Heber C. Jentzsch (born 1935 from Carl Jentzsch and his third wife Pauline), has officially been president of Church of Scientology International since 1982. While David Miscavige is regarded as the actual leader of the Scientology religion, Jentzsch served as its chief public relations officer and has appeared in interviews, aggressively defending the church on several occasions.^**

Jentzsch grew up in a Mormon family. He is the son of Mormon Polygamist Carl Jentzsch, and has 42 siblings.Scientologists march on courthouse, UPI 20.5.1985 His first name was inspired by the Mormon apostle Heber C. Kimball. Heber Jentzsch considered two events of his life to be pivotal: the arrest of his father in 1955, and himself allegedly being "cured" at age 15 from "radiation burns" in the Scientology purification rundown. He joined Scientology in 1967.UTAH-BORN SCIENTOLOGY PRESIDENT SAYS THE RELIGION SAVED HIS LIFE, The Salt Lake Tribune 12.9.1992

In 1988 he was arrested in Spain along with 69 other members of the organization on various charges, including "illicit association," coercion, fraud, and labor law violations. Jentzsch left Spain and returned to the United States after Scientology paid a bail bond of approximately $1 million, and he has not returned to the country since. Scientology fought the charges in court for fourteen years, until the case was finally dismissed in 2002.

Heber Jentzsch was first married to Yvonne Gillham, who was also the founder of the Scientology Celebrity Centre. After her death from cancer, he married Karen Barter. They are divorced and have one son, Alexander.

References

• Xenutv.com Jentzsch appears on talk show Geraldo with cult expert Steve Hassan
• ScienTOMogy.info Jentzsch appears on KFI radio Los Angeles with former scientologist now critic Dennis Erlich
• whyaretheydead.net Jentzsch appears on 60 minutes with author and critic Paulette Cooper

Sources