cover image Evil Web

Evil Web

Mary Rich. New Horizon Press, $22.95 (200pp) ISBN 978-0-88282-139-9

Rich was obsessed with the subject of religion since childhood. She became a born-again Christian and married a man who shared most of her views but lacked her fervor. Together, they fell under the influence of self-appointed prophet Ron Larrinaga. They and their children joined his ``family,'' and eventually Mary and the children began to be beaten, starved and sexually abused, as were Larrinaga's own children. The core group, with other hangers-on, traveled around the U.S., trying to evade the law, primarily because the children were not sent to school. This life on the lam shut them off from contact with the outside world. Law enforcement officers had trouble closing in on Larrinaga, who claimed he was being persecuted for his religion. After he abandoned Rich, she came to her senses and filed criminal charges against him. Larrinaga, tried and convicted, was sentenced to 180 years. Assisted by Jose (coauthor of Guerrilla in Striped Pants), Rich tells a horror story of life in a cult. Yet while making it clear that the leader was a sadistic sociopath, Rich shows herself to be gullible, to say the least. Photos not seen by PW. 20,000 first printing; author tour. (Jan.)