A lady from Florida who took her personal life might have been pushed to suicide after following codes laid down by the Church of Scientology.
Whitney Mills, was a high-ranking member of the Church in Clearwater however shot herself after believing she was going through vital well being points and would be capable of ‘switch to a brand new physique.’
In keeping with reporter Tony Ortega, who has been following the story for a while, Mills, 40, had been identified with Lyme illness and in addition had a mass on one among her ovaries that she refused to have eliminated.
These near her have steered Mills was truly affected by despair moderately than any particular ailment.
On the day of her dying, her mates requested a welfare test after she stopped answering her cellphone.
Whitney Mills, a 40-year-old actual property agent and deeply concerned Scientologist, shot herself on Could 12 and later died
Mills reached the best stage in Scientology, referred to as Working Thetan Stage 8 in 2019
In keeping with the Clearwater Police Division’s investigation, Mills shot herself on Could 12 and died a day and a half later at Morton Plant hospital.
When her brother pressured his approach into her condominium, he discovered her incapacitated from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and seen the odor of burning hair, indicating that she had set herself on fireplace earlier than taking pictures herself.
Clearwater Police investigated Mills’ dying and located there have been no suspicious circumstances, however a textual content message she despatched to Albertina Mejias, a fell high-ranking member of the Church, outlines ‘recommendation’ as to what she would possibly do subsequent.
Referring to what she believed to be the onset of Lyme illness she texted: ‘I want it wasn’t in my mind. It is so annoying that I’ve it so unhealthy, and so unhealthy mentally.’
‘The d of p desires me to return in for an interview’, Mills then states.
‘D of P’ refers back to the ‘Director of Processing’.
In Scientology, the director of processing is an individual answerable for overseeing and administering auditing periods, that are a central apply in Scientology.
Auditing periods are a type of counseling during which an auditor asks a sequence of inquiries to an individual to be able to assist them determine and handle any religious or emotional issues they might be experiencing.
The purpose of auditing is to assist the preclear “clear” their thoughts and obtain a state of religious freedom and enlightenment.
Mills then states how she was advised by Albertina [Mejias] that ‘there’s an help for somebody that’s actually sick and to drop the physique. I requested for that help.’
An help is a kind of religious counseling or remedy that’s supposed to assist an individual overcome bodily or emotional difficulties or accidents.
It’s based mostly on the idea that the human thoughts and spirit are able to therapeutic the physique, and that the method of therapeutic may be facilitated by religious steering and counseling.
Requested by Clearwater Police is an ‘help’ was a Scientology technique of therapeutic that was ‘not bodily’ and when a detective requested if Scientology would help with a suicide, they have been advised ‘completely not.’
Mills might have believed she might begin contemporary in a brand new physique – or because the Church explains it, to ‘drop’ her physique.
In Scientology, the time period ‘drop the physique’ refers back to the technique of leaving ones bodily physique, often by dying.
When a Scientologist ‘drops the physique,’ it’s believed that their spirit, or ‘thetan,’ will live on and might probably occupy a brand new bodily physique sooner or later.
A textual content message despatched between members of the Church and Mills suggests how she might have ended her life with the concept of beginning contemporary in a brand new physique
Mills was a licensed Working Thetan Stage Eight, or OT 8, a certification she obtained on the Scientology cruise ship Freewinds in 2019.
Scientologists consider such stage grants them superhuman, God-like skills, together with elevated IQ, complete recall and immunity from illness.
Earlier this yr, Mills was coping with quite a lot of well being points together with Lyme illness and a most cancers analysis.
She was additionally affected by despair and had been receiving care from a number of caregivers.
In keeping with Scientology beliefs, those that attain the extent of OT 8 will achieve ‘trigger over matter, vitality, area, and time,’ which is interpreted as a variety of superhuman skills.
These might embrace heightened intelligence, distinctive reminiscence, glorious eyesight, and the power to venture oneself as a spirit or ‘thetan’ with full notion.
Moreover, followers of this perception system consider that they may grow to be proof against sickness.
That is one thing that Scientologists might try for after investing a big quantity of money and time into the apply.
In keeping with a detective’s report, Mills’ mom mentioned that she had regarded by her daughter’s cellphone and located a sequence of messages during which she deliberate to ask the ‘Director of Processing’ for an ‘help reference suicide.’
Clearwater Police Division say Mills was affected by quite a lot of well being points in 2022, together with Lyme illness, despair, and probably most cancers
Mills set herself on fireplace and shot herself, dying a day and a half later
Clearwater Police discovered no proof of foul play or involvement by Scientology in Mills’ dying
When the Clearwater PD detectives contacted the Church of Scientology to ask about their involvement, they have been advised that an ‘help’ is a Scientology technique of therapeutic that’s ‘not bodily’ and that the church would by no means help with a suicide.
In keeping with one skilled on Scientology, a Director of Processing would have suggested Mills to make use of methods corresponding to ‘locationals’ and ‘PAB 6’ to beat her despair moderately than searching for assist from psychological well being professionals, as Scientology is thought to demonize the psychological well being subject and examine psychiatry as evil.
A PAB 6 would have seen her ‘getting correct meals and sleep, day by day walks, itemizing out all your incomplete conditions after which methodically finishing them.’
Clearwater Police Division’s investigation additionally discovered no proof of foul play or involvement by Scientology in Mills’ dying.
Nevertheless, the disturbing particulars of her dying and involvement in Scientology have raised questions in regards to the influence of the group on its members.
Clearwater Police Division’s investigation discovered no proof of foul play or involvement by Scientology in Mills’ dying
The disturbing particulars of Mills’ dying and her involvement in Scientology have raised questions in regards to the influence of the group on its members
