Church blocks release of autopsy photos

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 7, 2000

CLEARWATER -- The Church of Scientology has again blocked the release of autopsy photos of Scientologist Lisa McPherson.

In a motion filed Thursday, the church asked Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Crockett Farnell to reconsider two previous rulings this week in which he cleared the photos for public release. The motion prompted the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office to delay the release for the second time this week. It was the third time Scientology has successfully kept the records secret since June 12, when prosecutors dropped two criminal charges against the church in McPherson's death.

The church argues the photos, if released, would damage its right to a fair trial in a wrongful death lawsuit, pending in Tampa, filed in 1997 by McPherson's estate.

The St. Petersburg Times, one of several media companies seeking access to the photos, also filed a pleading Thursday, calling the church's motion frivolous.

Task force finds 45 stolen vehicles

TAMPA -- A task force formed to combat auto theft has recovered 45 vehicles since June 1 by combing the streets of east Hillsborough, looking for suspicious cars, sheriff's officials said.

Sgt. Mark Yost said the 17-member task force was trained to spot stolen cars by looking for broken windows and popped locks, then hit the streets. In several cases, Yost said, the cars were recovered before the owners knew they were gone.

"We'd call them and they'd say, "No, my vehicle is here,' " Yost said. "Then they'd go outside and say, "Wait a minute.' "

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