Book Alleges Murder In Sex Scandal

Ed Nawotka |

Oct 23, 2000

News
Book Alleges Murder In Sex Scandal Ed Nawotka -- 10/23/00 On the anniversary of a sex scandal and the apparent suicide of the editor of college press, a new book is calling the case a possible murder, and a local bookstore is playing a central role as forum for information and questions about the case. People outside the town of Hillsdale--100 miles west of Detroit--may not remember last year's October 18 headlines describing the suicide/sex scandal. Citizens were stunned to learn that Lissa Roche, editor of Hillsdale College Press and Imprimis, a well-known politically conservative speech digest, was found dead of gunshot wounds just hours after revealing she had had a 19-year affair with her father-in-law, Dr. George Roche, president of Hillsdale and an influential conservative fund-raiser. She also accused him of sleeping with Hillsdale co-eds. Roger Rapoport's study of the case, Hillsdale: Greek Tragedy in America's Heartland (RDR Books, $17.95) alleges that Roche's death was never properly investigated, and the book has prompted residents of Hillsdale to question the circumstances surrounding Roche's death. Many in the close-knit politically conservative town have hesitated to speak candidly about the case, but Volume One, a socialist used bookstore in Hillsdale, has served as a gathering place for locals and reporters interested in learning more about the story and in expressing their opinions. One year after Roche's death, information continues to come in. Aimee England, manager of Volume One, told PW, "What we've done is put together a binder of clippings and e-mail from all kinds of people--Hillsdale College faculty, students, friends of Lissa. As a bookstore, we're interested in providing an open forum, as well as an alternative to the free-market idealism that dominates this town." In addition, Volume One is selling a photocopy of the official police report for $10. The police also sell the report--for $25--and require a signature to release the document. Rapoport told PW, "This town is very much a company town, and the kind of place where if you bounced a check, everybody knows. Volume One was the only place people really felt comfortable talking about Lissa's death, and they helped me greatly." Rapoport's account alleges that sloppy police work may have prevented the cops from discovering exactly what happened the night of Roche's death. Rapoport told PW, "There are many compelling reasons to reopen the case." England agrees, though she expressed some reservations about the timing of Rapoport's book: "Many people who knew Lissa are still dealing with this emotionally and I have mixed feelings about his stirring up the waters so soon." If the case is reopened, Rapoport said, the bookstore is likely to find itself "at the center of the media storm." England, not intimidated, told PW, "We watch a lot of Law and Order. This is our own little JFK thing." More information is available on the Web at www.rdrbooks.com/hillsdale.

News

Book Alleges Murder In Sex Scandal
Ed Nawotka -- 10/23/00

On the anniversary of a sex scandal and the apparent suicide of the editor of college press, a new book is calling the case a possible murder, and a local bookstore is playing a central role as forum for information and questions about the case.

People outside the town of Hillsdale--100 miles west of Detroit--may not remember last year's October 18 headlines describing the suicide/sex scandal. Citizens were stunned to learn that Lissa Roche, editor of Hillsdale College Press and Imprimis, a well-known politically conservative speech digest, was found dead of gunshot wounds just hours after revealing she had had a 19-year affair with her father-in-law, Dr. George Roche, president of Hillsdale and an influential conservative fund-raiser. She also accused him of sleeping with Hillsdale co-eds.

Roger Rapoport's study of the case, Hillsdale: Greek Tragedy in America's Heartland (RDR Books, $17.95) alleges that Roche's death was never properly investigated, and the book has prompted residents of Hillsdale to question the circumstances surrounding Roche's death. Many in the close-knit politically conservative town have hesitated to speak candidly about the case, but Volume One, a socialist used bookstore in Hillsdale, has served as a gathering place for locals and reporters interested in learning more about the story and in expressing their opinions. One year after Roche's death, information continues to come in.

Aimee England, manager of Volume One, told PW, "What we've done is put together a binder of clippings and e-mail from all kinds of people--Hillsdale College faculty, students, friends of Lissa. As a bookstore, we're interested in providing an open forum, as well as an alternative to the free-market idealism that dominates this town."

In addition, Volume One is selling a photocopy of the official police report for $10. The police also sell the report--for $25--and require a signature to release the document. Rapoport told PW, "This town is very much a company town, and the kind of place where if you bounced a check, everybody knows. Volume One was the only place people really felt comfortable talking about Lissa's death, and they helped me greatly."

Rapoport's account alleges that sloppy police work may have prevented the cops from discovering exactly what happened the night of Roche's death. Rapoport told PW, "There are many compelling reasons to reopen the case." England agrees, though she expressed some reservations about the timing of Rapoport's book: "Many people who knew Lissa are still dealing with this emotionally and I have mixed feelings about his stirring up the waters so soon." If the case is reopened, Rapoport said, the bookstore is likely to find itself "at the center of the media storm." England, not intimidated, told PW, "We watch a lot of Law and Order. This is our own little JFK thing."

More information is available on the Web at www.rdrbooks.com/hillsdale.

A version of this article appeared in the 10/23/2000 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: