Bennetta Slaughter

Bennetta Slaughter is a prominent member of the Church of Scientology and current head of several of its organizations, including Applied Scholastics (itself a subsidiary of Scientology's Association for Better Living and Education, Gung Ho Groups, Citizens for a Better Clearwater, and many more). She was among the first Scientologists to win acceptance among Clearwater Fla civic leaders. [http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/19/Tampabay/Four_key_Scientologis.shtml Scientology's town Four key Scientologists] St. Petersburg Times, July 19, 2004] Soon after she and her husband, David, moved their marketing and publications firm, AMC Publishing, from Dallas to Clearwater in 1994, Ms. Slaughter became active in civic and social groups. Slaughter and her husband are Scientology "Patron Meritorious", meaning they have donated more than a quarter of a million dollars to the International Association of Scientologists. [Impact 105 (ca. September 2003) [http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/impact/impact105patrons.html] ]

The Lisa McPherson Incident

Lisa McPherson was a long-time Scientologist who moved in 1994 from Dallas to Clearwater with her employer, AMC Publishing. [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/55114382.html?dids=55114382:55114382&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+13%2C+2000&author=&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=6.A&desc=The+case+of+Lisa+PcHerson+Series%3A+STATE+DROPS+CHARGES+AGAINST+SCIENTOLOGY The case of Lisa PcHerson Time Line] St. Petersburg Times, June 13, 2000] The company is operated and staffed largely by Scientologists who want to be close to the Church of Scientology's spiritual headquarters in downtown. Bennetta Slaughter was her supervisor and friend for 12 years. [ [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/46984794.html?dids=46984794:46984794&FMT=FT&FMTS=CITE:FT&date=Dec+8%2C+1999&author=HOWARD+TROXLER&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=When+can+a+church+be+accused+of+a+crime%3F When can a church be accused of a crime?] , HOWARD TROXLER, St. Petersburg Times, December 8, 1999] In 1995 Lisa McPherson died of a pulmonary embolism, weeks after leaving the hospital against medical advice with a group of Scientologists, while under the care of the Flag Service Organization (FSO), a branch of the Church of Scientology. [http://www.sptimes.com/News/022300/TampaBay/Church_member_s_death.shtml Church member's death now called accident] , St. Petersburg Times, February 23, 2000] Following her death the Church of Scientology was indicted on two felony charges "abuse and/or neglect of a disabled adult and practicing medicine without a license", [ [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/36255094.html?dids=36255094:36255094&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Nov+23%2C+1998&author=THOMAS+C.+TOBIN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=State+takes+middle+road+against+Scientology State takes middle road against Scientology] , Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, November 23, 1998] putting under trial the nature of Scientology beliefs and practices. [ [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/17005811.html?dids=17005811:17005811&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Mar+9%2C+1997&author=THOMAS+C.+TOBIN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=5.B&desc=Scientologists+clash+with+protesters Scientologists clash with protesters] , Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, March 9, 1997] According to Slaughter's own court testimony, McPherson officially listed Slaughter as "next of kin" on her medical record, and Slaughter was the only person Lisa identified to be contacted in case of an emergency. [ [http://www.lisamcpherson.org/slaughter.htm AFFIDAVIT OF BENNETTA SLAUGHTER] , November 18, 2002]

Of Lisa's death, Slaughter was quoted as saying: "I think she got sick and she died. There's nothing else there." [ [http://www.whyaretheydead.net/temp/tt970309.htm Scientologists crash protesters' line] , Tampa Tribune, March 9, 1997] She later took an active role in defending Scientology from the wrongfull death lawsuit for the death of Lisa McPherson, and she explained her role as such: "I will, in fact, counter any hate that will come from them and I will handle that" [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/47391441.html?dids=47391441:47391441&FMT=FT&FMTS=CITE:FT&date=Dec+21%2C+1999&author=THOMAS+C.+TOBIN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=4.B&desc=Scientology+answers+foe+with+its+own+group Scientology answers foe with its own group] THOMAS C. TOBIN, St. Petersburg Times, December 21, 1999] [ [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/47391264.html?dids=47391264:47391264&FMT=FT&FMTS=CITE:FT&date=Dec+20%2C+1999&author=THOMAS+C.+TOBIN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1&desc=Scientologists%2C+critics+sharing+woman%27s+name Scientologists, critics sharing woman's name] THOMAS C. TOBIN, St. Petersburg Times, December 20, 1999] [ [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/45821531.html?dids=45821531:45821531&FMT=FT&FMTS=CITE:FT&date=Oct+26%2C+1999&author=THOMAS+C.+TOBIN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=Church+members%2C+critic+spar+over+name Church members, critic spar over name] THOMAS C. TOBIN, St. Petersburg Times, October 26, 1999] Slaughter also tried to counter the efforts of prominent Scientology critic Bob Minton to set up a foundation to help Scientology victims. After Minton announced plans to name his group after Lisa McPherson, Slaughter quickly registered and became the head of the "Lisa McPherson Foundation" [ [http://www.sunbiz.org/scripts/cordet.exe?a1=DETFIL&n1=N99000006189&n2=NAMFWD&n3=0000&n4=N&r1=&r2=&r3=&r4=LISAMCPHERSON&r5= Sunbiz.org about LISA MCPHERSON FOUNDATION, INC.] ] (with 300 members according to Slaughter ), the "Lisa Foundation", [ [http://www.sunbiz.org/scripts/cordet.exe?a1=DETFIL&n1=N99000006173&n2=NAMFWD&n3=0000&n4=N&r1=&r2=&r3=&r4=LISAFOUN&r5= Sunbiz.org about LISA FOUNDATION, INC.] ] the "Friends of Lisa McPherson Foundation", [ [http://www.sunbiz.org/scripts/cordet.exe?a1=DETFIL&n1=N99000006351&n2=NAMFWD&n3=0000&n4=N&r1=&r2=&r3=&r4=FRIENDSLISAMCPHERSONFOUN&r5= Sunbiz.org about FRIENDS OF LISA MCPHERSON FOUNDATION, INC.] ] and the "Lisa McPherson Educational Foundation". All these organisations were dissolved in September 2003 for failing to file the annual report. [ [http://www.sunbiz.org/scripts/cordet.exe?a1=DETFIL&n1=N99000006352&n2=NAMFWD&n3=0000&n4=N&r1=&r2=&r3=&r4=LISAMCPHERSON&r5= Sunbiz.org about LISA MCPHERSON EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC.] ] Her actions were against the wishes of Lisa's family, who support Minton's organization, the Lisa McPherson trust. [http://www.slatkinfraud.com/slaughter.php] In December 1997, Bennetta Slaughter and AMC Publishing were added to the wrongful death lawsuit. [ [http://www.whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/tt971209.html Scientology suit grows] , Tampa Tribune, December 9, 1997]

Aftermath

In 2001, Slaughter became a member of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce board of directors. [ [http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/19/Tampabay/Striving_for_mainstre.shtml Striving for mainstream, building new connections] , ROBERT FARLEY, St. Petersburg Times, July 19, 2004] In 2002, Slaughter was appointed as CEO of Applied Scholastics, a Scientology-related organisation in St. Louis, Missouri. [The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 21.3.2002, by Arthur Charity: Villa Gesu Will House Teachers Of Group With Scientology Link] In 2004, the owners of AMC sold the company to Post Capital Partners LLC, a New York-based private investment firm, and Roscoe C. Smith III, a publishing industry veteran. [ [http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2004/09/13/daily10.html Post Capital Partners acquires Agent Media] , Tampa Bay Business Journal, September 14, 2004] In June 2007, it was acquired by Summit Business Media. [ [http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070615/FREE/70615004 Summit Business Media acquires Agent Media Corp.] , B2B Magazine, June 15, 2007]

External links

* Bennetta Slaughter and John Carmichael visit Scientology critic Jeff Lee [http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/CoS/visit.html]
* [http://www.slatkinfraud.com/slaughter.php Article on Slaughter's role in the aftermath of Reed Slatkin's bankruptcy]
* [http://www.holysmoke.org/cos/cult-ejected-saint-louis.htm Slaughter and Applied Scholastics not welcome in St. Louis]
* [http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/impact/impact105patrons.html "Impact 105" (ca. September 2003)]

References

See also