The Evil Mother

by Fred Rosen

When 18 year old Aaron Iturra was shot to death in bed in his Eugene, Oregon home in October of 1994, the first person his grief stricken mother Janyce Iturra turned to was Mary Louise Thompson. Why? Because Thompson, herself the mother of a troubled teen, had become an active campaigner against teen gang activity and a surrogate mother to many local teens. But neighbors were horrified when police arrested this supposed model mother for setting up the hit and persuading two teens to carry out the brutal murder of the sleeping teen. Police discovered that this crusader against gangs had, in fact, been heavily involved with the Hell's Angels as a young woman and had masterminded the criminal activities of a violent local gang called the 74 Hoover Crips. In July of 1996, Thompson was sentenced to life without parole.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1998

About the author

American true crime author and former columnist for the Arts and Leisure Section of The New York Times.

Rosen's published works in the genre include Lobster Boy, There But For the Grace: Survivors of the 20th Century’s Infamous Serial Killers and When Satan Wore a Cross.

He is also the winner of Library Journal’s Best Reference Source 2005 award for The Historical Atlas of American Crime, and has written many other works of historical non-fiction including Cremation in America, Contract Warriors and Gold!.

Reviews

[riven · Rating 1 out of 5]

1,25 🌟

the story was interesting but i hated how the book was written. some of the things mentioned by the author were not important at all and sometimes i had to reread a page or two because i was getting so tired of it. such a shame because i was really interested in this topic.

[Babs M · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was okay. I was more interested in this because she was from Massillon, Ohio and her sister Judi was my dad's dental assistant back in the late 50's and early 60's. I knew her brother Joel Fockler that was a patient. The family certainly had their trials. The version of what happened to Joel was different than I had been told in the early 70's. She is not a good person but her sister Judy was. Her other brother Bob killed his wife in a pizza shop in Massillon back in 1967. Mary deserved what she got.

[Koren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mother who appears to be someone who campaigns against gang violence turns out to be an enabler. There is a lot of word for word testimony here but it is a quick read. I started it one day and finished the next.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite a creepy story of a "den" mother who gets into a lot of gang related trouble. She'll do anything for her "boys" including lying. She quite frankly scared the hell out of me!

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will never go wrong with a Fred Rosen book and this one did not disappoint. A very interesting and enjoyable read from the first word to the last

Definitely a 5 ***** star book! Thank you Fred Rosen for another great read! The only negative is that I'm done reading it. 😊

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was too close to home, but then that is why I read it. I know who Iturra's are. My kids went to the same school. This was a horrible tragedy.
Fred Rosen wrote this book with his little added comments which I enjoyed. It sort of lightened the mood of the anger I was having toward "Gang Mom" Mary. I feel Mr Rosen hit on the most important parts of the story so the reader does not have to wade through a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo and get board.
The book was just the right amount of pages to keep my interest. I don't like many books over 250 pages.
Although this event happened back in 1994, due to today's violence in the schools and elsewhere, the story will never grow old.

[Chris Demer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly well-written true crime story featuring a psychopathic woman who manipulates alienated youth to do her bidding, and a dogged detective, Michaud.

Although the protagonist's early life was a bit chaotic, she had two parents and was "the apple of her father's eye". Unfortunately, she was extremely pampered, selfish and entirely egocentric. In her teen years she becomes involved with motorcycle gang culture.

Eventually in trouble with the law, Mary Fockler leaves Ohio and heads to Oregon to reinvent herself. Part of her new persona is that of a concerned mother whose son becomes involved in gang activity. She puts herself forward as an anti-gang spokesperson, and ingratiates herself with the local police. Behind this facade lies an evil, manipulative woman who enjoys her relationships with young gang members and uses them for her own purposes rather than helping steer them away from the gang life. When a local boy is brutally murdered in his bed, police are initially baffled. But Det. Michaud suspects that Mary is not who who she purports to be and begins to link her to the murder.

An engaging vacation read.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A startling book about the evil that can lurk next door. This woman could be your best friend. She hides behind a mask that is nearly impossible to see. Some one you would trust. Someone you would break bread with. A true unmasking of a deceitful predator hiding behind the appearance of your typical soccer mom.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been awhile ago that I read this book but I do remember that it was really good...that's all I can say.

[Tabitha Rohm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am stunned. As a mother, I know what it is to want to defend your child and protect your child ... but to become a part of your child's crimes ... I have no clue what that would feel like.