Controversial Publicist Found Dead

Publicist David Hans Schmidt, who plead guilty last month to attempting to extort Tom Cruise, was found dead of an apparent suicide in his Phoenix home on Friday.

Schmidt was under house arrest after agreeing to plead guilty to a $1 million extortion fiasco, using Tom Cruise's stolen wedding photos. According to the AP, authorities went to Schmidt's Phoenix home after a tracking device on him had not moved and he hadn't checked in, said police Lt. Anthony Lopez.

Schmidt is also known for an auction of Paris Hilton's diaries, and for representing Olympic scandal skater Tonya Harding and prostitute Divine Brown, who dallied with actor Hugh Grant. More recently, Schmidt said he was involved in Dustin "Screech" Diamond's nasty sex video.



Reader Comments

(Page 7 of 7) Previous 15 Comments

91.
After reading all the posts I'm now certain the FBI are really Scientologists and and and drug lords are involved because in the back ground of those wedding pics was pot plants growing on a grassy knoll. The guy had to go.

Posted at 4:13AM on Sep 30th 2007 by Y

92. I do agree with some of their thinking about drugs and healing naturally
(if possible, That is where are views differ) I'm specially against anti depressants and mood altering drugs for children as the first solution. However they are not the group to introduce that idea although I don't think they claim that, It's been around longer then they have.

Posted at 4:41AM on Sep 30th 2007 by Nik

93. Sorry for his loved ones, but this guy was in over his head with all of this stuff. In his interviews, he seemed to be a malicious person. We'll all have to see what the autopsy reveals...

Posted at 6:38AM on Sep 30th 2007 by AllisonLV

94. Every life is a spirit, it is up to you how you treat it. No one is wasted space, look within your self, are you waisting away?

Posted at 6:40AM on Sep 30th 2007 by Robert

95. The scientologist's had him killed and staged the 'suicide'. Tom hates to be extorted, but doesn't mind murder.
Tom Cruise is a murderer.

Posted at 8:16AM on Sep 30th 2007 by emanone

96. 1. Those photos were NOT of Tom's wedding. You couldn't extort anything from anyone with actual wedding photos. They were of something much more "revealing" about Tommy Girl, uh, I mean boy.
2. That was NOT a suicide. They've killed before. They'll kill again.

Posted at 10:27AM on Sep 30th 2007 by CultKills

97. Your're absolutely correct 94. There are probably multiple copies of the photos still on the market. Someone like this guy didn't get one copy and not duplicate them. They'll turn up on the Internet one of these days....poor Tommy and Robogirl.

Posted at 11:44AM on Sep 30th 2007 by Me

98. #94 According to "Authorities", this guy told someone he had already attempted suicide but it failed..Don't know what "authorities" they are talking about?????

Posted at 11:54AM on Sep 30th 2007 by Me

99. I find it ironic that this ethically & integrity challenged rampant opportunist may not have had the guts to do his two years for extortion because HE would BECOME the opportunity in prison. The biggest operators are often the biggest chickens when it comes to themselves.

Cruise followed the letter of the law and nailed Schmidt for extortion through proper channels. Schmidt was facing two years in federal prison. Cruise went through proper channels like a good citizen, and had already emerged victorious. If I were Cruise, I would have wanted Schmidt to do his time in the federal pen, if you know what I mean.

I don't like Scientology, but commentors are seeing them around every corner. Let the uncovered facts ultimately speak to this case. You need proof; not conjecture. In the meantime, I think the lesson is that you reap what you sow.

Posted at 1:55PM on Sep 30th 2007 by Pfffft.

100. Narcicistic sleaze balls dont kill themselves...they generally find a way out or talk their way out...

see the similar story on scientology and suicide attempts below:
http://www.cultnews.com/?p=2235

Posted at 10:22PM on Sep 30th 2007 by Mi@pocca

101. Scientologists killed him to protect their gay money maker. He had gay pictures of Tom & another dude doing it,the wedding photos story is a cover

Posted at 11:58PM on Sep 30th 2007 by Billy Beans

102. This is very sad. For those who knew the real Dave he was a good hearted and kind person. His upbringing was very less than desirable and his dad is to blame. Yes, Dave made choices which were beyond thinking clearly. He wanted to be a successful businessman, like his dad. He wanted to prove to his dad that he could make it without his dad's money unlike his brother. He didn't want to be under his dad's rule like his mother and his brother Doug. Oh ya, Doug doesn't tell you he works under his dad and his dad has the big bucks. Dave was never welcomed back into the family as his family says. Never!! He had to stay at a hotel when he came to visit his parents. He was always the black sheep and in todays language suffered for years with ADHD and depression. His dad whacked him and made him eat like a dog out of a dish on the floor when he was young. Some fatherly love. But no one speaks of that do they? Dave wanted a family and when he had one his wife found another man on the internet and left him. She has been very cruel over the years and has done everything in her power to make his life miserable. Even having him arrested for putting a card on his infant son's grave! I'm not saying what he did was right but he wanted to make it and to prove to his dad that he was successful! In the end, he died a very lonely person. As he always said "Someday my dad won't have to worry about kicking me around anymore, either I'll make it big or be dead". I doubt his family will even claim his remains. They are glad they won't be bothered nor embarassed by him anymore. I only hope that when his dad comes to the gates Dave is there and can turn his back on him like he did to him. For those of you who didn't really know Dave please find it in your heart to be kind. May his soul rest in peace.

Posted at 2:21PM on Oct 1st 2007 by Mary

103. Don't mess with Scientology!

Posted at 10:32AM on Oct 2nd 2007 by denise

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