OF DANGEROUS OBSESSIONS IN STALKED: SOMEONE’S WATCHING
– In Recognition of National Stalking Awareness Month in January, Investigation Discovery Showcases the National Center for Victims of Crimes’ Stalking Resource Center –
(Silver Spring, MD) – From obsessed former lovers to unrelenting acquaintances fueled by the thrill of the chase, stalkers can have a range of motivations, but all instill a perpetual fear within their victims. With over three million people falling victim to stalking in the United States each year, this widely misunderstood crime reaches far beyond celebrities and people in the public eye. STALKED: SOMEONE’S WATCHING profiles six emotional stories of stalking victims and explores the twisted psychology of the people who relentlessly pursued them. As the first president to issue a National Stalking Awareness Month proclamation, President Obama earlier this month helped focus national attention on this serious crime and stressed the challenges in recognizing and combating stalking. In recognition of National Stalking Awareness Month, STALKED: SOMEONE’S WATCHING premieres on Monday, January 24 at 10:30 PM ET on Investigation Discovery, America’s leading investigation network and the fastest growing network in television.
“Nearly 80 percent of women who were murdered by an intimate partner were stalked by that partner prior to their murder, so dismissing stalking as a nuisance can be a grave mistake for victims and law enforcement,” said Henry Schleiff, president and general manager of Investigation Discovery. “In connection with National Stalking Awareness Month and ID’s ongoing commitment to support the Department of Justice’s commemoration of the Violence Against Women Act, we hope that STALKED: SOMEONE’S WATCHING will help to raise awareness of the dangers of stalking, provide effective measures to protect oneself and inform communities about the need for stronger stalking laws.”
Leading viewers through these tales of obsession is Michelle Ward, PhD., a criminal psychologist whose expertise is neuroscience and who has personal experience as a stalking victim. Throughout each episode, Dr. Ward provides insight into the possible thoughts and motivations of the stalker and offers viewers important information that they can use to protect themselves. Viewers receive practical tips such as: alert law enforcement if you believe you are being stalked; document all interactions between yourself and your alleged stalker in a detailed log; inform your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers with a description of your alleged stalker; and develop a safety plan that includes varying daily schedules and avoiding traveling alone. The stories covered in STALKED: SOMEONE’S WATCHING include intimate partners stalking their former loves; neighbors who become compulsively vindictive as friendships cross the line; and, acts of relatively random stalking where the culprit barely knows their victim or where their interest develops from a seemingly harmless crush into a dangerous obsession. Victims and their families also recount their personal experiences and provide first-hand insight into effective steps they took to protect themselves from the insidious behavior employed by their stalkers.
The first story profiled on STALKED: SOMEONE’S WATCHING contributed directly to January being designated in the United States as National Stalking Awareness Month. Peggy Klinke’s family has transformed her tragic death into a rallying cry to strengthen stalking legislation, educate law enforcement and inform the general public about resources available to victims. Investigation Discovery’s partner, The National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), operates the Stalking Resource Center, which has a dual mission to raise awareness of stalking and to encourage the development and implementation of multidisciplinary responses to stalking in local communities across the country. In conjunction with the premiere of STALKED: SOMEONE’S WATCHING and National Stalking Awareness Month, InvestigationDiscovery.com/stalked features resources and videos that present valuable information about protective measures, as well as links to NCVC’s Stalking Resource Center (www.NCVC.org/src), which features comprehensive materials.
STALKED: SOMEONE’S WATCHING is produced by Atlas Media Corporation for Investigation Discovery with Bruce David Klein as executive producer; Lorri Leighton and Cheryl Miller Houser as co-executive producers. For Investigation Discovery, Diana Sperrazza is executive producer, Sara Kozak is vice president of production and Henry Schleiff is president and general manager.
About Investigation Discovery
Investigation Discovery (ID), America’s leading investigation network, is the source for fact-based investigative content about culture, history and the human condition. Providing the highest quality investigative programming focused on fascinating stories of human nature from the past to the present, Investigation Discovery’s in-depth documentaries and series challenge viewers on important issues shaping our culture and defining our world. As the premier authority in real investigations, ID is expanding partnerships with established news organizations and production companies to bring the strongest analytic, factual investigative and current affairs programming to over 70 million U.S. households. For more information, please visit investigationdiscovery.com.
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