Karen and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend Mike Rinder. We send our love and condolences to Mike’s wife Christie, their children, and Mike’s family.
Mike had enormous courage and was a leader in speaking out against the many abuses of Scientology no matter the risks or consequences.
Mike’s wife Christie wrote this to her late husband on Facebook:
Rest in peace, my sweet, beautiful husband. I speak for so many when I say the sadness and pain we feel mirror the depth of our unwavering love for you. Your courage, bravery, and integrity are unmatched and will forever inspire us. You have been the pillar of stability in our lives, filling our days with your strength, wisdom, love, laughter and devotion. The world will remember you. My best friend, my hero, my love, Michael John Rinder.
Christie posted a beautiful family photo:
Mike asked that his final letter be posted online:
Friends,
“If you are reading this, I have shuffled off this mortal coil in accordance with the immutable law that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes.
My blog site will remain as an archive of more than 4000 posts and 300 thousand comments.
It has been a labor of love and passion which has allowed me to speak my mind and offer my perspective with no outside filters.
I have been lucky — living two lives in one lifetime. The second one the most wonderful years anyone could wish for with all of you and my new family!
My only real regret is not having achieved what I said I wanted to — ending the abuses of Scientology, especially disconnection and seeing Jack into adulthood. If you are in any way fighting to end those abuses please keep the flag flying — never give up. And please, if you are able in some way, help Christie and the boys to move forward into the next chapter of their lives.
I know many of you will be inclined to send flowers, I ask you not to. Instead contribute to Jack’s family college fund.
Unfortunately this is a government site so is not very user friendly, if you want to use a credit card click this donation button and Christie will redirect it.
Let the flowers grow and look to the future…
With that said, I rest in peace.
Mike
Mike grew up in Scientology from the time he was seven years old. He served on the Apollo along with my wife Karen, Janis Gillham Grady, Terri Gamboa, Hana Eltringham, and many others who would later escape from the Church and speak out against Scientology online, in the media, and in the books they wrote. Mike Rinder’s book was published by Simon and Schuster in 2022:
Mike Rinder rose through the ranks of Scientology’s Sea Org to become the Commanding Officer of Scientology’s notorious Office of Special Affairs. Like everyone else who rises in power in the Cult, Mike Rinder also came to grief and was confined for a long time to the hellish “Hole” located inside of two double-wide trailers located at Scientology’s International Base in San Jacinto, California. Like the Apollo veterans who had escaped Scientology and spoke out, so too did many of the inmates of the Hole.
Mike Rinder’s decades in Scientology came to an end in 2007 when he escaped from Scientology while on a trip to London in 2007. Mike had been sent to London to “handle” BBC journalist John Sweeney’s piece on Scientology and get the piece killed. This was when Mike made his fateful decision to escape.
Mike fled with nothing but the clothes on his back and a few dollars. After his escape, Mike sold cars in Denver to put a roof over his head and feed himself. OSA got him fired from that job and other jobs. Mike was now on the receiving end of Scientology’s Fair Game and would remain there until his last day. Mike fought back against Scientology along with the countless others who do this work.
Mike Rinder lent to his expertise to many court cases. He also debriefed the FBI and other agencies in America and abroad on the inner workings of Scientology which can be quite labyrinth and buried in the often indecipherable language created by L. Ron Hubbard.
Mike went on to appear with fellow former Scientologist Leah Remini on three seasons of Leah’s show Scientology and the Aftermath. Both Leah and Mike won Emmys for their work on the show. Mike and Leah had a natural chemistry on camera which reflected their deep and abiding friendship, courage, and mutual respect. Leah visited Mike and Christie during the final days of Mike’s life.
Mike Rinder was a rare individual who participated in the rise of Scientology at the top levels and then courageously worked to expose this vicious Cult from the outside. Mike accomplished so much since he fled Scientology in 2007. He truly did live two lifetimes in his 69 years.
Mike did not live to see Scientology stripped of its ill-gotten IRS 501(c)(3) tax exemption, but the fight remains to see that goal achieved and so bring to an end the atrocities perpetrated by the Church of Scientology.
Vaya con dios Mike.