Investigation Discovery Launches Second Season of STALKED: SOMEONE'S WATCHING with Real-Life Stories of Dangerous Obsessions

SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 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. While higher profile celebrity victims receive more media attention, victims of stalking come from all walks of life, and the danger is far reaching. STALKED: SOMEONE'S WATCHING profiles emotional stories of stalking victims and explores the twisted psychology of the people who committed the crimes. In each episode, host Dr. Michelle Ward, a renowned criminal psychologist – with an expertise in neuroscience and personal experience as a stalking victim – explores the challenges in combating stalking and provides methods of protection against it. STALKED: SOMEONE'S WATCHING premieres on Monday, December 5 at 10:30 PM ET on Investigation Discovery with sixteen new episodes in the series' sophomore season.

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"Misunderstandings about the dire consequences of stalking are often overlooked by society and, as our lives become more digitally connected, this serious crime is becoming more prevalent," said Henry Schleiff, president and general manager of Investigation Discovery. "STALKED brings real-life stories to the forefront and provides a platform for victims and their families to share the harrowing tales of obsession that destroyed their sense of security, and in some cases led to a tragic end."

Dr. Michelle Ward provides insight into the possible thoughts and motivations of the stalkers featured in each episode. Additionally, viewers receive practical tips, such as: document all interactions between yourself and your alleged stalker in a detailed log; provide your family, 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; friends who become compulsively vindictive as friendships cross the line; and acts of relatively random stalking where the culprit barely knows their victim but develops 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.

Investigation Discovery's partner, The National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), operates the Stalking Resource Center, which has a dual mission of raising awareness of stalking and encouraging 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, 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 and Lorri Leighton as co-executive producer. For Investigation Discovery, Diana Sperrazza is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production and Henry Schleiff is president and general manager.

About Investigation Discovery

Investigation Discovery (ID) is America's leading investigation network and the fastest-growing network in television. As the source for fact-based analytical content and compelling human stories, ID probes factors that challenge our everyday understanding of culture, society and the human condition. ID delivers the highest-quality programming to more than 77.6 million U.S. households with viewer favorites that include On the Case with Paula Zahn, Disappeared, Unusual Suspects and Stolen Voices, Buried Secrets. For more information, please visit InvestigationDiscovery.com, facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery, or twitter.com/DiscoveryID. Investigation Discovery is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in 210 countries and territories.

Please visit the Press Website at http://press.discovery.com/us/id/programs/stalked/ for additional press materials, screeners, and photography.

SOURCE Investigation Discovery