This is a guy who’s been in my home listening to Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony with me.” “It’s like finding out a close friend of yours is a neo-Nazi.”Īt Bear’s Place, where Rosser played regularly to a packed house, Sutton said: “I know the man–just imagine trying to wrap your mind around that. “We were shocked, all of Eric’s friends here,” said Jim Krause, a musician and one of Rosser’s closest friends. In Bloomington, reaction to seeing Rosser’s picture all over the paper ranges from befuddlement to disbelief. “We hope others might see Rosser’s face all over the newspaper and say, `I’m not going to do that.'” The FBI hopes that putting Rosser in such company will serve as a deterrent, Garrison said. “He could easily set up shop in, say, Denmark, teaching piano to young children there.” “He’s an apt candidate for inclusion because he is, number one, at large and, number two, he’s a child pornographer with a history of making and trading it. government effort to attack this problem? Well, yeah, in a sense,” Garrison said. Though the 49-year-old musician has no prior record and is no more–or less–dangerous than any other pedophile, he reflects a growing problem that first gained widespread attention in 1991 with introduction of the National Child Protection Act, said Doug Garrison, FBI spokesman in Indianapolis. Rosser has been trained as a professional concert and jazz pianist, and authorities believe he might be making a living as a street musician.Rosser gives the nation a symbol for alleged crimes garnering more attention in an age of Internet sex and increasing public awareness of child sexual abuse. While in Thailand, the FBI said he ran a music school in his home and had a wife and 2-year-old son. But he failed to show up at a court-ordered appearance, prompting a manhunt by Thai police. He posted bail again when he was arrested shortly after on charges of child molestation. Rosser was jailed and later released on a bond equivalent to about $30,000. According to police, two of the children identified in the pornographic material were former Bloomington residents. 9 when Thai police - tipped off by the FBI - raided his home, finding photos and videos of children. William Platz and Charles Poole were convicted of lying to FBI agents. In connection with the investigation, four other Bloomington men have been convicted of various charges.ĭavid Danser and Pirie Cleveland were convicted of the production and possession of child pornography, respectively. "We have every reason to believe he is continuing the activity," said FBI special agent James Casey, who is pursuing the case. Anyone with information should contact the Bloomington FBI office at 332-9275.īut the agency cautions he should be considered an escape and suicide risk.Ī federal grand jury in Indianapolis indicted Rosser in March of six acts of child molestation in both Bloomington and Bangkok. The FBI is offering as much as a $50,000 reward for information leading to Rosser's arrest. Reilly said he is the first fugitive to be placed on the list for crimes specifically against children. Rosser replaces Arthur Lee Washington, Jr., who allegedly shot at a New Jersey state trooper in 1989. He is believed to be traveling in the United States or overseas. Describing him as a bald, 5-foot-7, 145-pound, 47-year-old man of medium build, the report states Rosser is "an admitted pedophile who may have suicidal tendencies." Of the 460 fugitives named to the list, 431 have been apprehended, 137 as the result of citizen cooperation.Īccording to the FBI, Rosser was last seen in Amsterdam after jumping bail in Thailand. Since its inception, the Ten Most Wanted list has been remarkably effective, FBI officials said. "But this puts more emphasis on the case … We hope the international publicity will be beneficial in tracking him." "We have been very serious about this case," FBI special agent Robert Reilly said. Rosser was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list Dec. Eric Franklin Rosser used to play keyboard for John Mellencamp's band.īut the former Bloomington resident is now wanted for allegedly creating and distributing child pornography.
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