Mike Rinder, one of the former high-ranking Scientology officials turned whistleblower, died on January 5, 2025, due to advanced esophageal cancer at the age of 69. His wife, Christie King Collbran, announced his death, writing a tribute on Instagram.
Collbran posted a photo of Mike Rinder with their family and wrote:
"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."
Christie King Collbran was raised in a family of Scientologists and spent her formative years in the church’s teachings and practices. She joined the elite Sea Organization (Sea Org) at 16 pledging to a life of intense discipline and service.
She worked in a variety of roles for more than 13 years. But her time in the Sea Org was not without difficulties, with reported problems with job performance and breaches of Church protocols, per Freedom Magazine.
Christie married Chris Collbran and got pregnant in 2006. Sea Org members are required to take a leave of absence when they start a family, so this became a turning point in their lives. She soon left her family and her husband, who remained devoted to Scientology.
Christie's path eventually crossed with Mike Rinder, who offered support and guidance after she left the Sea Org. A personal relationship soon developed between them, with Rinder becoming her partner and, later, a co-critic of Scientology.
Mike...
Hill ASC Inc.’s $14.75 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice closes a five-year saga in which the Rockville-based contractor allegedly billed agencies for “highly adaptive” cybers...