July 19, 2002

Hon. Rikki Klieman
Both Sides Now
Court TV

Re: Cult Dad Starves Child

Dear Ms. Klieman and co-host:

I am writing to you convey my VERY favorable opinion of your show's coverage of the sad tragedies within "The Body" cult. I live just 25 miles from Attleboro in Massachusetts and am very familiar with the group and have met with and know several former members of the sect.

Although I missed Rick Ross's interview, I understand from others he was very credible. Your two featured expert panel people from today were nothing short of exceptional! The former Maine state's prosecutor (or was it Atty. Gen.?,) was great - very appropriate for this show's subject matter. Steve Hassan was absolutely thee IDEAL choice for an expert on cults and mind control. His professional opinions of the senor Robidoux needing to have more blame for the child deaths as the "leader" vs. young Jacques, was completely on target. In my opinion, if the ATF and the FBI had contacted and consulted experts like Hassan and others who recognize the original bites first explored by Dr. Robert Lifton back in the 1950s, the 1993 Waco tragedy could have been averted.

I am a former member of a very destructive cult myself - Scientology, an alternative mental health sect which falsely markets itself as a "church." A website on my horrific cultic ordeals is at: www.MadvilleLaw.net

In addition to writing to you on my accolades for today's Both Sides Now show, I wanted to express my earnest heads up warning to you and your producers, of yet another tragic death litigation going on against cult leaders from lack of nutrition and fluids, as well as a total absence of proper medical and mental health care also due to bizarre secular beliefs. This is the case of Lisa McPherson in Clearwater, FL Scientology has a long track record of child abuse as found at: www.taxexemptchildabuse.net However, in this case, the victim was a 36 year old adult woman who was trying to leave to cult and was prevented from doing such and held against her will.....until her death.

There was a criminal action against the Scientology cult, but it was dismissed because of obvious evidence of tampering with the State's primary witness - the local St. Pete / Clearwater medical examiner. The pending wrongful death civil case, has endured many years of litigious diversions from the cult so it will never reach the trial stage. However, there is a glimmer of hope now, that a trial date is in sight in the next few weeks / months. It would behoove Court TV to cover this case with infinite detail as Scientology has a pathetic history of death and destructive in it's path and wake.

I would be delighted fill you in on more by contacting me at the address and numbers below. However, since you already have contact with Steve Hassan, I would recommend him over me as a detached and objective person. He is an expert by choice and by exhaustive study and research. I am a material witness by default.

Again, thank you for your great show today. You approached a very difficult subject of the boundaries of freedom of religion vs. abuse. You did it with grace, style, integrity, and professionalism. I can only say though, it's just the tip of the cult recruiting iceberg that Hassan rightfully suggests is proliferating since our countries' 9/11 terrorism events.

Sincerely,

<Tom>
Thomas C. Padgett
xx xxxxxx xx
xxxxxxxxx, MA. xxxxx
phone # xxx-xxx-xxxx
cell phone # xxx-xxx-xxxx

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