INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY’S “SURVIVING EVIL” RETURNS FOR A SECOND SEASON SHOWCASING INSPIRING WOMEN

WHO FOUGHT BACK AGAINST THEIR ATTACKERS AND LIVED TO TELL THEIR STORIES

-- Actress Charisma Carpenter Hosts the 10-Episode Second Season, Premiering Wednesday, September 3 at 9/8c --

(Silver Spring, Md.) – Investigation Discovery’s (ID) hit series SURVIVING EVIL returns this September, featuring all-new stories of extraordinary women who found their lives suddenly in the hands of a cold-blooded criminal, but fought back against their attackers and, against all odds, survived. Recounted in each survivor’s own words, SURVIVING EVIL offers an empowering and inspiring look at true-crime stories in which the victim turns the table on their assailant in order to stay alive. Returning as host is actress Charisma Carpenter, best known for her role as Cordelia Chase on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel. Also a survivor of a near-fatal incident, Carpenter adds an important layer of depth and perspective to the series as only a survivor truly could. Produced by Cineflix for ID, the 10-episode second season of SURVIVING EVIL premieres Wednesday, September 3 at 9/8c.

“In their darkest hour, when waiting for rescue was not an option, these extraordinary women found the will to stay alive – their compelling and powerful stories becoming a testament to the strength of the human spirit,” said Kevin Bennett, executive vice president and general manager, Investigation Discovery. “Their courage is shared by SURVIVING EVIL’s host, Charisma, whose own survival story began with the will to live but continues on through her commitment to inspire strength in others.”

“Through SURVIVING EVIL, I have learned I am not alone. I am touched by the strength of these survivors and their capacity to endure the unfathomable yet walk away infinitely stronger,” said Carpenter. “Being able to share these very personal stories of triumph is a gift.”

Carpenter is the survivor of a real-life incident endured when she was 22 years old. The actress and two friends were swimming at San Diego’s Torrey Pines State Beach in 1991 when they were violently attacked by an armed, rogue police officer. Carpenter fought for her survival after being held at gunpoint, but her two friends were both shot by the attacker and seriously wounded. The police officer was sentenced to 56 years in prison for the attacks in addition to a series of rapes and robberies.

Throughout the month of August, Carpenter will also appear in a public service announcement in partnership with the National Center for Victims of Crime, providing resources to individuals, families, and communities harmed by crime. The PSA airs as part of Investigation Discovery’s public affairs initiative, Inspire a Difference, which weaves together ID’s ongoing national awareness efforts around civil rights, wrongful convictions, and violence against women under one informative and inspiring banner designed to empower viewers to make an impact in their own communities.

Featuring one or two stories per hour, episodes of SURVIVING EVIL are raw, emotional, and powerful. The first half of the season includes:

“Betrayal of Trust” – Stories of Keri Reynolds (Ellenville, NY) and Patricia Wenskunas (Irvine, CA)
Premieres Wednesday, September 3 at 9/8c

• A hard-working nurse at an isolated drug rehab center in upstate New York, Keri Reynolds has no idea that several of its residents have violent histories. That is, until one night when she arrives late for her midnight shift. One of the clinic’s patients, Richard Giga has just murdered the security guard on duty with a kitchen knife. And with his hands still covered in blood, the killer kidnaps Keri at knifepoint and forces her to drive him away.
• Patricia Wenskunas, a single mom battling an eating disorder, is ready to make a fresh start in California. And she’s convinced that personal trainer Jeffrey Kelavos can help get her life back on track. After all, he’s a trainer, life skills coach, and nutritionist all rolled into one. But falling under his influence has near-fatal consequences, because Kelavos is a monster, and when he suddenly betrays her trust, Patricia Wenskunas finds herself face to face with a killer.

“The Girl in the Box” – Story of Anita Wooldridge (Kokomo, IN)

Premieres Wednesday, September 10 at 9/8c

It’s an early summer morning when evil comes calling in Kokomo, Indiana. A recent college graduate with a bright future, 21-year-old Anita Wooldridge, answers the door without hesitation. After all, the man is a member of the fitness club where she once worked and he’s only asking for a glass of water. But that’s when things go horribly wrong – what starts out as a robbery soon takes on a more sinister twist. Anita’s attacker ties her up, locks her in the trunk of her own car, and drives off. Hundreds of miles from home, she is imprisoned in a metal cabinet and is repeatedly raped as her kidnapper plays out his violent sexual fantasies. Anita must keep herself alive until police can find her but, with only the suspect’s name to go on, law enforcement agents have their work cut out for them.

“Nightmare Before Christmas” – Story of Tricia (Tiede) Copenhaver & Linae (Tiede) Coats (Summit County, UT)

Premieres Wednesday, September 17 at 9/8c

It’s 1990 and the Tiede family has been preparing the ultimate Christmas getaway at their mountain cabin in Summit County, Utah. But when they arrive, their dream holiday quickly turns into a nightmare. Two violent criminals—Von Taylor, a Satan worshipper, and Edward Deli, a convicted arsonist—have ransacked the home. And now they’re lurking in the shadows prepared to unleash unimaginable violence. At gunpoint, they hold the traumatized Tiede family hostage, and it’s not long before they kill the family’s mother and grandmother, and leave dad for dead. After setting the cabin on fire, the killers then abduct the Tiede sisters, Tricia and Linae, taking them first by snowmobile and then in their father’s car, on a terrifying and desperate flight into the unknown. But the sisters aren’t ready to give up on each other, and miraculously, neither is their father.

“Killer Smile” – Story of Sandie Bellows (Niagara Falls, Ontario)

Premieres Wednesday, September 24 at 9/8c

Though it will take several weeks before authorities can connect the dots, Peter John Peters is a deadly sociopath on a killing spree. He’s already left two bodies in his wake, and now he’s parked outside a bank where he abducts 28-year-old Sandie Bellows at knifepoint. A ruthless career criminal, Peters says he’s taking Sandie to an undisclosed destination and promises he will let her go when they get there. But when they drive off the highway and deep into the woods, he repeatedly rapes her. And when she tries to run, he stabs her over and over again and then disappears. Meanwhile, Peters’ murderous trajectory has kicked off a massive manhunt and law enforcement agents are on the move.

“Coke-Crazed Killer” – Story of Andrea Tafolla (Weslaco, TX)
Premieres Wednesday, October 1 at 9/8c

When a neighbor knocks at her door one evening, hardworking single mom Andrea Tafolla has no idea she’s come face to face with a coke-crazed killer. But after stabbing his wife and her young sister to death in his garage, 24-year-old Raul Garza is on a drug-fuelled rampage in a small Texas-border town. He’s locked his three children in a bedroom to go on the prowl for his next victim, and now he’s set his sights on Andrea. Violent and remorseless, Garza threatens to kill Andrea’s two daughters if she doesn’t cooperate. And before long, she finds herself behind the wheel of her car—with a blood-stained knife pointed at her—on a terrifying road trip to nowhere. Andrea is desperate to keep the killer calm and determined to save her children, even if it means sacrificing her own life.

“Bullet Proof” – Stories of Bridget Kelly (Killeen, TX) and Megan Paterson (Ottawa, Canada)

Premieres Wednesday, October 8 at 9/8c

·         An ambitious 20-something Texas schoolteacher, Bridget Kelly is enjoying the beginning of summer vacation when a gun-toting stranger breaks down her door in the middle of the night and takes her hostage. As they drive through the darkness, a terrorized Bridget strategizes and prays for the courage she will need to survive. In the meantime, her abductor is hatching a twisted fantasy of ultimate control, and drives her into the middle of an abandoned field…

·         In Ottawa, Canada, 27-year-old Megan Paterson is casually dating after her recent divorce. At first, Eric seems like a great guy. But, when she decides to end the relationship, he won’t take no for an answer. The rejection causes him to unravel and a week later, he shows up at her door with a gun and a deadly promise.

SURVIVING EVIL is produced by Cineflix (I Survived 2) Inc. with Jeff Vanderwal, Kim Bondi, and Sherri Rufh as executive producers. For Investigation Discovery, Pamela Deutsch is senior executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, Destination America, American Heroes Channel, and Discovery Fit & Health.

About Investigation Discovery

Investigation Discovery (ID) is the leading mystery-and-suspense network on television and America’s favorite “guilty pleasure.” From harrowing crimes and salacious scandals to the in-depth investigations and heart-breaking mysteries that result, ID challenges our everyday understanding of culture, society and the human condition. One of our nation’s fastest growing cable networks, ID delivers the highest-quality programming to more than 86 million U.S. households and is available in both high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD). 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 2.7 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories.