AnOutlineof

KillingForKrishnaTheDangerofDerangedDevotion

A660-pagebookbyHenryDoktorski

©2018byHenryDoktorski

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SUMMARYThe 1986 murder of Steven Bryant (Sulochan dasa) was arguably the darkestmoment in the fifty-two year history of the International Society for KrishnaConsciousness—anewbranchoftheChaitanya-Bengali-VaishnavareligionfoundedinNewYorkCityin1966byanIndianspiritualteacherandguru,HisDivineGraceA.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977). A mere nine years after thedisappearanceof thisbelovedspiritual father,oneof theirownwashunteddownandassassinated.Thisbrutal killingwasachieved througha cooperativeeffortby“spiritual”leaders,seniormanagersandhitmenenforcersfromWestVirginia,Ohio,andSouthernCaliforniaISKCONtemples.The murdered whistle-blower had discovered many secrets and threatened torevealtotheworldtheimmoralactsandcriminaldealingsofasetofself-appointed,illegitimate successors to Swami Prabhupada: a corrupt oligarchy of new ISKCON“gurus.”Hehadalso,perhapsfoolishly,advocatedusingviolenceagainstthegurustoevictthemfromtheirposts.ISKCONleaderstookhisthreatsseriously,andtheyhunted down and assassinated the passionate reformer. How did the peaceful,shaven-headed, saffron-clad Hare Krishna devotees regress from their blissfulactivitiesofchanting,dancing,andsellingincenseinthestreetstothis?The author, himself a former ISKCON devotee, probes deeply into the disturbingdirection of a new religious movement. In this book, he exposes the danger ofphilosophical errors and deranged devotion that practically ensured that bloodytragedy would eventually occur. The author has engaged in years of painstakingresearchbyporingovertensof thousandsofpagesof trial transcripts,newspaperandmagazine articles, ISKCON publications, and confidential ISKCON documents,while also interviewing dozens of eyewitnesses. His effort culminates in athoroughly-engaging and extremely well-documented thesis exposing the hiddeninside story of the conspiracy to murder Steven Bryant, including its genesis,development, blunders involved in it, execution, cover up, as well as a stunningaftermathafterthedeedwasdone.

PREFACE

Theauthordiscusseshisendeavor touncover the truthregarding thebehind-the-scenesconspiracy tomurderStevenBryantdespite thedecades-longcoverup.Healso reflects onhispersonalmemoriesof themembersof themurder conspiracy,someofwhomhe knewverywell.He also reflects on one of themembers of theconspiracy,RadhanathSwami,whodeniesany involvement in theconspiracy,andhas subsequently become an important and powerful ISKCON guru with tens ofthousandsofdisciples.

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INTRODUCTIONThe author introduces the twomain characters of the story.Kirtanananda SwamiBhaktipada (Keith Ham), a 49-year-old ISKCON guru who is arguably one of themost powerful, respected, and (behind the scenes) ruthless of the eleven ISKCONguruswho self-appointed themselves as spiritualmasters in 1977-1978, after thedeathofthefounderofISKCON,SwamiPrabhupada.Bhaktipadaistheco-founderoftheNewVrindabanHareKrishnaCommunity, a 5,000-acre rural commune in thewooded hills and hollows ofMarshall County,West Virginia, inhabited by severalhundreddevoteeresidents.BhaktipadaisalsothemastermindbehindPrabhupada’sPalaceofGold,billedasthe“TajMahaloftheWest,”agoldandmarbleshrineforthefounder of ISKCON which is the second most popular tourist attraction in thenorthernpanhandleofWestVirginia.ThecharismaticSwamiBhaktipadahaspowerand millions of dollars, a considerable portion generated through secret illegalenterprises, such as a recreational drug smuggling ring (1977-1980) whichessentiallypaidformostofthemarble,goldleaf,andsuppliesfortheconstructionfor Prabhupada’s Palace, and an international panhandling operation whichgenerated12.5milliondollarsbetween1981and1985.StevenBryant,ontheotherhand,a33-year-oldKrishnadevotee,marriedwithtwochildren, living atNewVrindaban, isnot respectedbymany.He is known tobe afaultfinderandpronetoargument.Hehaslittlemoney.Heregularlyslapshiswifeforreasonsonlyknowntohim.Sheclaimsitwastokeephersubmissive.Whenhiswife leaves him, he becomes angry at Swami Bhaktipada (accusing him of “wife-stealing”), he leaves New Vrindaban, and begins conducting research whichultimatelyresultsinhiswritingabook,TheGuruBusiness,whichattemptstoexposecorruptioninISKCON.Hiscampaign,however,haslittlesuccess.StevenknowsthatBhaktipada’shenchmenwouldkillhimiftheycould,soheattemptstohide(wearingdisguises)while he distributes his exposé among devotees andmainstreamnewsmedia.Atonepoint(May1986),herealizesthathecanonlysucceedinhismissionby his death, and so he stops hiding and allows himself to be murdered in LosAngeles.

CHAPTERONE:ATHORNINBHAKTIPADA’SSIDEAshortbiographyofStevenBryantispresented:hisconversiontoISKCONin1974at the age of twenty, his friendship with Terry Sheldon, who 12 years later“engineers” Bryant’s murder, an unwelcome homosexual act with a seniorgodbrotherwho laterbecomesa certified ISKCONguru, adescriptionof the1976

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Los Angeles incidentwhen Bryant is personally chastised by Swami Prabhupada,after which he abandons his service in Los Angeles in great embarrassment andmovestoIndia,whereheservesastheTempleCommanderattheKrishna-BalaramMandir in Vrindaban. He latermoves to London, where he serves at the ISKCONBhaktivedantaManortempleasapujari(priest).Steve marries a young British hippy (Jane) and he asks her to move to NewVrindaban,WestVirginia,whilehetravelsonbusinesstoIndia.HejoinsheratNewVrindabanlater,whereheplanstoraisehisfamily,includingtheirtwoveryyoungchildren and another child from Jane’s earlier relationship with another man.However, after first arriving at New Vrindaban, in her husband’s absence, she ispressuredbytempleauthoritiestoacceptSwamiBhaktipadaasherspiritualmaster.SheisinitiatedonChristmasday1980,withoutherhusband’spermission.StevelivesatNewVrindabanwithhiswifeforaboutyear,thenmoveshisfamilytoCalifornia,returningbacktoNewVrindabaninDecember1983.Hebecomesoneofthe top tour guides at the Palace. However, Steve gets into arguments withcommunity management and decides to leave New Vrindaban for good. His wiferefusestojoinhim.Stevetakeshistwoyoungchildrenfromherandbeginsdrivingtohisparents’homenearDetroit. JaneasksSwamiBhaktipadaforhelp,andthreearmedNewVrindaban“enforcers,”alongwithJane,speedafterSteveinhotpursuit.WhenStevepulls intoashoppingcenterandenters thegrocerystore topurchasediapersforhisbabyson,themotherretrievesherchildren.WhenStevecomesoutof the store, the threeenforcersbrandish theirweapons, andSteve,outgunned, isforcedtoadmitdefeat.InLosAngeles, Steveacquiresapirate collectionof the collected lettersof SwamiPrabhupada, which are carefully guarded by ISKCON leaders and off limits toordinarydevotees.Inthesecretletters,StevediscoversthattheISKCONfounderdidnot trust his leading disciples, yet now they claim to be on the same level as thefounder:pureandselflessself-realizedsouls.Stevediscoverstheyarecheatersandusurpers. He discovers dozens of letters by Swami Prabhupada criticizing SwamiBhaktipada,evencallinghim“acrazyman.”Stevetries towarnhiswifeabout thecorruptISKCONgurusandgethertoreturntohimwithhistwosons,butshehasbecomeinfatuatedwithSwamiBhaktipadaandsherefuses.Whileshowingthesesecretletterstootherdevotees,Stevehearsreportsofabusesat New Vrindaban, including child abuse and molestation, wife beating, arecreational drug smuggling business which funded the construction ofPrabhupada’s Palace, and even amurder on community property (themurder ofCharles Saint-Denis), ordered by Swami Bhaktipada. Steve compiles his researchinto a book,TheGuruBusiness,and advocates violence against the ISKCON gurus,butespeciallyagainstSwamiBhaktipada.HepurchasestwofirearmsandhoneshismarksmanshipskillsbytargetshootingatapictureofSwamiBhaktipada.

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CHAPTERTWO:THEKIRTANANANDAEXPOSÉBryantself-publisheshisbook,TheGuruBusiness,anddistributescopiesbywordofmouth.Thebookchangesthelivesofsomedevotees,whobegintoseetheISKCONgurusforwhattheyare:pretenders.Others,however,condemnBryantfortwistingthefactstomakeSwamiBhaktipadalookbad.Stevewritesabouthismortalenemy,SwamiBhaktipada (whohe thinkshas stolenhiswife’saffections) inChapter ten:“TheKirtananandaExposé.”SteveclaimsBhaktipadaisnothingmorethana“rogue,”“a pseudo-religionist,” and “nothing but a sense gratifier.” Although many ofBryant’ssourcesareaccurate,someofhisclaimsareoffthemark.ThehighestcommitteeofISKCON,theGoverningBodyCommission(GBC),beginstoexpress concern about Swami Bhaktipada deviating from the teachings of thefounder. The GBC reluctantly permits Bhaktipada to worship the statue ofPrabhupadainhisPalaceasaking(apracticeBhaktipadainauguratedonChristmasDay 1980), but a few months later, Bhaktipada removes the gold crown, mace,jeweled tilak and velvet cape from the statue of Prabhupada after one irategodbrother, who serves as the Palace Manager, confronts Bhaktipada about thepracticeandthreatenstorevealtoISKCONthenegativethingsoneofPrabhupada’sgodbrothers told him about the crown. Steve continues his campaign againstBhaktipada, and Bhaktipada threatens to resign from the GBC if Steve is notsilenced.

CHAPTERTHREE:THEGURUREFORMMOVEMENTThis chapter describes the efforts of members of the “Guru Reform Movement,”basicallyISKCONtemplepresidentsintheUnitedStatesandCanada,tocombattheabusesoftheelevenISKCONgurus,whohadappointedthemselvesinthatcapacityagainst the wishes of the founder. The extravagant abuses of the eleven aredescribed,aswellastheinaugurationoftheGuruReformMovement.Aleaderofthemovement writes a paper titled, “Ending the FratricidalWar.” Many Prabhupadadisciples become disillusioned with the eleven, and leave (or are shunned by)ISKCON.The Guru Reform Movement gathers steam at the August 1985 Emergency GBCmeetings atNewVrindaban,when a brahmacari inAtlanta claims that one of theISKCON gurus had homosexual relations with him. A leader of the Guru ReformMovementwrites anotherpaper, “UnderMyOrder.” Conflict between the ISKCONgurus and their supporters, and the guru reformers, reaches a climax at theSeptemberNorthAmericanGBCandTemplePresidentsMeetingatNewVrindaban.SwamiBhaktipada readshispaper, “OnMyOrder,” a rebuttal to the earlier guru-reformpaper“UnderMyOrder.”

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CHAPTERFOUR:PREACHINGFROMAJAILCELLBryant,encouragedbythemomentumgeneratedagainst theISKCONgurusbytheGuruReformMovement,wishestoparticipateintheNewVrindabanmeetings,butdecidesnottoattendduetolegitimateconcernsabouthissafety.HeinsteadcheckshimselfintotheMarshallCountyJailunderprotectivecustody.Hepublishesapaper,“JonestownInMoundsville?TheTruthBehindthePalaceofGold,”whichhemailstodevoteesattheconference,newsmediaandalsotoprominentlocalMarshallCountynon-devotee residents. High ranking leaders at New Vrindaban retaliate bypublishingasixpagepamphlettitled,“TheStoryofACheater:TheRealFactsAboutSulochan[Bryant].”NewVrindabanleadersbegintalkaboutassassinatingBryant.BryantlodgesaformalcomplainttotheGBCagainstSwamiBhaktipadaforinitiatinghiswifewithouthis consent.TheGBCrules thatBhaktipadaerredbydoingso. Inresponse to Bhaktipada’s complaints about Bryant, the GBC expels Bryant fromISKCON for issuing death threats in “abhorrent” and “blasphemous” language.Steve’sbest friendinCaliforniaattemptstonegotiatewithNewVrindabanleaderstopermitStevetohaveaccesstohistwosons.Initialtalksareencouraging,butoneviolenteventonOctober27,1985,causesNewVrindabanleaderstoreconsiderthetentativenegotiationswithBryant.CHAPTERFIVE:ANATTACKATTHEHEARTOFISKCON

ThischaptertellsthestoryoftheOctober27,1985attackonBhaktipadabyMichaelShockman,amentally-disturbeddevoteewhocametoNewVrindabantoattendtheSeptember1985meetings.Hequietlywalksup toBhaktipada frombehindduringanoutdoorbrick-layingmarathon, in themidstofdozensofdevotees, and strikeshimonceintheheadandtwiceinthebackwithathree-foot-longironbarreportedto weigh 20 pounds. Bhaktipada falls unconscious to the pavement with life-threateningheadinjuries.Shockmanrunsaway,andisquicklytackledbytheNewVrindaban temple president. The temple president instructs devotees to call theMarshall County sheriff to come and arrest Shockman (who is transported to theMarshallCountyJailwhereheisheldforfourteenmonths).The temple president also transports the unconscious spiritual master to thenearest hospital, Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale, West Virginia. Theemergency room doctor, seeing the severity of Bhaktipada’s injuries, orders anambulance to take Bhaktipada to Wheeling Hospital where an emergencycraniotomy is performed to relieve hemorrhaging on the brain. Four days later,BhaktipadaistransportedbyhelicoptertoAlleghenyGeneralHospitalinPittsburghwhere a second operation is performed to remove a blood clot in his brain.Bhaktipada isunconscious inacoma for tendaysand listedon thecritical list foralmostthreeweeks.

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NewVrindaban residents are devastated and hold 24-hour kirtan chanting in thetempletopetitiontheLordtohealtheirmaster.PracticallyallofISKCONpraysforBhaktipada’srecovery.ISKCONleadersoffersupportandvisitNewVrindaban.OneoftheelevenISKCONguruswrites,“He[Bhaktipada]hasdonemorethananyoneinbuildingthat[NewVrindaban]community,andanattackonhis life isanattackattheheartofISKCON.”Bhaktipada awakens from his coma on November 6, 1985, and returns home onNovember22nd,whereheisgreetedwithgreatlove,excitementandaffectionbyhisadoringdisciplesandfollowers.Itisasiftheloveofthedevotees’livesreturnsfromthedead.Everyoneisjoyous,butnotforlong.Duringthistime,Prabhupada’sstatueatthePalaceisonceagainadornedwithgoldcrown,tilak,scepterandcape.

CHAPTER6:HEWASAVERY,VERYDIFFERENTPERSON

The speedofBhaktipada’s recovery isphenomenal.Althoughhisvocal chordsarepartially paralyzed and he can barely speak, and he has frequent head aches andlapsesofmemory,hefeelswellenoughtotraveltoIndiaforatwo-weekpreachingtourinJanuary.InFebruaryhevisitsNewOrleans.InFebruary/March,hetravelstoIndia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. In May he travels to Italy, and later toGermanyandTheNetherlands.Unfortunately, although most devotees are not aware of it, Bhaktipada suffersconsiderable brain damage which results in anterograde amnesia; a condition inwhichnewevents contained in the immediatememory arenot transferred to thepermanent as long-term memory. Bhaktipada becomes unusually forgetful, andsomealsosayhispersonalitybecomeslesscompassionate,morecallous.Inordertokeepupappearances,Bhaktipadaandhispersonalservantdeviseasecretsystemofverbal and non-verbal signals to helpBhaktipada remember conversations only afew days apart. New Vrindaban and ISKCON devotees practically insist that hecontinue to lead the community, and they pretend that everything is alrightwithBhaktipada. All engage inmutual denial. This results in unsound decisions beingmade which negatively affect the community and Bhaktipada’s other preachingcenters.Bhaktipada’sNarcissisticPersonalityDisorderalsoappearstointensify.Most devotees are unable to recognize these symptoms because of their greatemotionalinvestmentintheirspiritualmaster,whotheybelieveispureandperfect.They cannot comprehend that his mental and emotional faculties have beencompromised. They rationalize his bewildering behavior and say Bhaktipada isexhibiting the symptoms of a self-realized saint, whose activities cannot becomprehendedbyordinarypeople. Some,due to lesseremotional investment, are

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abletorecognizeBhaktipada’scompromisedabilitiesandtheyleaveNewVrindabanandmove to other ISKCON temples. Some others staywith Bhaktipada, althoughtheyareawareofhisdiscrepancies,becausetheythinkhemaymakeafullrecoveryintime.Unfortunately,Bhaktipadanevermakesafullrecovery.Whenheisaccused,on occasion, of being inconsistent, he blames it onKrishna, “If Krishna changes, Ichange.WhatcanIdo?”

CHAPTER7:THECASTOFCHARACTERSIn this chapter, theauthorpauses thedramaticaction todiscovermoreabout thebackgrounds and personalities of the main characters of the murder conspiracy,including:(1)SwamiBhaktipada(whoordersthehitbutdoesnotdirectly involvehimself in

theconspiracy),(2)HowardWheeler (Bhaktipada’scollegeroommateandhomosexual lover,aco-

founderofNewVrindaban),whoactsas the intermediarybetweenBhaktipadaandtheothermembersoftheconspiracy,

(3)TerrySheldon,(theClevelandISKCONtemplepresident),whohelps“engineer”themurder,coordinatessurveillance,acquiresfundingforthehitman,etc.,

(4)ArthurVilla, (theNewVrindabantemplepresident),whosupports themurderconspiracy inadministrativecapacities,providing funding,preaching to thehitman,workingwiththeMarshallCountysheriff,etc.,

(5) Randall Gorby, (a non-devotee friend of New Vrindaban), who continuallysupportstheassassinationattemptandassistsinthesurveillanceofBryant,

(6) ThomasDrescher, (theNewVrindaban bus driver and chief enforcer): the hitmanwhopullsthetrigger,

(7) John Sinkowski, (who operates a lucrative flower-selling business in Phila-delphia),andservesasDrescher’sassistant,huntingBryantinCalifornia,

(8)RadhanathSwami,(whopreachesthatdevoteeshavetodo“whateverittakes”toprotectBhaktipada),andrecruitsSinkowskiintotheconspiracy,

(9) Dennis Gorrick (the director of New Vrindaban’s multi-million dollar inter-nationalpanhandlingoperation),whoprovidesfundingfortheassassin’stravelexpensesandget-awaymoney,

(10)RamesvaraSwami,(theISKCONguruforSouthernCalifornia),whoordershissecurityguarddisciple to cooperatewith theNewVrindabanhitmenwhoarehuntingBryantinLosAngeles,and

(11) JeffreyBreier, (Ramesvara’sprincipal security guard),who carries a gunandhelpsDrescherspyonBryantandfollowhismovementsinLosAngeles.

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CHAPTER8:MURDERCONSPIRACYThis chapter describes the formation and development of the conspiracy toassassinate Bryant from October to December 1985. The conspiracy begins inearnest soon after Shockman’s devastating October 27th attack on Bhaktipada.Dreschernotes,“[Shockman’sattack]changedeverything.Itwasnolongerawarofwords;itinjectedanelementofviolence.Naturally,asagooddisciple,Icouldn’tsitbyidlyandwaitforthejobtobefinished.”BryantpraisesShockman’sattackonBhaktipadaandcongratulateshim.Bryantalsowritesa15-pageessay,“Violence inISKCON:Caution,”andclaimsthatBhaktipadadeservesdeath.Hewrites,“Itisonlyamatteroftimebeforeeach‘guru’isdeadorwisheshewere.”Bryant,currentlylivinginCalifornia,boaststhatheisgoingtokillBhaktipada.Hefrightenshisfriendsbywavinghisgunsintheairandproclaiming,“Death to the gurus.” Even Bryant’s former wife, now remarried to a loyalBhaktipada follower and pregnant again, prays that Drescherwill kill her formerhusband,becauseBryantthreatenstokillherandhernewhusband.InvestigatorsconcludethatShockmanactedalone,hehadnotbeen in leaguewithBryant, but admit he might have been influenced by Bryant’s writings. Secretmeetings in lateOctober,NovemberandDecember,areheldatNewVrindaban todiscuss thebestwaytokeeptrackofBryantandassassinatehimatanopportunetime.Drescherexplains,“Atseveralhigh-levelmanagementmeetings,Iwasinvitedto attend. Itwas jointly agreed that Sulochan [Bryant] posed a clear and presentdangertoKirtanananda(othersalso).Thetopmenconcludedthatitwaspreferableto deal with the fallout of Sulochan’s death than Kirtanananda’s. No one thoughttheycouldcontinueonwithoutKirtanananda.Hewasthatimportanttothem.Itwasasiftheirlivesdependedonhim.Toamantheyagreedtheycouldn’timaginegoingon—asacommunityorasdevotees—ifKirtananandawaskilled.TheonlysolutionpresentedwasthatSulochanbeeliminated.”Drescherisrecruitedastheprincipalhitman,buthedoesnotrealizethatoneofhisbest friends—Randall Gorby—who encourages devotees to murder Bryant, hasbecome a government informer whose phone calls are recorded by the WestVirginiaStatePolice.AnotherBhaktipadadisciple,JohnSinkowski,isalsorecruitedtoassassinateBryant.Devotees support their decision to assassinate Bryant by consulting the Vedicscriptures,which state that killing anotherhumanbeing is sometimesauthorized.For instance, theManu-Samhitaenjoins that six typesof aggressorsmaybekilledwith no punishment awarded to the executioner. Srimad-bhagavatam instructs,“Oneshouldbyforcecutouttheblasphemer’stongueandkilltheoffender.”SwamiPrabhupada explained, “[Even a]meek and humble devotee” “should be angry asfire”“ifthereisblasphemyagainstone’sguru.”Theconspiratorsareconfidentthattheiractionsareauthorizedbytheguru,bysaintlypersonsandbyscripture(guru,

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sadhu,sastra).Even if theymustdie in thecourseof theirduty,perhapskilledbyBryant, or executed by the state after amurder trial, they believe their soulswill“ascendtotheheavenlyplanets.”

CHAPTER9:THEKEYSTONECOPSSURVEILLANCETEAMIn January 1986, Sinkowski is dispatched to California where he watches theBerkeley post office, where Bryant has a mailing address, in hopes of locatingBryant. After a few days without success, he gives up and heads south to LosAngeles. He does not realize that Bryant has flown to Michigan to stay with hisparents.TerrySheldon,thepresidentofClevelandISKCON,fliestoSanDiego,withfundingprovidedbytheNewVrindabantemplepresident,meetswithaRamesvara“enforcer”andattemptstorecruithimintotheconspiracy.The“enforcer”sayshe’llgiveBryantaheroinoverdosefor$5,000.SheldonbalksatthepriceandreturnstoCleveland.Aroundthesametime,RadhanathSwamifliestoLosAngeles,reportedlyto discuss the proposed assassinationwith the Southern California ISKCON guru,Ramesvara Swami, and secure the cooperation of his California “enforcers.”Ramesvarasays,“Bryantneedsanewbody.”OnJanuary26th,Bryantdrivesfromhisparents’homeinMichigantoamotelnearSaint Clairsville, Ohio, about 25 miles from New Vrindaban, where he works onpress releases for themedia.He telephones theNewVrindaban temple presidentand says he is “coming to Moundsville to destroy Kirtanananda and the NewVrindaban Community.” High-ranking New Vrindaban leaders are struck by fear;theythinkBryantwillhideinthewoodsaroundNewVrindabanandkillBhaktipadawithahigh-powerrifle.Bryant,however,hasnosuchintentions.HelefthisrifleinLosAngeles.Heintendstodestroythecommunitybypublicizingthroughthemediathecriminalandimmoralactivitiestakingplacethere.TheNewVrindabantemplepresident,fearfulforBhaktipada,contactstheMarshallCountysheriffwithhisconcerns.ThesheriffagreestohelpprotectBhaktipadaandthe community. The sheriff tells the templepresident to search forBryant and toreporthismovementstothesheriff,sothesheriffcanarresthimforissuingdeaththreats. However, unknown to the temple president, the sheriff already knowsBryant’smovements,becauseBryantcallsthesheriffdailyonthephone,asasafetyprecaution.BryantdoesnotknowthatthesheriffisinleaguewithNewVrindaban.SheldonandDrescher,eagertoprotectBhaktipada,drivetoMichigantosearchforBryant,but theydonotknowhe is inamotel in theOhioValley.Uponarriving inDetroit, Sheldon telephones Bryant’smother, pretends to be Bryant’s best friend,and tricks Mrs. Bryant into revealing her son’s location in the motel near Saint

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Clairsville,Ohio.SheldonandDrescherdriveback,meettheirbuddyRandallGorbyat themotel and spyonBryant. Bryant checks out of themotel anddrives to theWheelingFederalBuilding,wherehemeetswiththeFBIandattemptstoconvincethem to investigate New Vrindaban. The FBI shows little interest. The threemembers of the surveillance team follow Bryant intoWheeling, and quietly parkbehindhiscar.DreschersaystoGorby,“Thatsonofabitchisgoingtothepoliceandheisgoingtohavetobekilled,andIamtheonethatisgoingtodoit.”AfterleavingtheFBIofficesomesevenhourslater,BryantspeedsoffwestonI-70,going so fast that he left his pursuer in the dust. Themember of the surveillanceteamispatienthowever,andstaysinthearea.HeeventuallyseesBryantcheckinginto anothermotel a fewmiles from the firstmotel. The next day, Randall GorbyspiesonBryant.Bryant, realizing thathe isbeinghunted, checksoutof themotelanddriveswest again on I-70 at a high rate of speed, eludinghis pursuers again.Aftersometime,Bryantdoublesback,crossestheOhioRiver,entersWestVirginia,and findsaboardinghousewithrooms forrenta fewmilessouthofMoundsville,wherehechecksin.The nextmorning, Drescher, convinced that Bryant is heading back to California,receives$2,500 incash fromSheldonand flies toLosAngeles,wherehemeetsupwithSinkowski,who isalready in thearea looking forcontacts tohelp themhuntBryant. Sheldon meets with Bhaktipada and informs him that Drescher andSinkowski are in California to kill Bryant. Bhaktipada says, “Maybe that’s whatKrishnawants.”That same morning, Gorby telephones the New Vrindaban temple president and“informs”himofBryant’snewhideout. In retrospect, it seemsobvious thatGorbyhaddiscoveredBryant’s location by telephoning theMarshall County sheriff,whoBryantkeptintouchwith.ThisindicatesthatNewVrindabanandthesheriffwereinleague together against Bryant, a fact later corroborated by Bryant’sMoundsvilleattorney.ThetemplepresidentmeetswiththeMarshallCountymagistratewhowritesoutawarrantforBryant’sarrest,althoughitisnotacrimetomakeverbalthreatsinWestVirginia. That night, the New Vrindaban temple president calls the sheriff and“informs”himofBryant’slocation.Ofcourse,unknowntothetemplepresident,thesheriffalreadyknowswhereBryantishiding.TwoofhisdeputieshadvisitedBryantattheboardinghouseearlierthatafternoon.

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CHAPTER10:THEDEMONJAILEDAt12:28amduringthemorningofFebruary6,1986,twoMarshallCountysheriff’sdeputiesarrestBryantat theboardinghouse.He is taken to jailandchargedwithassaultandcarryingadeadlyweapon(a.45pistolwhichhecarriedforprotection).Thearticle,“DemonDiscredited,” ispublishedintheNewVrindabanNews,relatingthe story of the surveillance team spying on Bryant, the writing of the arrestwarrant,andthearrest.Thenextday,NewVrindaban leaders,with thepermissionof thesheriffandchiefdeputy, examine Bryant’s papers, an extremely unprofessional and irresponsibledecision. Drescher later noted, “Included among his [Bryant’s] memoirs were histhoughtsandplansforcommittingmurder,alongwiththenamesandaddressesofhis family, friends and confederates he plotted with. A veritable road map foranyone interested in locating andeliminating Sulochanandhis co-conspirators. Itwas a fantastic and truly unprecedented gift.” Later, the sheriff is accused offacilitatingthemurderofBryant.Back in California,Drescher and Sinkowskimake important contacts amongst theLosAngeles ISKCONsecuritypeopleandenlist them inhelping themtrackBryantwiththeintentionofassassinatinghim.TheydiscussvariouswaysofkillingBryant:givinghimanoverdoseheroininjection,killinghimanddroppingthebodydownanabandonedmineshaft,evenchain-sawingthebodyanddepositingthebodypartsindumpsters throughout Los Angeles. Drescher, Sinkowski, and two of Ramesvara’ssecurityguarddisciplestraveltotheMojaveDesertwheretheyexamineabandonedmineshaftswheretheythinktheymightdisposeofthebody.EarlierinJanuary,beforeflyingouttoMichigantoseehisparents,Bryanthadtriedtoenter the ISKCONLosAngelesvegetarianrestaurantwitha .45pistol tucked inthe front of his pants, while the guru Ramesvara was inside. Bryant is deniedentranceby security.Ramesvarapropheticallyutters, “Bryantneeds anewbody,”which indevotee terms,means to transfer the soul fromonebody to another, bykillinghim.RamesvarasubsequentlyordershissecurityguarddiscipletocooperatewiththeNewVrindabanhitmen.RamesvaraisawareoftheNewVrindabanhitmenin Los Angeles searching for Bryant, but does nothing to warn Bryant. He wantsBryantdead.Hetellsoneofhissecurityguarddisciples,“Nottogetinvolved,butifpeople from New Vrindaban were there to give Sulochan another body, then letthemdoit.”ThetwohitmenleaveCaliforniaonFebruary9th.WhenDrescherreturnstotheeast,Sheldon gives him$1,700 for expensemoney.Drescher complains, “Hey, they arejerkingmearoundonwhat Iwassupposed toget. . . Seventeenhundred?Why—Iwassupposedtogettwothousand!”

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CHAPTER11:AREALPAINBryant is not a model prisoner in the Marshall County jail. He gets in frequentconfrontationswith theother inmates,hecomplainsabouthis livingconditions tojail officials, he is disrespectful toward jail employees, and utters obscenities tocorrectionalofficers.He throwsaplateof spaghettiagainst thewallbecausehe isafraidsomeoneistryingtopoisonhim.OnecorrectionalofficercallsBryanta“realpain.”OnMarch9th,Bryant fireshis attorney;nowhehas to representhimself incourt.BryantmeetsShockman,whohadtriedtokillBhaktipadafivemonthsearlier,andthe two become friendly. Bryant borrows or begs money from Shockman toreplenish his inmate account so he can purchase cigarettes. Bryant becomesparanoid and asks Shockman tomake his plate in the jail kitchen and personallybringhimhismeals,sohewillnotbepoisoned.BryanttrustsShockman;afterall,hechantsHareKrishnaandhadtriedtokillBhaktipada.Duringthistime,orsoonafter,Marshall County jail officials, probably the sheriff and/or the chief deputy, makephotocopiesofBryant’smail,requisitionsandthelogbooksofcorrectionalofficers,and give the copies to New Vrindaban. This is against all prisoner regulations. ItappearsthatthesheriffistryingtohelpNewVrindabanassassinateBryant.OnApril3,BryantisfoundguiltybyaMarshallCountyMagistrateCourtonachargeof carrying a deadlyweapon. Bryant is devastated. He thought he had been on areligious crusadepointingout corruptionamongst the ISKCONgurus, andnowhehasbeenpaintedasakiller,notasavior.Bryant’sattorneysays,“Hesaidhedidn’twanttoliveifthissortofthingcouldhappen.”After his release from jail, Bryant goes to his parents’ home inMichigan. At NewVrindaban, high-ranking leaders again speak to Drescher about assassinatingBryant. Drescher is reluctant to continue the effort, but after making somecalculations,heagreestokillBryantifthecommunityreimburseshim$8,000forhisexpenses. Drescher later says, “They thought it was a bargain fucking basementprice.”Drescher and Gorby drive to Michigan and spy on Bryant. They put a SnoopybumperstickeronBryant’sbumper,takephotosofhisvehicle,andreturntoOhio.Bryant sees the sticker, recognizes it as Krishna fund-raising paraphernalia, andknowsheisbeingwatched.Hetellshisparentshemustleaveimmediately,forhissafetyandhisparents’safety.BryantdrivestoCalifornia.AtNewVrindaban,onMay18th,animportantmeetingisheldamonghigh-rankingconspirators,whoaskBhaktipadatoauthorize$4,000forDreschertohuntBryantin California. Bhaktipada refuses and leaves. The conspirators continue to discusspossiblesourcesoffunding.Thatnight,theNewVrindabantemplepresidentclaimsBhaktipadatoldhimtoauthorizea$2,500payment,whichDrescherreceivesfrom

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thefundraisingdirectorthenextmorning.DrescherfliestoLosAngelesandrentsacar.He telephonesRamesvara’s security guarddisciple,who tellshimBryantwaslastseendrivingnorthonI-5,apparentlyheadedforSanFrancisco.Drescherheadsnorthonthefreeway.Bryant visits his godsister/fiancée near SequoiaNational Park, and tells her he isabouttobekilledbecauseofhismissiontopointoutcorruptioninISKCON.Hesays,“Uponmydeath,that’swheneverythingwillunfold.”BryantthendrivestoBerkeleywherehemeetswithhisbestfriendandsays,“IhavethesuddenfeelingthatIamnotgoingtoeverseeyouagain.”BryantreturnstoLosAngeles,whereheisspottedby the security guard disciple, who notifies Drescher in San Francisco. DrescherreturnstoLosAngeles.Intwodaysheputs1,082milesonhisrentedcar.DrescherarrivesinLosAngelesandmeetswiththesecurityguarddiscipleshortlyafternoononMay21st.ThesecurityguarddisciplehuntsforBryant,andeventuallydiscovershimneartheISKCONtemple.ThetwowatchBryantfortherestofthedayandintothenight.Intheevening,Bryantvisitsafriendwholivesnearthetemple.Bryanttellshimthathe is,moreor less,givinguphiscrusadeagainst theISKCONgurus.Hehasnotattractedafollowingandheispaintedasakiller.Whyshouldhecare if ISKCON doesn’t care? And he has found anotherwoman that hewants tomarry.Perhapsnowhecanhavethefamilyhesomuchdesires.His friend inviteshim to spend thenight inhishouse,butBryantdeclines, sayingthathedoesn’twanttoputhisfriendindanger,asheknowsheisbeingpursuedbyNew Vrindaban hit men. Bryant departs, drives a short distance in his van, andparksonasidestreet,whereheintendstogointhebackofhisvan,crawlintohissleepingbag,andspendthenight.Drescherand thesecurityguarddisciple followhiminthedistance.ThesecurityguarddiscipleleavesDrescher,returnstothetempleandspeakstohisassistant,whoprays,“Let’sgetit[themurder]overwith,becauseitisanastything.”The security guard disciple quietly returns to the scene where Drescher stalksBryant, but hides in the shadowswatching andwaiting.Bryant rolls a jointwhilesittinginthedriver’sseatofhisvan,whenDrescherwalksup,saying,“ChantHareKrishnabecauseyou’reabout todie,” andshoots twobullets through thewindowglass into Bryant’s head about 1 am on Thursday, May 22nd. Bryant is instantlykilled.Drescherobserves tiny liquidparticlesofBryant’sbrainsprayout fromthebulletholesinhishead.

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CHAPTER12:THEMURDERDrescherquicklygetsintohisrentedcar,drivestotheairport,ditchesthecar,andpurchasesa ticketon thenext flightoutofLosAngeles; ithappens tobegoing toDallas.FromtheLAXairport,hetelephonesNewVrindabanandinformsthemthatBryant is dead.Thenews spreadsquickly.At theNewVrindaban4:30 am templeservice, the news is announced, and themembers of the congregation erupt intospontaneousapplause.DrescherreturnstoOhioandattemptstogetthebalanceofthepromised$8,000forhisexpenses.HeneedstoleaveimmediatelywithhiswifeandsonforIndia,wheretheyareinstructedtocontactoneofBhaktipada’swealthyIndiandiscipleswhowillshelterthem.DreschertelephonesNewVrindaban,butnoonewillhelphimgethispayment.Themurderconspiratorsarenowfearfulfortheirlives,becausetheyarenow involved in a murder, and they fear retribution from law enforcement.Drescher is frantic. He drives to Columbus, Ohio, and meets with his comrade,Sheldon,whosayshewilltrytohelphimgethisescapemoney.Drescheralsomeetswith Gorby at a restaurant near Youngstown, Ohio. Gorby also promises to helpDreschergethisescapemoney.BhaktipadaisnotifiedofthemurderonFriday,May23rd,atJFKairportinNewYorkCity, after returning from a tour in Germany and The Netherlands. He says, “TheLord simultaneously protected his sincere devotees and killed a demoniacpersonality.” However, Bryant’s murder unleashes a powerful and concertedgovernmentinvestigationwhichputsallthemurderconspiratorsatrisk.Drescher’spartnerincrimewhohelpedhimtrackBryantinLosAngeles,Ramesvara’ssecuritydisciple,cooperateswithinvestigatorsandfingersDrescherandNewVrindabanasthekillers.TheFBIbecomesinvolved.ISKCON leaders denounce the murder and distance themselves from NewVrindaban.RamesvaraSwami,whoearlierdeclared,“Bryantneedsanewbody,”andaskedhissecurityguarddiscipletocooperatewiththeNewVrindabanhitmen,nowclaimstothepressthatheandBryantwerepracticallybuddies.Bryant’sbestfriendin Berkeley, and also Bryant’s editor for The Guru Business, fear for their lives.Othersalsofearfortheir lives,suchasMarshallCountyTaxAssessorandBryant’sattorney,whobothpurchasegunsfortheirownprotection.BackatNewVrindaban, community leadersadmonish residentsnot to talk to thepoliceorthemedia.Atthistime,RandallGorby’sphonecallsarerecordedbystatepolice. Drescher is recorded asking for the balance of his promised payment of$8,000.

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CHAPTER13:THECAVALRYCOMESTOTHERESCUEOnSundaymorning,May25th,RandallGorbydrives toNewVrindabanandmeetswithHowardWheeler to inquire about the balance from the $8,000 he promisedDrescher. Wheeler says, “We will do it through the normal procedure and we’retrying to set up thedelivery.” In themeantime, Sheldondrives fromOhio toNewVrindaban and spends “ten hours” with Bhaktipada trying to convince him toauthorize the release of funds for Drescher’s escape to India. At first, Bhaktipadasays, “I don’t want to hear about it!” Sheldon persists, however, and Bhaktipadafinallyagreestogetthemoney.TheygotoBhaktipada’shouse,buthedoesn’thaveenoughmoney(normallyheonlykeeps$500to$1,000incashinhispersonalsafe).BhaktipadaandRadhanath(whowebelievewaswithSheldontheentiretime)driveto the sankirtan leader’s house and ask him to give them $6,000. The sankirtanleadercomplies,andasksthem,“Whatisthis?Sothey[DrescherandSheldon]cangetoutofthecountry?”BhaktipadaandRadhanathsmileandnodtheirheads,“Yes.”Radhanath and Sheldon drive to Ohio and give themoney to Drescher. Drescherlater complains to Gorby, that they only gave him $3,500.What happened to theother$2,500?OnMondaynight,Drescher is “packed and ready to fucking go,” but he considersstoppinginNewVrindabanthenextmorningonhiswaytoNewYorkCitytoshakedown the sankirtan leader for the balance of his promised payment. The nextmorning,Drescher,hiswifeandson, andSheldon, stopat aKent,Ohiovegetarianrestaurant,perhapsforagourmetbreakfast,becausetheirpocketsarestuffedwithcash. Little do they know that just minutes earlier, the Kent Police DepartmentreceivedawarrantforDrescher’sarrestfortheunsolveddisappearanceofanotherNewVrindaban resident, Charles Saint-Denis, three years earlier. TheKent policefindDrescherintheparkinglotofaKentbank,wherethehitmanandconspiratorintendedtochange$4,000insmallbillsforbigbills.TheyshouldhaveleftMondaynight for New York, and exchanged their bills at a Brooklyn or Manhattan bank.Theirdelaycoststhemdearly.

CHAPTER14:THERATSJUMPOFFTHESINKINGSHIP

DrescherandSheldonarearrested;Sheldonislaterreleasedonbail,butDrescherisnotreleased.AssoonastheNewVrindabantemplepresidenthearsthenewsofthearrest,hefleesfromNewVrindabaningreatanxietyandhidesoutwithafriendattheNewVrindabansatellitecenterinBrooklyn. Soonafter,SheldonfleesfromtheUnited States, and hides out at first in Ireland, then Australia, then India, thenMalaysia.HeisfinallyapprehendedbyU.S.marshalsandtransportedbacktotheU.S.incustodyin1990.

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While in jail awaiting his trial, Drescher claims that six federal agents plus theMarshallCountysheriffofferedhimadealifheimplicatesSwamiBhaktipadainthemurderofSaint-Denis.Drescher,however,refusestoimplicatehisspiritualmasterinthemurder,northeotherconspirators.Dreschersuffersgreatemotionalanguishinjail,butsurvivesduetothepreachingofRadhanathSwamiandothers.DrescherandRadhanathareextremelyclose.Theiremotionalattachmentisdiscussedinthischapter.RadhanathisthefirstpersontovisitDrescherinjail.ThedayfollowingDrescher’sarrest,agasexplosionatRandallGorby’shousenearlykills him.He is in coma forweeks, and sevenweeks in intensive care. Four yearslater,Gorby is founddead inhispickup truck,asphyxiated fromcarbonmonoxideintoxication.Thepolicelabelhisdeathasuicide,butothersthinkhewasmurdered.In July 1986 inBombay, Bhaktipadameetswith conspiratorsRadhanath, SheldonandSinkowski and theydiscusswhat to say if thereare subpoenaed to appear incourt. Bhaktipada blames Sheldon for the mess that they are in. After this, NewVrindaban leaders who were involved in the murder conspiracy leave thecommunity,somenevertoreturn.InCalifornia,theotherdevoteeswhoparticipatedin themurder conspiracy also jump ship. Ramesvara abandons his service in LosAngeles, moves to Long Island, and starts working for his father’s real estatebusiness. Ramesvara’s security disciple also leaves Los Angeles, moves to Brazil,thenHawaii,andlatergetsajobasapoliceofficerinSantaPaula,atownbetweenLosAngelesandVentura.The New Vrindaban temple president hires an expensive Pittsburgh law firm torepresenthimincourt,andpaysa$10,000retainer,probablythroughaloanorgiftfromhiswealthyfamily.Drescher,however,isabandonedandsaddledwithapublicdefender.AllmoneyatNewVrindabangoestoBhaktipada’slegalfund.Allprojectsareneglected,includingthedairy,andcowsdiefromstarvationordisease.The ISKCON GBC pressures Bhaktipada to resign from the GBC if he is indicted.Bhaktipadaagrees,butwhenheisindictedherefusestoresign.InSeptember1986,New Vrindaban lays off their entire work force of 187 employees. That month aGrand Jurymeets to investigate the possible connection betweenNewVrindabanmembers and the murder of Bryant. In November, the North American templepresidents recommend that the GBC expel Bhaktipada from ISKCON. Later thatmonth,Bryant’syoungest sondrowns inapondonNewVrindabanproperty. It islabeledanaccident.

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CHAPTER15:IT’SPERSECUTION,PUREANDSIMPLEThomas Drescher’s trial for the 1983 murder of Charles Saint-Denis begins onDecember 2, 1986. The day before the trial, the Marshall County prosecutororchestrates a publicity stunt with a television crew: a human body is exhumedfrom an unmarked grave on wooded property belonging to the community. ThebodybelongedtoabrahmacariwhohadlivedattheOldVrindabanFarmsome11-12yearsearlier,whohaddiedinanaccident.Sincenooneknewhisnextofkin,hewasunceremoniouslyburiedinthewoods.OnDecember5,1986, the juryof theCircuitCourtofPrestonCountypronouncesDrescherguiltyofmurderingSaint-Denis,althoughnobodyhadbeendiscovered.Amonth later, Drescher’s partner in the murder, Daniel Reid, leads police to theburiedbody,inreturnforalessersentence.Drescherisgivenlifeinprison,asWestVirginiahasnodeathpenalty.Drescher claims that he is tortured in theMarshallCounty jailbybeingstrippedtohisshorts,havingnomattressbutsleepingonthesprings of the bed, with an open window in winter. The sheriff claims thatDrescher’scellhasnowindow.BecauseDrescher refused to implicate SwamiBhaktipada in themurder of Saint-Denis, he becomes a folk hero to many at New Vrindaban. He writes two bookswhileinprison.RadhanathSwamiglorifiesDrescher’sbookfromIndia.On January 5, 1987, fifty FBI, IRS, state and local agents raid New Vrindaban’sadministrativeoffices,fundraisinghouseandprintingpressbuilding.Theyfillthreesemi trailer trucks with computers, financial records, filing cabinets, cash, andbumperstickersandbaseballcapsbearingthenamesandlogosofprofessionalandcollegesportsteamsusedbythetraveling“pickers”tocollectdonationstotaling12milliondollarsbetween1981and1985.Bhaktipadaclaimsthegovernmentistrying“togetridofus.”“Theyaretryingtogetridofthecults.”Toprotest the raid, theNewVrindaban school is closedand40 childrenenroll inMarshall County public schools. Bhaktipada inaugurates a year-long “FirstAmendment FreedomTour,” duringwhich he appears on 90 radio shows and 60televisionshows,includingCBSEveningNewswithDanRather,LarryKingLive,theSally JesseRaphaelShowandWest57thStreet.Hespeaksreportedlyto90millionpeople.NewVrindabaninauguratesanaggressivedirectmailmarketingprogramtotens of thousands of Indian families in the United States and Canada. ISKCONinterprets Bhaktipada’s media tour as a “preparation for Bhaktipada’s breakingawaytoformhisownsect.”InMarch1987,fourburiedbodies(2adultsand2children)inunmarkedgravesonNewVrindabanpropertyareexhumedandinvestigatedbytheWestVirginiaStateMedicalExaminer.Nofoulplayisdiscovered.

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AlsoinMarch1987,BhaktipadaisexpelledfromISKCONduringtheannualmeetingoftheGBC.TheyclaimheactedindefianceofISKCON’spoliciesandalsoattemptedto establish himself as the sole spiritual heir to Prabhupada’s movement.Bhaktipada is inwardly pleased by his expulsion, and forms his own society: TheEternalOrderoftheHolyName—LeagueofDevotees.Healsogetstheideatocreate12“CitiesofGod.”Soonhebeginsde-Indianizing,orChristianizingtheprayersandmusic for the temple services, and theattireandappearanceof thedevotees, toaclassicalEuropeanFranciscanstyle.InApril1987,RollingStonepublishesanarticletitled“DialOmForMurder,”aboutthe murders of Charles Saint-Denis and Steven Bryant. The authors claim thatBhaktipada ordered the assassination of Bryant to silence him from sharinginformationaboutBhaktipada’sillegalandimmoralactivities.In June 1987, attorneys for 26major league baseball teams and United FeaturesSyndicatefileasuitagainstNewVrindabanforillegallyusingtheirtrademarksinamulti-milliondollarnationwidepanhandlingoperation.NewVrindabansendstheirfundraising“pickers”overseastoMalaysia,Singapore,SouthKoreaandHongKong,wherethe“pickers”cansayanydamnthingtheypleasetogetunsuspectingpeopleto give donations without worrying about legal action. The Far-Eastern “pickers”allegedlycollect$5millionbetween1990and1993.MostmoneyischanneledintoBhaktipada’slegaldefensefund.ThecowsatNewVrindabangohungry.Somedie.Within a week after Drescher’s arrest, his wife leaves him, and moves in withanotherman.WhenDrescher in jailhearsaboutthis,heaskshispartner incrime,Sinkowski, to “whackhim.” Sinkowski refuses.Drescher thenaccepts thehonoredorder of Swami from one of Bhaktipada’s associates in a ceremony at the WestVirginia Penitentiary in June 1987. ISKCON condemns the action of awarding theSwamititletoaconvictedmurderer.In November 1988, the bookMonkey On A Stick: Murder, Madness and the HareKrishnas is published.New Vrindaban claims the book is “a spurious, maliciousattackonareligionnewtoAmerica.”InMay1990,afederalgrandjuryreturnsan11-count indictmentchargingBhaktipadawithracketeering:conspiring tomurderCharles Saint-Denis and Steven Bryant, running a fraudulent charity scam, mailfraudandkidnapping.Bhaktipada pleads not guilty and claims, at different times, that six differentantagonistsaretryingtodestroytheNewVrindabanCommunity:(1)aU.S.Attorney,(2) the anti-cult movement, (3) the U. S. government, (4) the Consolidated CoalCompany, (5)“powerful financial interests”whocontrol the“globaleconomy”and“worldgovernments,”and(6)ISKCON.Heclaimsheistotallyinnocentandthetrialsandtribulationsaresimplyaformof“religiouspersecution.”MostNewVrindabandevotees believe the charges against their spiritual master are “rumors andhearsay.”Theyareblindedbytheirgreatemotionalinvestment,bytheir“derangeddevotion.”

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CHAPTER16:TRIALSANDTRIBULATIONSOnAugust13,1987,atahearinginMarshallCountyCircuitCourt,thejudgeordersthatDrescherbeextraditedtoLosAngeles to faceachargeof first-degreemurderfor the death of Steven Bryant, despite the testimony of four New Vrindabandevotees who claim they saw him in Columbus on the day of the murder.Prosecuting Attorney ThomasWhite says, “I believe it [the Krishna testimony] isfabricated.” On Thanksgiving Day, Drescher is extradited to California where hepleadsnotguilty.DreschersayshistimeintheWestVirginiaPenitentiary,wherehehad a private but small one-man cell, looked “real good” compared to the LosAngelesJail,wheresixmenarehousedinafour-mancellandhehastosleeponthefloor.Drescher’s first trial in November/December 1990 ends in amistrial, as the jurydeadlocks.OneofhisjurorsbecomesadevoteeandisinitiatedbyDrescherinjail.InAugust1991,jurorsatDrescher’ssecondtrialpronouncehimguilty.Heissentencedto life inprison.Drescher remarks, “I amneitherbitternor regretful for anythingthathappened.WhatIdidwasforthebenefitofthedevoteesandtheworld.”Bhaktipada goes to trial in Martinsburg, West Virginia, in March 1991. Theprosecuting attorney, William Kolibash claims that Bhaktipada had authorizedBryant’s murder because he was afraid that Bryant would expose him as apedophile.IftheNewVrindabanresidentsdiscoveredthattheirspiritualmasterhadfallen from his vows of celibacy and molested boys and young men, they wouldreject him and he would lose his position of absolute power and preeminence.Bhaktipadadefendshimself,“Wedon’tkillevenanimals.ThenhowcouldIcondoneorencouragethekillingofahumanbeing?”The new New Vrindaban leaders, who had replaced the Old Guard who wereinvolvedinthemurderconspiracyandjumpedship,staunchlydefendBhaktipadainconversations,lecturesandarticlesinNewVrindabanpublications.TheauthortellsofhisexperiencebeingcalledasadefensewitnessonthestandduringBhaktipada’strial.OneNewVrindabanpublicationnotes,“NeedlesstosaythereisaconspiracyinthisworldtostoptheKrishnaconsciousnessmovement.AlotofliesanddeceptionwereusedbytheprosecutiontotrytobringdownagreatdevoteeoftheLord.”Bhaktipada is convicted of racketeering on Good Friday, 1991. The prosecutorsallegedlycelebratewithachampagneparty.DevoteesconsideritthedarkestdayinthehistoryofNewVrindaban.TheycompareBhaktipada to JesusChrist,whowascrucified on Good Friday. Bhaktipada calls the trial a “witch hunt,” and isincarceratedattheEasternRegionalJailinMartinsburg,wherehemakesamotiontoappealthecase.InJune,thejudgeannouncesBhaktipada’ssentence:30yearsinprison.Bhaktipadaisreleasedon$250,000bailpendingappeal,butisnotpermittedto return to New Vrindaban. He lives under house arrest in a rented house inWheeling.

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Atconsiderableexpense($495/hourplus$100,000retainer),Bhaktipadahiresthelaw firm of Alan Dershowitz—a well-known criminal law professor at HarvardUniversitywhosuccessfullydefendedcelebratedandwealthyclientssuchasClausvonBulow,MikeTyson,andO.J.Simpson—torepresenthiscase.InJuly1993,theFourthU.S.CircuitCourtofAppealsoverturnsthe1991convictiononthebasisofirrelevanttestimonybeingintroducedwhichmayhaveswayedthejury.Bhaktipadareturns to New Vrindaban in August 1993 in great triumph. New Vrindabanresidentshangahugesignonthegreenhouse,“WelcomeHome,Master.”Devoteesregard the overturning of Bhaktipada’s conviction as proof that their spiritualmasterisinnocentonallcharges.On the way home from the Parliament of the World’s Religions centennialcelebrationinChicago,BhaktipadaisobservedbythedriverofhisWinnebagovanengaging in sensuous activities with a teenage male Malaysian disciple,inappropriateforaswami.ThedriversharesthenewswithothersafterreturningtoNew Vrindaban, and the community splits into two nearly-equal camps: onebelievestheaccusationsarerumoranddefendsBhaktipada’shonor,whiletheothergroupregardstheaccusationsaslegitimate,andwanttoexpelBhaktipadafromhisleadershipposition.Tensionsflare.Oneangrydiscipleannounces,“Coffinsshouldbeprocuredfortheblasphemerswhodaretospreadslanderousliesaboutthespiritualmaster, Krishna’s pure devotee.” The driver of the Winnebago van leaves thecommunity, never to return. Radhanath Swami also leaves in haste. BhaktipadaspendsmostofhistimeinhiscabinatSilentMountain,anabandonedstonequarrynearLittleton,WestVirginia,wherehecontinuestoenjoyperformingdailyfellatioonhis24-yearoldmanservant.In March 1994 Bhaktipada refuses a plea bargain offered by the prosecutors.Sheldon,whoischargedwithBhaktipadaasaco-conspiratorintheBryantmurder,accepts the offer and serves about five years in a Kentucky prison. Bhaktipada’srefusaltoacceptthepleabargainputsthecommunityatriskofforfeitureifhelosesthecase,andthisangersDrescherandSheldon,whoabandontheirspiritualmasterand testify against him. Their undying love for Bhaktipada evaporates. Dreschernow claims that Bhaktipada ordered the murders of Saint-Denis and Bryant.Drescher’sstatementscrushBhaktipada’scase,andBhaktipadapleadsguiltytoonecountofmailfraudinApril1996.BhaktipadaremainsdefianttowardISKCON.“It’sareligiouswar.Theylookonmeasademonwhohascontaminatedthepurenectarthat Krishna gave us.” Bhaktipada is sentenced to 30 years in prison and fined$250,000.InJanuary1997,Bhaktipadaislockeddowninsolitaryconfinementfortwoweeksafter his cellmate reported him to prison authorities allegedly formaking sexualadvances.DrescherinprisontriestoreconnectwithISKCON,butfewwillgivehimthetimeofday,exceptforRadhanathSwami,whoDreschersaysis“mybestfriend.”

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CHAPTER17:THECOVERUPCONTINUESAlthough Bhaktipada and Sheldon go to prison (and a few others, such as thesankirtan leaderand themanagerofPalacePress for thecopyrightcase,andReidfor the Saint-Denismurder), othermembers of the conspiracy tomurder Bryant,such as Radhanath Swami, Ramesvara Swami and Sinkowski, get away scot free.(ThetemplepresidentandRamesvara’ssecuritydisciplereceivedimmunity.)AfterleavingNewVrindaban,RadhanathbecomesanISKCONGBCandguru,andservesasGBC or co-GBC forNewVrindaban from1995-2007. After being released fromprison, Sheldon sets up an organic garden atNewVrindaban on 12 acres of landusingcommunity funding.A reliablesourcesays thatSheldonreceives$2,000permonth “hush money” from Radhanath Swami to keep quiet about Radhanath’sinvolvementintheBryantmurder.In 2000, another prominent member of the murder conspiracy, the former NewVrindabantemplepresident(ArthurVilla),returnstoNewVrindabantoserveinthecapacity of General Manager (with essentially the same duties as the templepresident). It is reported thathereceivesa salarybetween$80,000and$100,000per year, an enormous sumbydevotee standards. Radhanath, the co-GBC atNewVrindaban, verily “insists” that Villa be given the lucrative position. WhenRadhanath,VillaandSheldonaregivenprominentpositionsinISKCON,otherswhoareawareoftheirinvolvementinBryant’smurderfeelbetrayed.Sinkowski and Radhanath are subpoenaed to appear before a Grand Jury in theSpringof1993.RadhanathgoestovisithiswealthyfatherinChicago,anditseemsthat all his legal problems disappear. Sinkowski believes Radhanath’s father usedhispoliticaland financial influencetoprotecthisson fromprosecution.SinkowskithenthreatensRadhanathSwamifor“lying”and“blaspheming”againstBhaktipada.Aftera time,Sinkowski’sderangeddevotion toBhaktipada is turnedbyoneofhisemployees, a young man who grew up at New Vrindaban who tells him, “Stopdefending Bhaktipada. You look like an asshole. Everyone else knows that therumors[ofBhaktipadamolestingboysandyoungmen]aretrue,exceptyou!”Afterthat, Sinkowskibegins threatening thosewhohadonce supportedBhaktipada.Hemailsoutpostcardswhichpromisedeathtothereceivers,butonlyinthecapacityofkarmicreactions.Sinkowskidoesnotpersonallythreatenhisvictims.WhenRadhanathreturnstoISKCONin1994andisgrantedpowerfulpositionsasaGBC member and guru, the GBC stipulates one condition: “provided the UnitedStatesGovernmentdoesnotindicthim[Radhanath]initscasenowpendingagainstKirtananandaSwami.” ISKCON leadersknowwhohadparticipated in themurder;theyneedthatclausetoprotectthemselves.Inanycase,Radhanathisnotindicted.In June2004,aftereightyears inprison,Bhaktipada isreleasedearly,duetopoorhealth,andgoes to livewithhis lastremainingU.S.disciples inNewYorkCity. In

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August2005,Bhaktipadaisaccusedofattemptingtofondlethegenitalsofavisitingyoungman,andthedevoteesinNewYorksplitintotwocamps:thosewhoconsiderthe accusation a rumor invented by envious ISKCON devotees, and those whobelievetherumoristrue,andtrytoevictBhaktipadafromthebuilding.New Vrindaban publishes five books written by Drescher in prison. RadhanathSwamiattempts tovisitDrescher inprisonbut isdeniedentrancebecauseadrugdetectiondogbecomesalertedtohispresence.InDecember2006,Sinkowski,aftertwentyyearsofsilence,accusesRadhanathofrecruitinghimintotheBryantmurderconspiracy.Radhanathdenies theaccusation,andattempts todiscreditSinkowski,callinghima“madman.”In 2008Radhanath’s first book,AutobiographyofanAmericaSwami, is published.Two years later, in June of 2010, he visits the former New Vrindaban sankirtanleaderandattemptstoconvincehimtoretracthisstatementmade22yearsearlierthatRadhanathandBhaktipadahadcometohishouseafterBryant’smurdertogetmoney soDrescher could flee the country.The sankirtan leader refuses to retracthistestimony.Threemonthslater,inSeptember2010,RadhanathSwamiattemptstodiscouragearespected scholarof ISKCON fromcollaboratingwith the author inwriting aNewVrindaban history book. Radhanath is afraid that the author (Doktorski) will saythathe(Radhanath)wasinvolvedinthemurderplot.Radhanathtellstheprofessorthat the professor’s professional “integrity would be at stake.” The scholar ofISKCONdeclinestowriteabookaboutNewVrindabanwithDoktorskiasco-author.InMarch2008,BhaktipadamovespermanentlytoIndiawithhisconfidant.Hesays,“ThereisnosenseinstayingwhereI’mnotwanted.”InIndia,heisworshipedastheJagad Guru by his Indian and Pakistani disciples, who have been protected fromdoubtbyBhaktipada’s confidant.Bhaktipada lives the last two-and-a-half yearsofhis life surroundedbydotingdisciples.Hediesof kidney failure inOctober2011.Drescherinprisonwrites,“Onethingwascertain:eitherpeoplelovedorhatedtheman.Hisdeathbringingsorrowforsome,greatelationtoothers.”In November 2012, a television crew from The Investigative Discovery ChannelcomestoNewVrindabantofilmanepisodeaboutthemurderofBryant.Thetemplepresident warns devotees, “Please do not speak to the crew or give them anyinformation.”TheshowwasbroadcastinJuly2013.TheauthorsumsupKillingForKrishnabybrieflydiscussingtheteachingsofSwamiPrabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, regarding killing for Krishna, such as killingplants,killinganimals,andkillinghumanbeings. Inessence,PrabhupadasaysthatkillingforKrishnaisagoodthing,butkillingforone’sownpersonalgratificationisheinous.Theauthorasks,“WhocanlegitimatelyauthorizekillingforKrishna?”anddiscussestheimplications.

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The author concludes his book, Killing For Krishna, with a warning: whereverderangeddevotion exists, there also exists thepotential for killing in thenameofGod.HerecommendsthatcharismaticrelationshipsinISKCONbewatchedcarefullybythosewhohavenotinvestedtheiremotionsinthecharismaticleader.Wherevercharismatic relationships exist in ISKCON, dispassionate, critical, watch-dogobserversshouldregularlymonitorsuchcharismaticgurusandtheirdisciples.Theymustbewatchedconstantlyandoffendersmustbedisciplined,ifnecessary.Onlyinthisway,theauthorsuggests,cantheatrocitiesofthepastnevermanifestagain.

Theauthorcanbecontactedathenrydoktorski@gmail.com.

TopurchaseKillingForKrishna,gotohttp://henrydoktorski.com/Killing4Krishna.html