Florida mom sues Scientology over suicide

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A Florida woman charges in a lawsuit that the Church of Scientology contributed to her son's death by denying him access to antidepressants.

The lawsuit filed in Tampa, Fla., contends that 20-year-old Kyle Brennan shot himself in 2007 while with his Scientologist father, who allegedly took away Brennan's medication and tried to put him into a church-oriented drug treatment program.

Brennan wasn't a Scientologist and had been staying with his father, Thomas Brennan, in Clearwater, Fla., for about a week before his death. The lawsuit alleges two other Scientology members convinced Thomas Brennan to lock up his son's medication.

The St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times said Tuesday that church officials denied any role in Brennan's death, saying the defendants weren't Scientology leaders and the incidents all took place off church property.