Scientologist accident victim is identified
The 20-year-old Hemet woman died after she fell in a transformer vault.
By Karin Marriott
A woman killed on the Church of Scientology's film studio grounds near San
Jacinto is 20-year-old Hemet resident Stacey Myer, according to the county
coroner.
She apparently was electrocuted when she fell in a transformer vault at
Golden Era Productions north of San Jacinto, said Riverside County
sheriff's spokeswoman Perri Feinstein-Portales.
"Her autopsy was performed today," Feinstein-Portales said Tuesday. "Right
now the cause of death is still pending, however, there is nothing to
indicate . . . she died at the hands of another."
The cause of Myer's death will not be confirmed until toxicology reports
are received, which could take about eight weeks, Feinstein-Portales said.
The young woman's body was badly burned in the accident.
The state is also investigating a number of safety issues, including
whether employees at Golden Era were properly trained and if warnings were
posted about high voltage.
The state Division of Occupational Safety and Health spokesman, Dean Fryer,
said the agency expects the investigation may be done within three months.
Fryer said the state will look into how the woman got into the underground
electrical vault where she died.
The young woman was a member of the church and worked in landscaping and
maintenance, Golden Era General Manager Ken Hoden said.
The studio produces promotional and training films for the church.
Hoden said he spoke to the woman the day before the accident. At that time,
she was trying to catch squirrels and put them in a cage so she could move
them to another area. One squirrel had been killed when it ventured into
the vault, he said.
The entrance of the 8-foot-deep vault was a ground-level manhole. Myer
slipped on oil and died instantly after hitting a 7,200-volt wire,
according to authorities. She was discovered by a Golden Era security guard.
If the film studio is in violation of state safety rules, Fryer said, fines
can range from a few hundred dollars to $25,000.
Karin Marriott can be reached by phone at (909) 487-5230 or by e-mail at
kmarriott@pe.com
Staff writer Katie Ismael contributed to this report.
Published 6/28/2000
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