19 of Scientology’s Most Violent Second Chance Inmates Are “Missing”

Broadcast Date: Saturday 24th January 2008
The controversial drug rehabilitation center “Second Chance” (which uses Church of Scientology’s bizarre rehabilitation methods) abruptly closed on Saturday leaving questions about where its 19 Violent inmates are now located.

The City of Albuquerque said when they got word Saturday afternoon that something was happening at the Second Chance facility, they sent police officers to check it out. The officers confirmed all the inmates and personnel at the facility were gone.

The city says Second Chance vacated its property on the West Mesa without warning. The rehabilitation program was still housing 19 violent inmates as of Wednesday. On Saturday night, no one was able to say where they are.

"I would hope that those individuals were returned to the counties they came from," Chief Public Safety Officer Pete Dinelli said.

The abrupt closing stems from a landlord-tenant dispute between Second Chance and the City of Albuquerque. Pete Dinelli said the rehabilitation center violated the terms of its lease.

"They basically had people in there that had no business being there," he said. "The facility was never designed for violent felons."

City leaders ordered Second Chance out by the end of January. But the dispute appeared to be headed for court until Saturday.

Now, the city must decide what to do about the bill they say Second Chance has not paid.

"It looks like we may be owed some money. Anywhere between $10,000, upwards to $90,000 in past rents as well as utilities," Dinelli said.

The city said they may have to sue Second Chance to get their money.

Calls to the president of Second Chance went unanswered on Saturday.