It was December 1982, when 21-year-old Shelly Barnett, described by Vanity Fair as a willowy beauty with strawberry blonde hair, married 22-year old David Miscavige in Los Angeles.

She would become the First Lady of Scientology. 

Those who knew her described her as shy, often appearing lonely and isolated. At the same time, some witnesses say she was prone to losing her temper, much like her husband. 

In all the years they were together, members of Scientology who have gone on the record say they cannot remember any affection between the two. They did not hug or kiss. Theirs was very much a working relationship. They were both dedicated to the Church of Scientology above all else and were busy attracting high-profile celebrities to their church. Their project worked. They recruited Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Elisabeth Moss, Danny Masterton, and Nancy Cartwright.  

By 2004, Claire Headley, an ex Scientologist who worked closely with Shelly, said she had begun to crack. “Shelly was cowed,” she said. “She was always stressed. She was never sleeping. She was just run ragged. Because of that, she was often in a bad mood and that’s where some people would just say they hated her. But she was never an evil person... It was just a god-awful situation.”

And then, suddenly, Shelly Miscavige, the most high-profile woman in Scientology, vanished. 

It was as though she had never existed.

CREDITS

Guest: Tony Ortega

Host: Jessie Stephens

Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri

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