Dianetics Founder Hubbard Accused of Plot to Kidnap Wife

April 11, 1951

L Ron Hubbard, founder of Dianetics, and two men yesterday were accused by his wife Sara, of having conspired to kidnap her and to conceal their 13 month-old daughter, Alexis.

The complaint was made in a writ filed by Mrs. Hubbard and signed by Superior Judge Mildred L. Lillie, ordering one of the men, Frank B. Dessler, to produce the child by next Monday.

Mrs. Hubbard, 25, charged her husband and Dessler took Alexis from the Hubbard Dianetics Research Foundation, 2600 South Hoover street, hub of the "mental healing" system, last February 24th and registered her under an assumed name in a Westwood nursery.

At 1 a.m. the following day according to the petition, Mrs. Hubbard was "kidnapped" from her home, 1251 Westmoreland avenue, and taken to Yuma, Ariz.

Participating in the kidnap plot were Hubbard, Dessler and Richard B. DeMille, the petition charged. Dessler and DeMille were described as "followers" of Hubbard.

In Yuma, Mrs. Hubbard alleged, she signed a statement that she went voluntarily under threats that she would "never see her baby again."

Returning here on February 28th, she found the child had been taken from the nursery home by two men, the petition stated.

Mrs. Hubbard alleged Dessler whose home she listed as 715 South Parkview avenue, was ordered by Hubbard to stay in Los Angeles and take care of the child while he and DeMille went to New York.