Nonfiction Book Award Status: Silver
Author Name: Rannah Gray
Synopsis
With raw honesty and unparalleled access, Familiar Evil tells the story of one man’s international search for a child predator—how perseverance, courage, and the enduring belief in good over evil prove the power of one.
Twenty years before this story begins, a hung jury in England allowed Scott Rogers, principal at a performing arts academy, to avoid prison on charges of sexual assault against a young student and quietly slip out of the country. Ethan, a successful businessman, husband, father, and former academy student, always knew the jury got it wrong. He knew his classmate had told the truth, and he knew Rogers would continue to abuse until somebody stopped him.
For 13 years, Ethan searched for Rogers. His efforts finally paid off when he found Rogers’ name in an online search, referenced in a letter to the editor of a daily newspaper in Louisiana. He took a bold step. He emailed its author, public relations consultant Rannah Gray. This is their story.
For the next 365 days, Ethan and Rannah worked to expose the truth, becoming confidential informants to a federal investigation that uncovered how Rogers had used deceit and fraud to gain U.S. citizenship. With colorful criminal defense attorney Nathan Fisher and gutsy paralegal Mary Jane Marcantel, the foursome discovered that Rogers had brought several teenagers to the U.S., exploiting some as sex slaves. Claiming friendships with a powerful federal judge, the head of State Police, and the local Sheriff, Rogers became increasingly brazen. As law enforcement agencies in two countries were working to stop him, he was surreptitiously moving to adopt more young boys into his home from state custody.
This is a story that sent shock waves across two continents—a story that can be told only by those inside the investigation and the heroic British survivors of Scott Rogers’ abuse.
Author Bio:
Rannah Gray is a public relations consultant whose career highlights include Louisiana’s two favorite pastimes—politics and sports. Her work as a political media producer has been honored with numerous national awards, including three Pollie Awards from the American Association of Political Consultants and eight Telly Awards, including two Classic Tellys for outstanding television produced over the past 20 years. Politics Magazine named her one of the Top 100 Influencers in Louisiana. In Baton Rouge, Sales and Marketing Executives International named her Marketer of the Year, and Business Report Magazine listed her as one of the city’s Influential Women in Business.
She is a graduate of LSU with both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Journalism. While she is a prolific writer, having served as a speechwriter, spokesperson, and image maker for clients throughout the country, this is her first book. Rannah is a native of Chatawa, Mississippi, and resides in Baton Rouge where she provides expertise in advertising and public relations, media production, and community engagement to a broad base of clients.
