Scientology Church Charges Dropped - 2000-06-13
Scientology Church Charges Dropped June 13, 2000,
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) _ Prosecutors have dropped abuse and medical neglect charges against the Church of Scientology, saying they couldn't depend on the testimony of the county medical examiner in the case of a woman who died in the church's care.
The church was charged in the 1995 death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson after 17 days in the care of fellow church members following a minor car accident and mental breakdown.
In a memorandum made public Monday, prosecutor Doug Crow said he still thinks a crime occurred, but that medical examiner Joan Wood's credibility would be difficult to defend because she changed the cause of McPherson's death from "undetermined" to "accidental."
{{cite news | title = Scientology Church Charges Dropped | url = http://www.apnewsarchive.com/2000/Scientology-Church-Charges-Dropped/id-c41e12ea52bec0ef2d66249a7910e67e | work = Associated Press | date = 2000-06-13 | accessdate = 2015-02-01 }}