https://tips.fbi.gov/)

      if enough people send it in, they might take a look... you cannot trust clearwater police in this matter... they are far too bias...
      • ricsto, on 02/19/2008, -6/+19Done - this is a good idea people. Somthing needs to be done
        • Cl1mh4224rd, on 02/19/2008, -5/+26> "this is a good idea people."

          ***** no. This is a mind-bogglingly retarded idea. What the ***** kind of tip did you send in? "I think Scientology killed this dude"? That's not a tip. That doesn't help *anything*, and it's certainly not going to get the attention of the FBI, who has to filter through thousands of ***** "tips" like yours.
          • catbeller, on 02/20/2008, -3/+18If it was a cute, underaged white blonde cheerleader, it would be national news for weeks. It doesn't pay to be old, ugly and male.

            I'd have loved to CSI that scene. How was the hose inserted? How was the gap sealed? Was it sealed from the outside or inside? fingerprints, any fingerprints on the trail -- if not, then someone used gloves. How was the hose attached to the car? How was it lead into the house? was the victim despondent? why the elaborate and so very slow suicide? why did the victim not do it in the car? Scientology experts know about monoxide "suicides" in the cult's past -- why emulate it?
            The cult is so far into Clearwater's police establishment that no investigation can fairly be made. They CAN kill at will. If the mood strikes.
          • mattcoady, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Looks like this is a case of..... *sun glasses on* wierd science WAAAAAAAA
        • truspect0r, on 02/20/2008, -0/+8RIP Shawn. Please digg this, he received death threats before and posted it on groups.

          http://digg.com/world_news/Death_threats_and_subpo ...
          • chronusmcgee, on 02/20/2008, -1/+6Anyone could have put the hose in the window, and given the fair game policy of Co$, they should be considered suspects, period. The FBI needs to investigate the matter, a grand jury empaneled, and everyone involved tried.
      • jmpeagle, on 02/19/2008, -5/+8obne murder is not FBI jurisdiction
        • Raian, on 02/19/2008, -0/+15Scientology has killed hundreds of people.
        • mikelieman, on 02/20/2008, -6/+2Everything is FBI Jurisdiction.
        • LeeSoong, on 02/20/2008, -0/+22group crimes, or organized conspiracy falls under the FBI . . .
        • chronusmcgee, on 02/20/2008, -1/+9If local police fail to do their job, the the FBI has every right to step in.
          • robbh66, on 02/20/2008, -3/+1No, it doesn't.
          • StemsNSeeds, on 02/20/2008, -1/+2yes it does
          • robbh66, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1@StemsNSeeds - can you show me a shred of evidence to support this?
          • VSLOATHE, on 02/20/2008, -1/+2Go to the FBI website and look it up for yourself. There are many cases where the FBI has intervened in local police investigations if the bureau considers the case sensitive or they consider local police incapable of conducting a proper investigation. Also, this crime (if it is a crime) would involve an organization (FBI jurisdiction) that is interstate (FBI jurisdiction) in nature.
          • StemsNSeeds, on 02/21/2008, -0/+0@robbh66 - nope
      • Tiak, on 02/19/2008, -6/+47spamming the FBI is not a good idea...
      • BlackAle, on 02/20/2008, -2/+23I've emailed mulder directly, so consider it sorted. :)
        • MacEnvy, on 02/20/2008, -0/+7I wonder if David Duchovny ever actually gets weird conspiracy mail addressed to Agent Fox Mulder. I bet it's happened before.
        • ThndrShk2k, on 02/20/2008, -1/+11From: David Duchovny
          To: beenseen263@gmail.com
          Subject: Re: Scientology - The truth is out there
          ------------------
          Stop emailing me these things. It's obviously just a cult.

          --------------------
          >Dear Fox Mulder,
          >With the advent of scientology, I am starting to wonder if they are right or
          >not. They have intense knowledge of these extraterrestial beings and
          >their effect on man. Germany is one of the only countries to declair it a
          >cult, and it makes me wonder if the U.S. Government is not covering
          >something up by allowing it to be it's own religion.
          >The best place to hide the truth is in plain sight.
          ----------
      • ninja0, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1link is now apparently "dead" lol. Looks like they're running solaris there. haha. (solaris icon is noticeable)
    • ElBeh, on 02/19/2008, -22/+6***** the RIAA.
      • griz, on 02/20/2008, -0/+14I think you have your nutcase organizations confused.
    • vegask, on 02/19/2008, -1/+32This will be one more for whyaretheydead.net
      • JoshuaH, on 02/19/2008, -0/+34It seems they've used carbon monoxide before..
      • round427, on 02/19/2008, -0/+8Dammit, this pisses me off. I'm sure that some who question his death will be called conspiracy theorists or tinfoil hatters, but it's hard not to be one when the Corp. of Scientology are so insane.

        Filming critics outside of their own houses, hiring hitmen, spreading lies to discredit them at their work and in their neighborhood.. these people aren't to be taken lightly. :(

        R.I.P. Shawn. For having the courage to speak out even when you were being stalked and pushed to the limit. Guess you finally met the limit. We won't stop fighting.
    • Killwize, on 02/19/2008, -21/+1YOUR SICK!
      • rspeed, on 02/19/2008, -4/+21What about his sick?

        I feel as though I've made this comment before…
      • norman619, on 02/19/2008, -0/+6That's "YOU'RE SICK!"
    • notque, on 02/19/2008, -0/+38"Clearwater police spokeswoman Elizabeth Daly-Watts"

      Sci?

      http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/by-name ...

      http://forums.enturbulation.org/viewtopic.php?f=12 ...
      • notque, on 02/19/2008, -0/+35"Summary: the police spokeswoman in this case (Elizabeth Daly-Watts) is married to a known and published Scino author (Carl Watts), and her impartiality in this is obviously therefore in question. She's also taken some courses, but nowhere near the level of her husband (who is, if I'm reading this right, a Clear)."
      • brad3378, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3Great detective work!! .........Now get a bodyguard because they're coming after you next.
    • notque, on 02/19/2008, -1/+8http://forums.enturbulation.org/viewtopic.php?f=12 ...

      "The poster who put the original post on ARS is very suspect.

      "We are anonymous
      We do not care about your friend or his death
      We do not care about scientologists or their beliefs
      We are not your private army
      We do what we do because we have chosen to

      We are legion

      Expect us"

      Would an anon say "we do not care about your friend or his death"?

      The timeline for this would be very interesting, but I'm still hoping there has been a mistake."
      • purzzzell, on 02/19/2008, -1/+7an anon can say anything an anon chooses to. They're not "under control" of the larger group, many act independently - if you spend more time on enturbulation, you often see "anons" arguing over what is/is not appropriate and/or acceptable.
        • notque, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2Reasonable interpretation. Still interesting screwing up the meme, and being quick to learn about the suicide.
        • Lewie, on 02/20/2008, -1/+5If Anon doesn't speak with one voice, they will faction. And factions are never as strong as the whole. One key political strategy is to get the other party to split on an issue. Divide and conquer. I hope Anon realizes this, otherwise they will fall like most revolutionary organizations.
          • chronusmcgee, on 02/20/2008, -0/+13Anonymous isn't an organization at all, hence the name. It's you and me, him and her, everyone not in or running a cult. Everyone who has seen cults rise up and destroy people's lives, wreck communities, and kill hope. If anyone turns a blind eye while somebody gets away with murder then they are responsible. It is just to convenient for such a strong opponent to Co$ to die a little more than a week after national protests. Remember, they called him on the phone and threatened to kill him. They left notes and sent emails threatening death. Now he's dead. The people responsible for investigating are tainted.
            It is time to stop ignoring the crimes of Co$ and start asking every member "What are your crimes? What are you hiding?"
    • BESTenemy, on 02/20/2008, -0/+8I bet the car was electric and suffocation came as a result of stabbing to the chest.
    • stealth45, on 02/20/2008, -1/+3Tip submitted.
    • scy1192, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1haven't seen that pun before.
    • mateusap, on 02/20/2008, -1/+8This is so not "***** scientology" material, this is time to government to simply investigate this things seriously.. a man died!
      • tech42er, on 02/20/2008, -0/+7A man died? Scientology has killed many more than one man.
    • abstractual, on 02/20/2008, -2/+9March 15th
    • abstractual, on 02/20/2008, -12/+1March 13th
    • vidar808, on 02/20/2008, -0/+4Suicide or Homicide?:

      1: Large amount of compressed Carbon Monoxide pumped into home silently; during the night while he was sleeping.
      2: Hose jammed into the tailpipe of car and fed into window of home.

      Motive?
      Possible?
      • inchrnt, on 02/20/2008, -2/+3unless there are witnesses, how would you prove this is NOT a suicide?
  • AtheismFTW, on 02/19/2008, -19/+1205This was not suicide.
    • aliengoods, on 02/19/2008, -4/+315Apparent suicide, which means the police aren't going to investigate for more than 5 minutes.
      • babar77, on 02/19/2008, -2/+84of course not.. Clearwater Police are on the take. They have been currupted and infiltrated by Scientology, and so have all the town's officials.
        • gurm, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1If that's the case, how come the Clearwater Community Visioning Workshops lists "Influence of Scientology" as one of its city's social threats?
          From http://www.myclearwater.com/gov/city_council/pdf/v ...

          Clearwater Police Department Customer Satisfaction Survey Result lists the following comments:
          * "Do something about Scientology."
          * "Officers should not be allowed to work for Scientologist Church during off duty. Conflict of interest."
          * "Church of Scientology is becoming too aggressive and should pay taxes."
          From http://www.clearwaterpolice.org/survey/dist1.asp

          If all the town officials were on the take, I'd be pretty sure these wouldn't be there.
          • round427, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2Those are from Clearwater residents, not the actual cops.
      • kolobcreek, on 02/19/2008, -3/+2What really happened was he got pissed off and decided to prove them wrong once and for all. Unfortunately he was unable to send the news back to the rest of us.
      • antiorblkflag9, on 02/20/2008, -0/+20If you are taking the carbon monoxide route, you don't take a tube from your car's exhaust into your window. It would take forever, people usually just run the car in the garage or have a hose going inside of their car as they sit inside.
    • Klowner, on 02/19/2008, -6/+43darn right, his thetans made him do it
    • dudefather, on 02/19/2008, -9/+47this was no boating accident!
      • Mejari, on 02/19/2008, -4/+18I broke the dam!
        • Synapse84, on 02/19/2008, -3/+20No! I broke the ***** dam!
          I literally broke the dam!
          On a boat! That wasn't mine!
          I kept it secret for two days!
          The boat caught on fire and it exploded!
          Aw, ***** it!
      • RSterkenburg, on 02/20/2008, -9/+4Your joke isn't funny when you're making it as someone DIED.
        • RobotBuddha, on 02/20/2008, -2/+7Not a second goes by in which a human doesn't die a horrific death. Heck, everyone reading this is dying, albeit very slowly. I've watched the majority of my family die. Killing your own enjoyment of life won't bring theirs back, it just robs you of a couple precious moments of your own.
    • centran, on 02/19/2008, -4/+143what makes you think that? Lot's of people run a hose from their car to their house. That is much more simpler then running the hose straight into the car and sitting in the car.
      I mean, who would not want to wait for half a day for the house to fill with fumes instead of half an hour?
      • Tiak, on 02/19/2008, -1/+21Yeah. I mean seriously, he obviously went out of his way to die sleeping in his bed in the middle of the night... I mean who does that?
        • Cl1mh4224rd, on 02/19/2008, -10/+4I'm not sure if you're continuing the sarcasm of the grandparent, but...

          > "I mean seriously, he obviously went out of his way to die sleeping in his bed in the middle of the night... I mean who does that?"

          A lot of people, actually. Those who are afraid of making a mess or feeling pain, anyway. Pop a bunch of pills, go to sleep, don't wake up. A friend of mine tried it about a year ago using Vicoden...

          In Lonsdale's case, if you want to posit homicide... who started his car? Was it broken into? None of us here can answer those questions, so it's pretty pointless to speculate.
      • griz, on 02/20/2008, -4/+8Since when did Digg members become private investigators?
        • round427, on 02/20/2008, -0/+10Oh c'mon. Scientology has a long history with its members offing themselves.

          "I have taken what I consider to be the most expedient way out of my present predicament. I harbor no resentment against anyone, except the Church of Scientology. They have a great deal to do with my demise. To play with people's defense mechanisms in the manner that they do is a criminal thing at best. l hope they can be outlawed." -- Suicide note by James Hester, former Scientologist

          Let's connect the dots..
        • cuj0, on 02/20/2008, -0/+5Personally, about 6 years ago.
        • jdhammer, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1Um, round427....RTFA....not a Scientologist.
          • round427, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Yes, but if its own members commit suicide, what can be expected of its critics?
    • Laminarcissus, on 02/19/2008, -5/+11Then who killed the lead singer of Boston?
    • DeathJux, on 02/19/2008, -0/+194I just read through some of the bios on http://whyaretheydead.net , and apparently a whole lot of Scientology-related deaths ("suicides") are at the hands of exhaust hoses into windows. Interesting.
      • bingobongony, on 02/19/2008, -44/+2Yeah...that is an unbiased website.
        I have no ties to Scientology at all, but you do the anti-Scientology cause a lot of harm by acting like that is a reputatble, unbiased site.
        • Tiak, on 02/19/2008, -0/+16When did he act like that?... The site is obviously biased and no one is claiming otherwise. But it is worth noting that a significant portion of deaths that people attempt to tie to Scientology are from Carbon Monoxide poisoning...
          • bingobongony, on 02/19/2008, -20/+1That problem is that the page that he linked to doesn't back up that claim. There was not one single mention of a hose through a window. And I don't recall seeing any CO poisoning at all. There may have been...but it is not like that isn't one of the most popular ways to kill yourself.
            The guy apparently was bluffing, by posting a link to a page that he KNEW didn't back him up, and hoping that no one would actually read through it all. Again...to sum up..the page that he claimed showed that it was common for Scientology related sucides to be with hoses through windows shows ZERO.
            Yup...bury me all you want, but it doesn't change that fact.
        • round427, on 02/20/2008, -0/+20Bingobongony is the biggest ***** troll of my entire life. Stop it.

          Source: http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Bingobongony_Trolls_all_ ...
      • bingobongony, on 02/19/2008, -31/+1There is not one single mention on that page about garden hoses through a window. Not one. I didn't even see any single death that was attributed to CO poisoning.
        • Tiak, on 02/19/2008, -0/+19Quentin Hubbard (the most famous), an unknown person in the Fort Harrison Hotel, "Rita" (last name undisclosed), "Casper C", and Casper Labuschagne
    • RRJackson, on 02/19/2008, -0/+35Well, and Lonsdale has long maintained that the Clearwater police are in the back pocket of Scientology, so it isn't like they're going to be all that eager to dig into an alternative cause of death for the guy who's been claiming that their department is corrupt for years.
      • notque, on 02/19/2008, -0/+11"The police spokeswoman in this case (Elizabeth Daly-Watts) is married to a known and published Scino author (Carl Watts), and her impartiality in this is obviously therefore in question. She's also taken some courses, but nowhere near the level of her husband (who is, if I'm reading this right, a Clear)."

        from

        http://forums.enturbulation.org/viewtopic.php?f=12 ...
    • Tyrghast, on 02/19/2008, -12/+2"But who will save the sane?
      Some beings just can't change
      Now crawl on by
      A fake tear in your eye
      And think isn't he strange" Who Will Save The Sane - Type O Negative
    • bingobongony, on 02/19/2008, -38/+2You arequite the PI. You don't even need to conduct an investigation to make allegations ofmurder. You just need to read a one page article!

      39 year olds who works a a STOCK BOY realizing that they ahve wasted their lives is a pretty good cause for suicide.
      • heystoopid, on 02/19/2008, -0/+3But then again in clearwater they are the only honest jobs going in hicksville unless you want to be a rentacop on the take from you know who !
      • Thefatheroftime, on 02/20/2008, -0/+9"They called Lonsdale's employer at a title company and his landlord and said that Lonsdale was a religious bigot, possibly dangerous."
        Scientology was actively trying to ruin his life.
    • moush, on 02/19/2008, -1/+38Seems like Scientology is telling Anonymous that their protests meant nothing. Make an impact.
      • dmjarrington, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2makes ya wonder what a march on washington is really good for.
    • VitriolAndAngst, on 02/19/2008, -2/+14A person involved in a crusade -- like his move against Scientology, who is also very successful in that mission, is about the last person psychologically to commit suicide.
      He has a purpose.
      He has success.
      >> And the people he has been annoying have the means, motive and opportunity. I'm not sure if they have a history of murder -- but it is dang convenient. I figure most televangelists, snake oil salesmen and religion for money groups are one step away from Drug Lords -- OK, one step below drug lords.
      • xptoast, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3They do. That is one of the main forces and reasons that is driving the movement against $cientology.
    • Scottamus, on 02/19/2008, -0/+24I was expecting to read that he stabbed himself in the back 15 times and then wrote a suicide note.
      • LeeSoong, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3... or accidently shot himself with his revolver 24 times in the head,
        he had to reload 3 more times while he was cleaning his gun ...
      • steveboutin, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1see, what had happened was, he fell on his favorite icepick and stabbed himself through the heart... then got back up and accidentally fell again... 27 times.
      • VBDon, on 02/21/2008, -0/+1Actually, the police found him dead, dismembered, and inside a steamer trunk with a heavy chain wrapped around it locked with a heavy padlock. Police call it suicide but Monk suspects foul play.
    • falafelkiosken, on 02/19/2008, -0/+14If it will turn out CoS killed him, they gonna be in so much trouble, hopefully his death wasn't in vain, if police will find out CoS murdered an opponent the government is going to shut down the scam once and for all
      • heypetray, on 02/20/2008, -0/+8I hope you're right, but judging from the evidence already against them, there will be too many people out who won't care because of the 'first amendment' and their pseudo understanding of religious freedom.
      • UnlikelyHero, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2the government shutting down a group that gets people not to think...I'm laughing so hard I think one of my stitches popped
    • FadieZ, on 02/20/2008, -12/+4My guess is that he mimicked Quentin Hubbard's cause of death to raise suspicions about his own. I think it's unlikely the $cientologists would have killed him the same way as Hubbard, would've been too suspicious.
    • jabberwolf, on 02/20/2008, -0/+35Something sounds very similar to this:
      Hubbard's son Quentin also died under mysterious circumstances in 1976. He had disappeared from his home in Clearwater, Florida, and was found unconscious in a car next to the Las Vegas airport. (Coroner's report is attached as Exhibit U. He died unidentified, as a "John Doe.") The engine of the car was on and a hose ran from the exhaust pipe (although it appeared to have fallen off when the authorities arrived) to the window, making it appear to be a suicide. But, like his father's death, there were a number of nagging questions . For example, Quentin was found unkempt with a beard stubble, a state that no one who knew Quentin could accept. (He was ultra-meticulous in his appearance.) Or that the license plate of the car was missing and found under a rock some distance away. Or that his wallet was gone, making identification impossible. Or that a near-empty bottle of liquor was found, as if he had been drinking, when Quentin did not. Or that there were needle marks on his arms, when he did not use drugs

      Affidavit of Robert Vaughn Young
      9 Mar 1994.
    • Chrispyc1211, on 02/20/2008, -3/+7I hate scientology as much as the next guy, but why would they kill him AFTER he stopped bothering them?
      The only plausible theory I can think of is they threatened him or something, and he couldn't keep quiet any longer or something like that.
      ...but if that was the situation, surely he would have gone down in flames, publicizing the scandal or something. NOT just going off and dying quietly. This actually does seem like the suicide of a worn-out man as opposed to the murder of a public enemy.
      • Thefatheroftime, on 02/20/2008, -1/+8He rubbed the church the wrong way; he was put on a 'deal with him' list.
        Whether he stopped bothering the church is irrelevant. Scientologists seem to have long lasting grudges.
    • jhob, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Makes me glad I have carbon monoxide detectors in my place even though I'm not using any gas appliances...
    • sonicularulus, on 02/20/2008, -1/+2anybody come to question if the investigators were scientologists trying to hide the truth?
    • rebotfc, on 02/20/2008, -0/+6Just to be clear, Scientology hounded this guy, would go to all of his aqauintances and call him a 'rent-boy' and 'sexual deviant', if that's not going to hurt someones mind I don't know what would.

      Furthermore google Operation Freakout, Scientology's tactic was to get a critic incarerated either in a mental home or in jail, or kill herself.
  • yelnatz, on 02/19/2008, -16/+402nope, not a suicide at all.
    • thcobbs, on 02/19/2008, -36/+22Not that I support scientology or anything....

      But I guess you were at the scene and have a good history in pathology?
      • andycr512, on 02/20/2008, -0/+4More like a good history in knowing past dirty laundry of the "church".
    • Laminarcissus, on 02/19/2008, -24/+8Sorry thcobbs, but you were dugg down for not agreeing with the vast majority. This is clearly self-destructive behavior on your part, and I really wish there were some process, maybe a testing program or a machine of some sort, that would help you get to the root cause of these feelings.
      • Drkgodess, on 02/19/2008, -1/+34I wish people would read the article before posting comments. He ran a hose from his car, sealed the connection, then ran it to his house, sealed the window, then went and started the car and then went back inside to go to sleep and die? I'm sorry that's ***** crazy. You could easily run a hose into your car and kill yourself that way. Why would anyone go through the trouble of doing it hte way described in the article. CRITICAL THINKING = GOOD.
        • thcobbs, on 02/19/2008, -10/+5Maybe, if you're willing to commit suicide..... you aren't thinking straight?
          • apetrie, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3You're reaching, sorry. Often I disagree with your posts but feel you are right to make them, to question the "wisdom of the heard" but you've got to be trying hard to play devils advocate or fooling yourself big time on this one.
          • VBDon, on 02/21/2008, -0/+1Do you mean, if someone is killing you, they are thinking straight? This sounds too much like a murder. Suicides rarely leave notes, especially when they have no one to write to, such as in this case. No one saw a car running with a hose leading from the exhaust to a house? Come on!!!
        • TobiasParker, on 02/19/2008, -2/+7Actually in most cases Suicide victims plan their deaths extensivley
          • Tiak, on 02/19/2008, -0/+9It is a significant portion, but it isn't "most", a great many suicides are impulsive.
        • Laminarcissus, on 02/19/2008, -10/+4and brad delp, the lead singer of Boston, explained in his suicide note that the "in his car" method was his second choice. instead he brought two hibachi grills into his bathroom, sealed it off, and lit them, committing carbon monoxide poisoning that way. he even left a note on the door for rescuers warning them that the bathroom would be filled with carbon monoxide.

          people often want to die where they feel most comfortable, and choose inside their home rather than at the wheel of their car. for carbon monoxide poisoning they often choose the bathroom, because it's the smallest familiar space that can be filled with gas.

          once you try to compare the thinking of a suicidal person to rational thought processes, you're never going to get anything productive. there's no such thing as a "normal" suicide.
    • gilbertj99, on 02/20/2008, -7/+5there is of course the possibility that he killed himself under suspicious circumstances in order to do the maximum damage to Scientology, i don't think they would be stupid enough to kill him
    • metric7, on 02/20/2008, -0/+9He was suicided.
    • samssf, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3Have a seat, Shawn... have a seat right over there.
      • MaxPayne3476, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2No, no I think I'm going to go home now. Thanks anyway... Dammit how does he do that!??
    • Wakuko, on 02/20/2008, -0/+5Check for fingerprints in the car, the hose and the window.
      If none are to be found, they were erased, not by the suicider himself.
      There should be enough clues to get to the killer.
    • Wakuko, on 02/20/2008, -0/+4Hubbard's son Quentin also died under mysterious circumstances in 1976. He had disappeared from his home in Clearwater, Florida, and was found unconscious in a car next to the Las Vegas airport. The engine of the car was on and a hose ran from the exhaust pipe (although it appeared to have fallen off when the authorities arrived) to the window, making it appear to be a suicide. But, like his father's death, there were a number of nagging questions . For example, Quentin was found unkempt with a beard stubble, a state that no one who knew Quentin could accept. (He was ultra-meticulous in his appearance.) Or that the license plate of the car was missing and found under a rock some distance away. Or that his wallet was gone, making identification impossible. Or that a near-empty bottle of liquor was found, as if he had been drinking, when Quentin did not. Or that there were needle marks on his arms, when he did not use drugs.
  • forgeflow, on 02/19/2008, -5/+644How convenient for Scientology. I am sure the Clearwater police will do a thorough job of investigating this. After all, running a hose from your car into your house is a very common method of suicide.
    • aliengoods, on 02/19/2008, -9/+46It was cold and he couldn't afford a high heating bill. It can happen to the best of us.
    • LiquidIse, on 02/19/2008, -1/+73I fail to see how the hose doesnt classify as "foul play"
      • AveyTare, on 02/20/2008, -4/+1they only say it doesn't appear to be foul play because there was an apparent suicide note

        but i agree, it is an odd way to kill yourself
        • VBDon, on 02/21/2008, -0/+2Suicides do not, as a rule, leave notes. Many murderers try to cover up their crime by leaving a suicide note. If the police are motivated, and in this case they're not, they can investigate thoroughly and uncover a crime if it occured. I'd rather see the FBI or State Police get involved with this one.
      • KyleGoetz, on 02/20/2008, -0/+5Well, if the hose was filled with the scent of roses and ponies, then I suppose it constitutes "enchanting play" instead.
    • noahhoward, on 02/19/2008, -1/+37How many people in the Clearwater police are Scientologists or prospective converts I wonder. I would expect prints on the window and hose wouldn't you?
    • Drkgodess, on 02/19/2008, -2/+113Scientology pays off-duty police $45.00 AN HOUR to work security for them. So the cops in Clearwater wouldn't want to upset their cash cow.
      • Loonatickle, on 02/19/2008, -9/+4Staffing firms charge that for administrative assistants. The rate isn't unreasonable, but no one who has been paid by Scientology should be investigating this.
        • EdgarVerona, on 02/19/2008, -1/+6I think the issue at hand is Conflict of Interest.

          Off-duty police should not be getting paid anything to do security work for anyone, particularly questionable religious organizations.
        • round427, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2Admin assistants make $10-$13/hour, nowhere near $45.
      • heypetray, on 02/20/2008, -3/+2I hope your right, but I'd like some back up for that if you can provide it.
        • truspect0r, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2Youtube "Clearwater police". In one of Mark Bunker's video he showed the document to back that up.
    • mllawso, on 02/19/2008, -1/+110*cough*
      police@myclearwater.com
      (727) 562-4080
      and
      http://www.clearwaterpolice.org/contact.asp
      • 0011002, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3mighty nice website for a police dept. Also the domain is registered at netsol so they payed at least 34.99 for the domain name and they have thier own name servers.
    • notque, on 02/19/2008, -1/+22Summary: the police spokeswoman in this case (Elizabeth Daly-Watts) is married to a known and published Scino author (Carl Watts), and her impartiality in this is obviously therefore in question. She's also taken some courses, but nowhere near the level of her husband (who is, if I'm reading this right, a Clear).

      http://forums.enturbulation.org/viewtopic.php?f=12 ...

      http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/by-name ...
      http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/by-name ...
    • VitriolAndAngst, on 02/19/2008, -0/+7Someone could run a garden hose to anyone's room like this -- and we probably wouldn't notice. I thought most folks just got in the garage with the car.
      • EdgarVerona, on 02/19/2008, -1/+11That's EXACTLY what I'm thinking! This could've been done to him without him even knowing. How many people check the windows of their house on a regular basis?

        If he was asleep at the time, he could've had this done to him with absolutely no ability to realize it was happening or defend himself. Even if he was awake, he could've been cooking food, reading a book in another room, at his computer... pretty much anything, and not notice. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless. By the time he realized something was wrong, it'd be because he was beginning to feel woozy and lose consciousness... and by then it's too late.
        • innocentsinner, on 02/20/2008, -0/+4Um..carbon monoxide is odorless, but car exhaust most definitely is not.
    • signal15, on 02/20/2008, -0/+22It would definitely be preferable for the FBI or an outside organization to perform this autopsy. Many of the cops in Clearwater are scientologists.
    • samssf, on 02/20/2008, -0/+12Clearwater is starting to sound more like Blackwater.
    • linuxpenguin, on 02/20/2008, -5/+1Usually when people commit suicide, it seems they either do it in a way that's real quick (ie shooting themselves) or do it in a way such that no one would stop them. If they are going to hang themselves, they're probably not going to do it in the front yard - likewise, if they're going to gas themselves, they're not going to just pull the Volvo up next to the house where everyone is going to see the tube going into the house. I'd like to think most people would try to stop their neighbors if they saw that happening - or call 911 or something.
    • MD2389, on 02/21/2008, -0/+3And anyone can easily forge a suicide note. I'd like to see an analysis of the handwriting on the note.
  • ramo13, on 02/19/2008, -7/+68Bastards !
    • hellokittyownsu, on 02/19/2008, -0/+7Xenu is back! Run for your ***** lives!
    • RSterkenburg, on 02/20/2008, -8/+1Who, exactly, is a bastard? Scientologists? Sure, they might be bastards, but there is no actual evidence showing they killed this guy. I mean, he was a stock boy. I'M a stock boy. Trust me, it's one hella ***** job.
      • grimlenn, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2...they killed Kenny.
      • linuxpenguin, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2Yeah, he just happened to decide to kill himself after his efforts against Scientology got worldwide recognition through the BBC's "Panorama" which just happened to show a creepy Scientologist named Tommy Davis. I'm sure that you really want to kill yourself when your ambitions are starting to come to fruition.
    • linuxpenguin, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3I just have to post this, nice little stab at Scientology:
      http://www.viruscomix.com/page410.html
  • JMWarden, on 02/19/2008, -6/+357I guess nobody would consider it odd to see a hose running from a running vehicle into the window of a house. Are you fukken kidding me?!?
    • macaddct1984, on 02/19/2008, -1/+25Wouldn't doing it in your car be a bit more convenient/conventional?
      • Mejari, on 02/19/2008, -0/+15Well, if we're going the "Scientology did it" angle, it might be easier to run a hose into his apartment without him noticing than to keep in in his car.
    • Tyrghast, on 02/19/2008, -19/+4why would you intentionally misspell *****... people like you shouldnt be dugg...
      • mrgreenjeans, on 02/19/2008, -0/+10"What's the dig deal? It doesn't hurt anybody. *****, *****, *****, *****, *****." -Cartman
      • kurttrail, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1To piss off those that actually use Digg's profanity filter.
    • EdgarVerona, on 02/19/2008, -1/+22If I may repeat another post I made:

      "If he was asleep at the time, he could've had this done to him with absolutely no ability to realize it was happening or defend himself. Even if he was awake, he could've been cooking food, reading a book in another room, at his computer... pretty much anything, and not notice. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless. By the time he realized something was wrong, it'd be because he was beginning to feel woozy and lose consciousness... and by then it's too late."
      • kurttrail, on 02/20/2008, -2/+2That would make sense only if car exhaust was pure CO.

        Is that what you are claiming?
    • samssf, on 02/20/2008, -0/+11Hey can someone check my window? I swore I heard something a bit ago but I don't feel like getting up cause I have a splitting he
    • Berkana, on 02/21/2008, -0/+2If you check http://whyaretheydead.net/ you'll see that an unusual number of Scientology deaths are by car fumes. L. Ron Hubbard's son, was killed by having a hose run from the exhaust into the car cabin. Another woman, names only as Rita on that page, committed suicide by car fumes as well.
  • luke16, on 02/19/2008, -106/+12"They found a garden hose stretched from the exhaust pipe of Lonsdale's car into a window of his home at 510 N Lincoln Ave"
    Scientologists put it there!
    "police found what appeared to be a suicide note"
    Scientologists wrote it!
    "the official cause of death is pending toxicology reports"
    It's a lie i tell you, a lie!!!*

    *Dramatization
    • SyntraFTW, on 02/19/2008, -2/+13You aren't funny, nor are you clever.
    • tech42er, on 02/20/2008, -0/+5Because incredibly rich, corrupt cults that pay off the local police never leave notes when they assassinate their enemies, right?
  • justjoehere, on 02/19/2008, -6/+25Apparent will not make it so, despite the cult's attempts.
  • fixty, on 02/19/2008, -2/+242You can see Shawn in the BBC documentary "Scientology and Me" starting about 50 seconds into this video:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGecZssWc5M

    You fought the good fight. RIP.
    • round427, on 02/20/2008, -0/+13Yeah, I'm definitely protesting on the 15th. The guy spent so much of his time trying to expose the truth about a cult and it's tragic, and questionable, how his life ended prematurely.

      Even if he DID kill himself, do we really have to think very long about a huge contributing factor to it?
    • GibsonSG91, on 02/20/2008, -0/+4People need to see this video. Just... wow.
    • linuxpenguin, on 02/20/2008, -0/+8I got a laugh out of this clip of the article:
      "The Church of Scientology and some its members fought back. They hired a private investigator to look into Lonsdale's background and found two misdemeanor convictions for lewd and lascivious conduct, both related to public sex with men, in 1999 and 2000."
      So they just now "found" these facts? They could've cut the cost and just told the investigators because *THEY ALREADY KNEW THIS* as was shown by Mr. Davis (who has "nothing to hide". . . although maybe he does now) in the BBC's documentary. I wonder if he ever did finally make good on his promise to try and help Mr. Lonsdale, because he sure didn't in the documentary.
      • linuxpenguin, on 02/20/2008, -0/+6On second review, I think I misread that originally. . . go ahead, digg me down, but I still feel this wasn't suicide - why would a man devoted to exposing Scientology just decide to give up when his cause is gaining momentum around the world?

        GO ANON!
    • AlxRymnd914, on 02/20/2008, -0/+5Digg...Digg...and Digg!!!
    • polishdude06, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2In reference to the video...
      Is it just me or does this "Mr. Davis" guy look a lot like Tom Cruise o_0
    • Isandunk, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2That programme gave me alot of respect for both of them; how they didn't want to end that scientology guy is beyond me
  • sweetleaf10, on 02/19/2008, -4/+130This is just how Hubbard's gay some died. Either they are ritualistic (probably) or this is a set up (unlikely). http://www.whyaretheydead.net/Quentin_Hubbard_22/i ...
    • amadeusdemarzi, on 02/19/2008, -1/+25ok that's really ***** weird...
    • techlyc, on 02/19/2008, -2/+6really ***** weird != modus operandi
    • purzzzell, on 02/19/2008, -2/+13it's not that weird - Quentin did it in the car - that's a common suicide method - the fact that lonsdale ran a garden hose to his house is what's WEIRD
    • SquatsMcGee, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1to the top this ***** needs to be heard
  • zerodaysoon, on 02/19/2008, -6/+145"They hired a private investigator to look into Lonsdale's background and found two misdemeanor convictions for lewd and lascivious conduct, both related to public sex with men, in 1999 and 2000."

    who cares!! Scientology has done far worse! i guess double standards dont apply to them, f**k scientology!!
    • ohiomama, on 02/19/2008, -2/+44i think the two men were john travolta and tom cruise.
    • heystoopid, on 02/19/2008, -1/+2Ah but we all know about the so called crapologists PI dicks they hire where fiction fall routinely from every pore of their body for the usual fake smear campaigns dating back to the days L Ron was alive !
      • kurttrail, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1I believe that Lonsdale admitted to those convictions.
        • groberts1980, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Exactly. CoS didn't make that stuff up. Point is, his prior convictions have nothing to do with his crusade against CoS.
    • VitriolAndAngst, on 02/19/2008, -0/+8It sounds like a real investigation, when all they do is dig up dirt on the victim. Oh, wait, no it doesn't. This is what you do before you bury the case.
    • GreenAlien, on 02/20/2008, -0/+11If you watch the documentaries you'll see this is what they do. They get their corrupt "private investigators" to dig up some kind of dirt in an attempt to discredit them, and failing that they fabricate something. Then they will hound them and try to induce lots of stress persistently over a long period until they drive them over the edge. They very nearly did it to a female author (forget her name right now) who wrote a very articulate account of the whole thing. They're aggressive little *****. Peaceful church my ass. They're mafia thugs.
  • Drkgodess, on 02/19/2008, -6/+448To Anonymous: Be careful out there guys, these people are insane.
    • legendxx, on 02/19/2008, -73/+8It's ok, anonymous is following the V for Vendetta blueprint which means they can take out 10 police at once.. they have nothing to worry about because they take fiction for fact.
    • LeelooMina, on 02/20/2008, -7/+2This is too close to where I live for me to be comfortable. Glad I was sick and missed our local protest now.
    • luet, on 02/20/2008, -0/+4Anyone who actually lurks e/b/aumsworld will find this extremely ironic.
      • volonix, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1If people weren't retards and actually kept themselves anonymous this wouldn't be a problem. The whole ***** point of ANONYMOUS is to be ANONYMOUS and not a ***** attention whore!
        • luet, on 02/23/2008, -0/+2I'm sorry but I have to agree with you, that is why the idea of anonymous is so superior in many instances
        • dumdiddy, on 02/24/2008, -0/+1if your referring to mr lonsdale, he wasnt in anonymous, but if your talking about the people that say their anonymous and then go hang out with people from the protest, your right. they are not truly anonymous
  • kayvman78, on 02/19/2008, -7/+11Spooky...*shiver*
  • AshamedAmerican, on 02/19/2008, -73/+390I hate to resort to primitive thinking and methods here, but I think it's about time somebody stepped up and started killing some of these high-ranking scientologist *****.
    Let's start with that Tom ***** (not Cruise, the other one who harassed the BBC guy). Sure, go ahead and make it look like a half-assed suicide or accident while you're at it too.
    "Well apparently he fell down an elevator shaft and onto some bullets."
    • Drkgodess, on 02/19/2008, -8/+260dugg for "and onto some bullets"
    • legendxx, on 02/19/2008, -44/+64Good to know we've regressed as a society this far.. Keep it up you ignorant *****. I cant believe you just condoned killing of people. I dislike scientology just as much as the next guy but for the love of god are we any better if we start saying ***** like that?
      • ZacT, on 02/19/2008, -15/+6We don't have to worry about it when they are all dead now do we?
      • omgsideburns, on 02/19/2008, -10/+4dumb ******
      • CatalystGhost, on 02/19/2008, -11/+15Oh come on! These scientologists are insane cultists! We should kill all of them! After all, it worked with the crusades and the inquisition.

        /sarcasm
        • everslim101, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1dugg up... but then I saw "/sarcasm"... now I regret digging up.
      • TobiasParker, on 02/19/2008, -10/+18Scientologist leaders are Fair Game...
      • nextyoyoma, on 02/19/2008, -6/+8I think...yeah, he was kidding.
    • ZenMojo, on 02/19/2008, -5/+16I wholly do not support the use of a 45 Audit. It would be irresponsible and hostile. Please, people, whatever you do, do NOT apply a 45 audit.
    • Laminarcissus, on 02/19/2008, -31/+21look, that's ***** enough. you do not call for killing people on a pubic forum, no matter who they are.

      if you have evidence then bring it, but otherwise stop trying to make yourself sound like the tough guy by being even more immoral than the people you're accusing.
      • TonyLocNE, on 02/19/2008, -1/+15is there a better place to call for the anonymous killing of someone than a public forum?

        just remember though... public forum=public record
      • wigren, on 02/19/2008, -1/+4*shakes finger mockingly*
      • urbandistrict, on 02/19/2008, -7/+3Why dig him down for making sense? Don't be sheep people.
        I'm extremely Co$ , but stop and think.
        How about BEFORE you start with your movie-based plots, you find some fact to justify your actions.

        Murder is something that can be tried cut and dry, accidental death isn't.
      • round427, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3Where can I find a pubic forum? Niiiice.
        • Laminarcissus, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1it's anywhere they discuss the penile system.

          (still shocked that that i came out against threatening people's lives and got dugg down)
          • TonyLocNE, on 02/21/2008, -1/+1what do penises have to do with anything? I believe the word you are looking for is penal...?
    • Mr.Gone, on 02/19/2008, -5/+16Dugg for Mystery Men reference
    • absentmindedjwc, on 02/19/2008, -13/+8*****!!! WRONG BUTTION!!!

      I meant to push digg up..... sorry.. :(
    • joshblufs, on 02/19/2008, -8/+22That is the worst possible idea. not only is it morally repugnant it will make you as bad or probably worse than them. Just saying it is the surest way to discredit anonymous. Dug down for publicly calling for murder.
    • boxybrzown, on 02/19/2008, -11/+35Pics of you murdering a Scientologist or you're just all talk.
    • urbandistrict, on 02/19/2008, -12/+17@ AshamedAmerican look at your name and your ***** profile icon. Grow up man.
      As humorous as you may think you are, that's a really ***** stupid thing to say. Wrong time, wrong place, and bad idea.
    • poonwahj, on 02/19/2008, -13/+7Everyone is so concerned about being PC, thanks AshamedAmerican. I find your opinion refreshing and honest. Your ideas intrigue me and I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter.
    • Identity4, on 02/19/2008, -7/+13Murder only takes us as low as them....
    • TobiasParker, on 02/19/2008, -9/+8Don't worry ashamed, these guys are just pussy's :-p
    • OpaqueMurdock, on 02/19/2008, -23/+6OK, the fact that this comment is actually going up in Diggs is beyond creepy.
      Imagine yourself as a roman standing a street mob a couple thousand years ago and saying "we should kill some of these "Christian" leaders... that will really put a stop to their crap." To be honest, I don't see this as much different. People don't like new religions... happens every time. It takes decades to "hit the sweet spot" and gain acceptance, plus have your crazy beliefs become part of the common thinking. This hasn't changed much.

      You may feel justified in believing violence is required, But honestly you mostly have speculation and hearsay that you largely got from THE WEB to make that justification. Is that really enough for you people digging this up?

      I have seen nothing presented that convinces me 100% that scientology is anything more sinister than a posy scheme... maybe there is some hard evidence out there that I am missing? Last I checked, most people don't advocate killing for being greedy, strange, and having lots of rumors about you on the web. Think for yourself and ask if this is not starting to get a little out of hand.

      All just my personal opinion, scientologist are weird, so are most religions in some ways, but... if you all take over the world and line up all scientology sympathizers, then can you please spare me... I don't like them... really! I was just stating a opinion, Thats not illegal in your new regime is it? Oh, really... k, can I has cigarette and blindfold?
      • catbeller, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2The number of upDiggers may correspond almost precisely to the number of Scientologists "hatted" to downDigg submissions critical of the cult. Real olde tyme anti-Scientologists would never call for a death. Why? It would martyr them, and do nothing for the exposure of their behavior. What would Hubbard do? Have all his agents upDigg any story calling for harm to Scientologists. Of course. Guess which Digg comment gets news play some day? The only one calling for deaths.
        • urbandistrict, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Oh and it will...because some ***** 14 year old thinks he's a funny guy and some intrepid reporter needs an angle to sensationalize.
          The irony of it all? I'd bet the person whom this comment came from (AA) has more then likely never actually stood for ***** and isn't going to start now.
        • OpaqueMurdock, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Yes, I see your point. I have a tendency to lean towards believing people (in this case scientologist) try to manipulate others if they can. So some numbnut makes a threat and they see it as an opportunity to get sympathy... Perhaps a bit of a stretch but it certainly could account for some of the diggs. I still think other diggs are from people against the group that just haven't thought it out and are reacting with anger.

          If any people who are genuinely against scientology and dugg up a call for violence, are reading this... Making them look like fools is one thing... Hurting someone is another. The proof of any foul deeds on their part should be rock solid before any action above protest... and then it will be time for the proper authorities to step in any way. We have a system.
      • RobotBuddha, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1"I have seen nothing presented that convinces me 100% that scientology is anything more sinister than a posy scheme"

        Seriously? Have you ever seen videos of kids that were raised within it and managed to escape? There's one from a kid raised within seaorg that's among the more depressing things I'd ever heard. Even without the murder policy and intimidation tactics, the ways they tear down children to ensure they never have the confidence to leave is sick. While being just one step within legality in most countries.
        • OpaqueMurdock, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Honestly no, I don't spend that much time thinking about them... But then I don't spend much time thinking about what a lot of strange and reportedly abusive sub-cultures are doing... I don't like their tactics from what I have heard. I think they are misguided. So far. I have not seen a unbiased report from a creditable journalistic source that made me think they were more evil than say, the CEO of Nike. If you feel I have missed something... please point me to a story from a national newspaper or a long standing news service. I don't think I have my head in the sand here.

          "While being just one step within legality in most countries."
          I think you hit the nail on the head for me there... we have plenty of problems and abuse to solve in the world that is not considered legal in most countries. We have a underground indentured servitude problem in the US that borders on slavery. We have cooperations that make shoes with child labor. We have people being mutilated and worked to death so that we can wear diamonds. Most americans think we are entrenched in an illegal war. Hell we have tons of other cults and wacky militias! We even have secret organizations that have bizarre rituals, wear fezzes, and drive tiny cars in parades!

          Beyond those things you mentioned, I think I understand what it is that pisses people off about them so much... Its the use of technology to advance a religion... Rodenbury vs. Hubbard if you will, its offensive to me as well. Then there is the brutal use of copywrite law to hide their true nature. Suing and and threatening to ruin the lives of those who try to defy them. I get it.

          But maybe its because I was abused as a kid, had my self respect ripped from me, and managed to overcome it. Maybe its because when I was young I lived through a time when a huge enemy had atomic death pointed at my head because I lived in a place surrounded by 18 Titian II missile silos. Maybe its because I was really poor for a long time... but these guys just do not scare me... at all.

          They are clowns and to take them seriously enough to want to do them harm is giving them more respect than they deserve.

    • Icyfenix, on 02/19/2008, -3/+3Well- at this point it is isolated cells of vigilantes probably either misinterpreting their leaders requests to get rid of us. If this is not the case eventually we will have to take more serious precautions, each and every one of us clear-thinking people.
      However there is a point where we will fight back. There is a point where morality is moot when lives are at stake. I do not think we have reached that point, and I pray(to no one in particular) that we do not reach that point.
      • catbeller, on 02/20/2008, -1/+2The isolated kooks are precisely the ones that toss your cat into the microwave or dog into the pool. Kooks are very useful. And so deniable. And they have so so many of them....
    • Litespeed, on 02/19/2008, -3/+21They're not bullets..... they're just Thetans trying to get back in.
    • Tiak, on 02/19/2008, -10/+7It frightens me a bit that you got dugg up so high... This is neither the thing to do, nor the thing to talk about. They have prosecuted for much more harmless statements... Please don't step into the territory of their armies of lawyers.
      • UnlikelyHero, on 02/20/2008, -0/+0good point, better kill the lawyers too...
        actually....just the lawyers would be fine
    • unorginalityftw, on 02/19/2008, -2/+4Dugg for Mystery Men.
    • scndude, on 02/20/2008, -2/+3And there it is. "Me no like it! Me KILL it!"
    • Phy6, on 02/20/2008, -2/+11This is the future, when COS decides to strike Anonymous:
      They will kill their own and blame it on Anonymous. (Guy Fawkes mask left at scene, confession, etc), so that they can get law enforcement on their side and discredit Anonymous. For law enforcement/judgements, this is more far reaching and subtle than bribery. They cannot bribe the public mind directly, so this is what they will resort to to leverage their cause. These people are twisted. Besides, their own people think that their thetans live in multiple bodies across space and time. They can be convinced that martrydom for COS is not that bad, since their thetan jumps to another body. Go youtube/google the guy that thought he was the father of Jesus Christ by jizzing in an outdoor bath that Mary used. I'm not making this up!
    • shoover, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1Wow, when did GWB become a scientology hater?
    • AveyTare, on 02/20/2008, -0/+0Don't resort to murder, go for sensory deprivation instead. They say it works...
    • NOFXY, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Thats a little too far, I think a little water boarding is in order. CoS leaders only though. It's still perfectly legal right?...
    • justinrmj, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1And the Church of Scientology is some kind of fanatic cult? It's people like AshamedAmerican that you want to watch out for folks. :/
    • Icouldbe, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1No, justice will prevail. Violence isn't needed, because they will have to account for their actions and that day is approaching.
  • IAmLegend24, on 02/19/2008, -6/+104Suicide more like murder.
    • jcaino, on 02/19/2008, -1/+13apparent suicide is the new homicide
    • grimlenn, on 02/20/2008, -1/+5he was self-homicided
    • mwalker05, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2FTA: "He was getting on with his life," Payne said. "He had every reason to live." yep, sounds like he was on the verge of suicide to me
  • RevJonathan, on 02/19/2008, -75/+29Woah, woah, woah guys. I hate Scientology as much as the next Xenu-worshiping digg user.
    Still, innocent until proven guilty. I'll give the cult the benefit of the doubt until I see evidence to the contrary. I suggest you do it too.
    • thefandango, on 02/19/2008, -2/+41The court of public opinion does not have such priviliges as "innocent until proven guilty".
      Save that for the courts. I'm crying foul play.
    • arw371, on 02/19/2008, -1/+41Unfortunately, this happened in clearwater (the city owned and operated by CoS).
      There will be no investigation.
    • legendxx, on 02/19/2008, -14/+9Exactly.. you'll get burried into oblivion for having a rational thought that happens to somewhat defend scientology but its good to see a few level-headed people are still left on digg.
    • absentmindedjwc, on 02/19/2008, -5/+13flood the FBI tips form (https://tips.fbi.gov/)
      if enough people send it in, they might take a look...
      • slvrbullet87, on 02/19/2008, -3/+6you dont quite understand how government works do you?
        • round427, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Neither does the local Clearwater government. Justice, equality and all that are lost on them.
      • skinkaid, on 02/19/2008, -1/+4The FBI dugg me down

        :-(
    • Laminarcissus, on 02/19/2008, -1/+6Shhh, can't you see we're trying to replace one cult with another?
      • Tiak, on 02/19/2008, -0/+9That's not fair... Raptor Jesus is real!
    • purzzzell, on 02/20/2008, -0/+7I'm about half with you here - I'm with you on the "slow down, no crying MURDER yet" - but I'm not giving the CoS the benefit of the doubt - I'm suspicious as hell of 'em.
    • FreshPineSent, on 02/20/2008, -3/+1***** $cien+0logy.
      Everything other than $cien+0logy FTW!!!!!!
  • maretten, on 02/19/2008, -53/+2Silly Penis!!!
  • tanya6884, on 02/19/2008, -21/+6"apparent"
  • revmhatt, on 02/19/2008, -41/+11Did I mention I'm totally pro Scientology...(nervous giggle)...gulp...don't kill me Mr. Cruise.
  • anononon, on 02/19/2008, -7/+95How conveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenient.
    • purplehaze420, on 02/19/2008, -2/+18That's a kickass profile pic.
  • toxicityj, on 02/19/2008, -8/+51I understand the $, but whats with the +?
    • PL3NTY, on 02/19/2008, -10/+6it's a T
      • toxicityj, on 02/19/2008, -1/+13... i know ...
        the $ implies Scientology's greed. What does the + imply? They enjoy adding?
        • D3koy, on 02/19/2008, -0/+15Maybe they are "add"icted to it.....oh my god, I am so sorry...
        • BTConan, on 02/19/2008, -0/+4No, no, no; the + is an OR.

          Still doesn't make any sense though.
    • yohnstoppable, on 02/19/2008, -1/+62To replace the "t", and to make the story not easily searchable for those wanting to bury scientology stories I would suppose.
    • starkruzr, on 02/19/2008, -1/+36The CoS uses a cross as one of their emblems in order to make Christians think they're pro-Jesus.
      • CrumpetUp, on 02/19/2008, -2/+16I thought they said Jesus was a pedophile.
        • pizzas, on 02/19/2008, -2/+6he was and still is. i was touched by jesus as a child
        • catbeller, on 02/20/2008, -1/+9It's a double-cross, sort of like a phone pole. Hubbard did have a sense of humor, it seems. The religion of the double-cross...
        • evilbunnys2, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2Hail Raptor Jesus!
    • vidar808, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2The +(Religion) of $(Money)
  • psiege, on 02/19/2008, -3/+11these guys better watch their backs!
    http://www.lronhubbardiswrong.com
    • purzzzell, on 02/19/2008, -0/+2eldurs
    • thebitghost, on 02/20/2008, -1/+3what is point of this site? is it for or against cause on subsequent pages, reading the source says hubbard was RIGHT..
      • ninja0, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1No idea, I'm jsut as confused as you are
  • wrillo, on 02/19/2008, -3/+88its all fun and games until someone's server gets DOSed

    then people start to die
  • darkened, on 02/19/2008, -5/+19Sounds like a mandatory End of Cycle...
  • Kune171, on 02/19/2008, -7/+93$cientologists killed him. Its as plain as day.
    • waynetheman, on 02/20/2008, -4/+6Or, as another possibility, some loose cannon who considers himself part of Anonymous did it so that Scientology would be blamed. Fact is, we don't know who did it (it's pretty clear to me that it was a homicide), and apparently the Clearwater police aren't going to help out.
      • justinrmj, on 02/20/2008, -2/+0What makes you believe it is a homicide? I'd like to see some sources concerning the mental stability of Mr. Lonsdale, and if it was likely that he would commit suicide. I'm just seeing conspiracy theories here concerning the Church of Scientology, and no facts or evidence that a member of the Church of Scientology killed Mr. Lonsdale. Also, I don't think it is right to blame a suicide on anyone. It is the choice of the person to take their own lives, and anyone that commits suicide obviously has a lot of un-addressed issues that drives them to that. :/
        • waynetheman, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Why would anyone contemplating using carbon monoxide from their car to commit suicide not just pipe it into the car itself, instead of up to his bedroom window?

          I suppose he could have committed suicide and set it up to look like he was murdered, but c'mon... can you even kill yourself this way, considering he had to have the window open in the first place for the tube to get in? It just seems to be too large an area for it to be effective.

          I would love to look at photos of the scene right when they first walked in; if the bedroom door was also wide open, it's yet another red flag... also, was the guy dressed for bed?

          We may well never know the truth.
  • duke, on 02/19/2008, -12/+5Looks like an apparent suicide with the server too.
  • Laminarcissus, on 02/19/2008, -24/+4that's sad. what will be even more sad are all the conspiracy nuts who will drown out the remaining principled opponents of Scientology by turning this into a "muuuuurdered" circus.
    • bigfloppydonkey, on 02/19/2008, -2/+4It's sad that people fail to see the obvious.
    • Fhwqhgads, on 02/19/2008, -0/+5This cult has a long history of intimidating, threatening, and driving their critics insane to the point of suicide, suing them, digging up/making up negative stuff to attack their reputation, etc. etc. This guy also just happened to be a highly outspoken critic of theirs so pardon us all to hell if we put 2 and 2 together and came up with 4.
    • purzzzell, on 02/20/2008, -0/+5@Fhwghgads - I'm with you on 2+2=4 - but saying "sound suspicious" and 'warrants investigation" is different from crying "MURDER, MURDER, THE COS DID IT!" which is a lot of what we're getting.
      • grimlenn, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1I didnt realize we wern't allowed to have our own oppinions about something that could go either way.
  • everfalling, on 02/19/2008, -3/+15poor guy
  • GibitStylin, on 02/19/2008, -3/+17hmm. i read this story in the paper this morn when i woke up and wondered if this story will make it on digg today, great success! ...
    as for the question of suicide, i hope there is a truly fair investigation with no bias.
  • reuscel, on 02/19/2008, -3/+147Given Scientology's "fair game" policy, how could anyone not be suspicious of this "suicide"?
  • ZenMojo, on 02/19/2008, -3/+106He killed himself through carbon monoxide poisoning by running a hose from his car into the window of his house? Oooookay....
    • FastForward108, on 02/19/2008, -0/+12What, you don't like a little CO with your grape nuts?
    • RSterkenburg, on 02/20/2008, -10/+3Because Scientologists broke into his house, stole his keys, went and got his garden hose, started his car, hooked the hose up to his car and house, and snuck away.

      I hate scientologists, but EVERYONE should have a fair trial. Hell, the guy was hardly even anti-CoS when he died.
  • MikeFallopian, on 02/19/2008, -19/+7Scientology is a greedy cult led by some truly despicable people. That said, some of you people are ***** idiots, jumping to conclusions without the tiniest shred of evidence. Going around and making ***** claims of murder is a great way to marginalize your own movement by making yourselves look like conspiracy nuts - focus on the facts if you want to hurt scientology (xenu knows there are plenty), and send your condolences to the guy's family.
    • Kurlumbenus, on 02/19/2008, -1/+8Scientology is a cult that is believed to not be above using violence and assassination to silence its critics.

      One of its most vocal critics is found dead in a very suspicious 'suicide' in the cult's hometown.

      How farfetched is this?
      • Fhwqhgads, on 02/19/2008, -1/+32+2=4
      • MikeFallopian, on 02/19/2008, -3/+2Scientology has killed through neglect and has led people to take their own lives after coercing them into deep debt. They are a sick organization and I have no respect for them. But they haven't assassinated anyone (unless you know something I don't), and this guy hadn't even been an active critic in the past year. Crying wolf over this with zero evidence gives the scientologists the ammo they need to marginalize their critics.
      • purzzzell, on 02/20/2008, -1/+2The CoS is intelligent and knows that it's under heavy scrutiny by an enemy that communicates virally using tools like Digg and IRC - They're too smart to have killed him.

        How far fetched is that?
    • ChayD, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Ummm....That's because this is The Church of Conspiritology
  • GhostyBoy, on 02/19/2008, -6/+108R.I.P. Shawn.

    What are they trying to make an example of him and scare us?

    ***** you cult. I ain't afraid of you.
    • arsheroica, on 02/19/2008, -0/+18I ain't afraid o' no cults!
      • dmoney22, on 02/19/2008, -1/+2Someone call Egon!
      • diggradu, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3Who you gonna call? Cultbusters!....Hang on he's not answering his phone
      • CorwinShiu, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Double negative.
    • jeffclark, on 02/19/2008, -0/+18*****, I am.

      Maybe it's a good thing I don't own a hose or a car.
      • Rodalli, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3I can see the news report now...

        "A young man was found dead in his home yesterday due to apparent carbon monoxide poisoning. Officials say he had apparently run his neighbor's hose pipe from his bedroom window, down the street, and into the tail pipe of a car registered to a local member of the Church of Scientology. Police investigators discovered a suicide note taped to the outside of the young man's window, and are now calling this a confirmed suicide.
        The 75-year old neighbor, and widow who owned the hose pipe, is now being questioned in light of possible charges of assisting the young man's suicide.
    • whiteninja, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2Make sure you check your windows.
  • dood, on 02/19/2008, -5/+23It's a trap. Scientologists will now monitor all hardware stores near the recent protests for purchases of CO detectors.
  • Danjak, on 02/19/2008, -29/+4So a guy that is obsessed with Scientology to the determent of all other aspects of his life has committed suicide? What a shocker.
    • Mejari, on 02/19/2008, -0/+13Read the article much? It said he had mostly moved on from all that because it was hard to earn a living while protesting. He had a job, was looking at going to school, etc... etc...
    • Laminarcissus, on 02/19/2008, -6/+3it also said that he had no experience with scientology, but he started spending his entire day photographing, following, and documenting the every move of local scientologists after having one argument with a guy at a city council meeting.

      just because you're on the right side of a cause doesn't mean you don't have emotional problems.
    • Lapdog1123, on 02/19/2008, -0/+3Ok so here is the funny part... He killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning... by filling his "HOUSE!" with car exhaust. His ***** HOUSE! not the car itself, cause that would fill up faster, and have a better probability of working, but his whole ***** house..... So, common sense must have nothing to do with the argument apparently.
      • Laminarcissus, on 02/19/2008, -2/+0with catalytic converters, carbon monoxide levels are so low now in automobile exhaust that filling his entire house would be impossible. He would have had to have sealed a small room, like a closet or a bathroom, to get a high enough concentration.

        but i suppose the scientologists could have done all that too - run in the hose, taped up the doors and windows from the inside, and then had Xenu beam them out of the room?

        that's much more reasonable to think than suicide.
        • nmnnotmyname, on 02/20/2008, -0/+0Heh, we're talking about a cult here.
        • Lapdog1123, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1I agree, but the article did not say he did that now did it...
  • maeon3, on 02/19/2008, -4/+41Lets get the facts people, lets make his life worth something.
    • grimlenn, on 02/20/2008, -1/+3ya, because his sole purpose in life was to be murdered, so we can incriminate CoS!
      ...fate is cruel.
  • boonster, on 02/19/2008, -28/+4IT'S A CONSPIRACY!!!! *GRABS FOIL HAT*
    • GhostyBoy, on 02/20/2008, -1/+8Anybody else sick of these guys?
    • FeargusMcDuff, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1Sick of people in tin foil hats or people who hate people who yell conspiracy at every opportunity like those 9/11 conspiracy morons?
      • GhostyBoy, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Sick of the people who say stupid ***** about tin foil hats or people like you who call the 9/11 truth movement morons, without ever understanding what they are trying to say.
  • LovelyNeko, on 02/19/2008, -8/+20Anon shall prevail!
  • super3boy, on 02/19/2008, -7/+27Suicide? I bet you he was murdered...
    • ElBeh, on 02/19/2008, -1/+25No *****.
      • justinrmj, on 02/20/2008, -1/+0Any facts to back that up? Or do we now work based soley on speculation here? *sigh*
  • mrmorris, on 02/19/2008, -9/+25R.I.P Shawn Lonsdale. One more to add to the list of scifag kills: http://www.whyaretheydead.net/
    • RSterkenburg, on 02/20/2008, -6/+2No ***** proof. As I read further and further down the comments, I see more and more of this. Maybe it was blatantly obvious that it was suicide? Maybe there is a note somewhere? Maybe CoS had nothing to do with it, and just got a lucky break?

      Just because they're a bastard cult doesn't mean that everyone who hated them who died was murdered.
      • nmnnotmyname, on 02/20/2008, -1/+4This is the typical response. You might want to read the page a little more closely.
  • l0k0, on 02/19/2008, -9/+15Who are you? What do you mean tell you my crimes? Wha? No I don't have any money? Anti-Scientology bigot? Alright I'll turn off the camera just get that garden hose away from mahahahaaaaaa--
    *Dies

    • RSterkenburg, on 02/20/2008, -2/+4Typically it is considered disrespectful to make fun of dead people within a few hours of their death. Save it for a few weeks, if you're going to sink that low.
  • cabooglio2, on 02/19/2008, -6/+45I call shenanigans.
  • soot, on 02/19/2008, -4/+13Sad.
  • Elissar, on 02/19/2008, -6/+22Oh come on, they killed this guy!
    • dachiefsman, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2if it smells like ***** then its probably *****!!
  • Ellipsys, on 02/19/2008, -4/+76"Apparent suicide" my ass. I'm sure some investigators were on the Clearwater payroll. He piped exhaust from his car into his HOUSE to kill himself? Why wouldn't he have taken the easier, quicker, and less likely to be "stopped" route of running a hose inside his car window instead, or simply turning his car on inside his garage. That by itself is a giant red flag that warrants a full investigation.
    • Fhwqhgads, on 02/19/2008, -0/+6Or even easier shoot himself, stab himself, hang himself.

      This isn't hard to figure out.
      • innocentsinner, on 02/20/2008, -0/+6For one, carbon monoxide is a painless death. And leaves less of a mess.
    • justinrmj, on 02/20/2008, -5/+0Heh. He obviously wasn't stable or exactly thinking logically when he decided to commit suicide. I don't know why you're bothering to understand why Mr. Lonsdale choose his method of death - he comitted suicide, it doesn't make sense and is not a logical thing for a person to do. No mystery there..
      • ours, on 02/20/2008, -0/+4- This message was brought to you by the Church of Scientology Corporation of America. -
      • rhapsodisiac, on 02/21/2008, -1/+1You'd be surprised about the logic that can be used when one considers suicide.
    • cmann50, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2Odd that justinrmj created the account today and *only* commented on this article. Could u be any more obvious.
  • JAGUART, on 02/19/2008, -30/+3None of us are safe.
    Oh *****! They're on to me! Digg me down before it's too late!
    • grimlenn, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3will do
    • kjcdude, on 02/20/2008, -0/+2Normally i wouldn't listen, but since your life is in danger, i'll digg u down
  • TheRealAirdoo, on 02/19/2008, -9/+12like everyone else I smell something fishy check all credit card bills for the purchase of the exact hose used in the supposed "suicide" if it isn't on it or if there was a positive I.D. from a clerk at hardware store, but this only works if the hose was new. Call Horatio Cane, CSI: Miami. This is not a suicide
    • Laminarcissus, on 02/19/2008, -5/+5"Suicide or not..."

      (pulls off sunglasses)

      "You're an idiot."

      (cue music)
      • round427, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1You're not cute or clever.
        • Laminarcissus, on 02/20/2008, -2/+0that's not true, i'm as cute as douglas adams and as clever as a snuggly fabric softener bear.
        • steveboutin, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1actually if you hate csi: miami as much as i do, it was pretty ***** funny.
      • steveboutin, on 02/20/2008, -1/+1"quick, ike, do your impersonation of david caruso's career!"
        nosedive!
    • TonyLocNE, on 02/19/2008, -1/+3because people don't already have garden hoses at their house? Maybe check first to see if this was even a "brand new" hose... Just a thought
    • skinkaid, on 02/19/2008, -0/+6Check to see if the hose is marked with the "Scientology Seal of Approval"
  • dudefather, on 02/19/2008, -4/+36who needs Columbo when you have Digg?
    • brickbat, on 02/19/2008, -1/+12Because Columbo gets them to admit it.
      • steveboutin, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1seriously, how the ***** did that always work?
    • Tyrghast, on 02/19/2008, -2/+4One time Columbo investigated Chuck Norris. Needless to say, it was a confrontation of epic proportions.
      Seriously though i love Columbo, my faveorite episode is the william shatner one.
    • Nimid, on 02/19/2008, -1/+6...sorry, just one more thing...
      • ZigVicious, on 02/20/2008, -2/+2YOAR NOT STEVE JOBS!
      • thephosphorbox, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3You know Columbo totally had your ass when he used the "... sorry, just one more thing..." line. You better be ready to make a full confession after he lays that on you. You're done.
    • AgentMull, on 02/20/2008, -0/+3"Nobody's perfect, but then who is except Columbo?"
  • dboone74, on 02/19/2008, -37/+101. I am shocked at the level of religious bigotry out there. I think that scientologists are nutty just like most of you, but the vitreous statements in this forum are disturbing to me. I seems that religious freedom still needs protection.
    2. The article states that Lonsdale was decreasing his CoS centered activity which would really reduce the motivation for the CoS to attempt to kill him.
    • Drkgodess, on 02/19/2008, -0/+20 Anonymous has stated repeated that they are not against the beliefs of Scientology but rather the institution that ruins people's lives.
    • ElBeh, on 02/19/2008, -0/+19Cult, not religion.
    • footfwd, on 02/19/2008, -1/+12Cult, you pay and pay and pay until your dry to be "apart" of (lower case) scientology.
    • TobiasParker, on 02/19/2008<