David Miscavige Allegedly Used Scientology Funds To Spy On His Father
The alleged antics of David Miscavige, the charismatic and reportedly ruthless leader of the Church of Scientology, aren’t limited to the members who challenge him. According to an exclusive article in the Los Angeles Times, Miscavige hired private investigators Dwayne S. Powell to conduct round-the-clock surveillance on his father, Ronald Miscavige Sr., after the latter left the Church of Scientology in 2013.
The new information came to light through police reports obtained by the Los Angeles Times. Powell, now 43, was arrested after neighbors reported a suspicious person in the area of Dwyane Powell’s Wisconsin home. When police made contact with Powell, he claimed to be house hunting in the area, but he was detained when police officers found two rifles, four handguns, 2,000 rounds of ammunition, a pocket knife, and a stun gun in Powell’s rented SUV.
Initially, Powell refused to name his employer, but he eventually told police officers that the Church of Scientology paid him $10,000 a week to keep tabs on Ronald Miscavige because of David Miscavige’s alleged fear that his father would reveal sensitive information about the church.
Powell also described an incident in which Ronald Miscavige slumped over in his car while Powell was conducting surveillance. According to Powell, he phoned his intermediary for instructions and was quickly contacted by David Miscavige, who said, “If it was Ron’s time to die, to let him die and not intervene in any way.”
David Miscavige and his attorneys deny any connection to Powell. Gary Soter, an attorney for the Church of Scientology, admitted that the church occasionally hires private investigators but only in matters of litigation.
The news is the latest in a string of embarrassing and potentially damaging revelations about the Church of Scientology, following the release of the HBO documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. The film alleges that the Church of Scientology was founded by L. Ron Hubbard as a money-making scheme. The Church allegedly gained official religious recognition based on a pattern of intimidation, blackmail, and coercion aimed at members and outsiders who challenge Scientology doctrines or members who could damage the church, including John Travolta and Tom Cruise.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, one of the most sensational stories of David Miscavige’s time leading the Church of Scientology was completely left out of Going Clear: the apparent disappearance of Michele “Shelly” Miscavige, David’s wife. Shelly Miscavige was last seen publicly in 2007, and her disappearance led actress Leah Remini to split with the church and file a missing persons report with the LAPD. The report was dismissed after officers reportedly made contact with Shelly Miscavige.
According to Vanity Fair, Shelly Miscavige’s apparent disappearance was tied to a falling out with David Miscavige after she had his personal items moved to facilitate renovations to their Florida home and disseminated materials about a reorganization within the Church of Scientology without David Miscavige’s approval.
[Image via Bing]
