What if the Most Famous 9/11 Survivor...Wasn't a Survivor at All?

-- As part of Investigation Discovery's ID FILMS documentary strand, THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE world premieres Tuesday, April 17 from 8-9:30 PM E/P --

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Out of the ashes of the Twin Towers emerged a group of survivors. They had all been through hell and back, but one survivor in particular stood out as inspirational: Tania Head. Tania's devastating story of narrowly escaping death from the 78th floor of the South Tower, badly burned and crawling through carnage and chaos, is one of true courage and a fighting will to survive. But while she made it out alive of one building, her life was essentially taken away by the other. Her fiance had perished in the North Tower.

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Tania's remarkable tale of recovery and loss catapulted her to being the face of the tragedy, earning her the respect of victims' families, public officials like Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Americans everywhere. Her story quickly traveled through the survivor community and in 2004 she became president of the World Trade Center Survivors' Network, tirelessly working to give the survivors support and a place of prominence in a post 9/11 landscape. But there was one problem with Tania's story that wouldn't emerge until September 2007, when a New York Times article blew the lid off of her seemingly miraculous tale: absolutely none of it was true.  

An ID Films presentation of a film directed by Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr. and produced by Meredith Vieira Productions and 4235 Productions, THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE exposes the truth behind 9/11 "survivor" Tania Head. With exclusive footage from interviews with Tania shot before her story crumbled, the documentary divulges the full circle of deception from before the truth and after the lies. The special Investigation Discovery presentation of THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE makes its world premiere on Tuesday, April 17 from 8-9:30 PM E/P.

"Despite the traumatic impact, those who lived through 9/11 have a yearning to feel connected, even in some small way. In an extreme example, Tania Head crafted her story in order to belong, making herself both a victim and a hero on that tragic day," said Henry Schleiff, president and general manager, Investigation Discovery. "THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE is a chilling and enthralling look at how one person's desire to be a part of America's inspiring recovery can go to such deceptive lengths, and will likely leave viewers with more questions than answers."  

THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE began as a small advocacy film after Tania approached filmmaker Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr. in 2006, wanting to tell the resiliency of the 9/11 survivors. She was eager to film the issues they face and their painstaking road to recovery. Guglielmo not only filmed hours of exclusive interview footage with Tania, but he also became her friend and confidant. When it came to light that the facts of her astounding tale were completely fabricated, Guglielmo kept the cameras rolling.  

With complete access and participation from The World Trade Center Survivors' Network, the documentary is told from a unique inside perspective that has yet to be seen by audiences, allowing viewers to unravel the psychological mystery of Tania's tale as her closest friends did in real time. THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE follows the rise of Tania, the telling her story of survival and the eventual revelation of its fabrication as well as the reactions and repercussions from her closest colleagues, all in search of an answer to the biggest question of all: who is Tania Head?

The Woman Who Wasn't There: The True Story of an Incredible Deception, by New York Times bestselling author Robin Gaby Fisher and filmmaker Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr. will be published on April 3 by Touchstone Books.

THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE is produced by Amy Rapp of Meredith Vieira Productions and Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr., and executive produced by Meredith Vieira and Academy Award-winning director Ross Kauffman. For Investigation Discovery, Ron Simon is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, and Henry Schleiff is president and general manager.

About Meredith Vieira Productions:

Meredith Vieira Productions is owned by Emmy Award-winning journalist and host Meredith Vieira and headed by Amy Rapp. MVP develops and produces film, TV, web, and theatre in a diverse range of tones, genres, and budgets. The company's first feature RETURN, starring Linda Cardellini, Michael Shannon, and John Slattery, premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and was released in February 2012; they are producing the national tour of the hit Off-Broadway show LIFE IN MARITAL INSTITUTION (20 Years of Monogamy in One Terrifying Hour) written/performed by James Braly; and have a slate of other film, TV, and web projects in the works. MVP is dedicated to producing smart and sophisticated comedies and dramas with authentic characters.

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 nearly 79 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.

For additional press information, please visit:  http://www.press.discovery.com/us/id/

SOURCE Investigation Discovery