Narconon - one year anniversary in string of deaths - investigation continues - McAlester News-Capital By Jeanne LeFlore
Staff Writer
McALESTER — Today marks the first anniversary of the death of Stacy Murphy, one of three people found dead at Narconon Arrowhead in less than a year.
In the early morning hours of July 20, 2012, Murphy, who was 20, was found dead in a detox room at Narconon Arrowhead.
Murphy’s was the third reported death at the facility within a year and opened the door for a multi-agency investigation into her death and that of three others.
Narconon Arrowhead is a non-profit drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Canadian that uses the teachings of Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
In 2012, two months before Murphy was found dead, Hillary Holten, 21, was found dead in her bed, and Gabriel Graves, 32, was found dead in his bed at the facility in October 2011.
In 2009, Kaysie Dianne Werninck, 28, died at a local hospital while she was in Narconon Arrowhead’s rehab program.
The deaths are still under investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office and the District 18 District Attorney’s office, according to officials. Narconon has declined to comment on specific aspects of the deaths beyond expressing sympathy for families of those who died.
Pittsburg County Sheriff Joel Kerns said Thursday he is still following up on leads and District 18 District Attorney Farley Ward said his investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed in the case at this time.
Since the deaths, numerous lawsuits have been filed against Narconon Arrowhead with allegations of credit card fraud, wrongful death and employees trading drugs for sex with patients.
Tulsa Attorney Gary Richardson represents the family of Stacy Murphy along with several families of those suing Narconon Arrowhead.
On Thursday he said he’s been gathering information that law enforcement missed in their investigation.
“We have taken two significant depositions in the Murphy lawsuit,” Richardson said.
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