The Disappearance of Shelly Miscavige

True Crime Conversations

It was December 1982, when 21-year-old Shelly Barnett, described by Vanity Fair as a willowy beauty with strawberry blonde hair, married 22-year old David Miscavige in Los Angeles.

She would become the First Lady of Scientology.

Those who knew her described her as shy, often appearing lonely and isolated. At the same time, some witnesses say she was prone to losing her temper, much like her husband.

In all the years they were together, members of Scientology who have gone on the record say they cannot remember any affection between the two. They did not hug or kiss. Theirs was very much a working relationship. They were both dedicated to the Church of Scientology above all else and were busy attracting high-profile celebrities to their church. Their project worked. They recruited Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Elisabeth Moss, Danny Masterton, and Nancy Cartwright.

By 2004, Claire Headley, an ex Scientologist who worked closely with Shelly, said she had begun to crack. “Shelly was cowed,” she said. “She was always stressed. She was never sleeping. She was just run ragged. Because of that, she was often in a bad mood and that’s where some people would just say they hated her. But she was never an evil person... It was just a god-awful situation.”

And then, suddenly, Shelly Miscavige, the most high-profile woman in Scientology, vanished.

It was as though she had never existed.

CREDITS

Guest: Tony Ortega

Host: Jessie Stephens

Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri

CONTACT US

Tell us what you think of the show via email at [e-mail]

Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link https://bit.ly/tcc-group

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Just by reading or listening to our content, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and our aim is to get to 1,000. Find out more about Mamamia at mamamia.com.au

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.