The Lifetime Network is set to air The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Girl Kach Story, a docu-drama based on true events, on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 8:00 PM. The film recounts the harrowing story of Tanya Kach, who, at only 14 years old, was lured into the home of her 38-year-old school security guard, Tom Hose, and held captive for a decade.
In 1995, Kach was facing challenges in her personal life. Her parents had recently divorced, and she moved from Monongahela, Pennsylvania, to McKeesport with her father and his fiancée. Tanya struggled to adjust to her new school, facing bullying and isolation. She also had a strained relationship with her mother, who was rarely in contact and allegedly abusive. It was during this vulnerable period that she met Tom Hose, a security guard at her school who was more than twice her age. Hose gained Tanya’s trust by buying her cigarettes and candy and listening to her problems.
However, their friendship soon took a dark turn. After catching Tanya skipping class, Hose kissed her and eventually persuaded her to leave her family and live with him. Tanya, just 14 at the time, was held captive in Hose’s home in McKeesport from 1996 to 2006. During her ten-year captivity, she was locked in Hose’s bedroom, faced threats of violence, and suffered sexual abuse. Hose went to great lengths to conceal Tanya, even creating a false identity for her and introducing her as his girlfriend to his parents.
After four years, Hose started to occasionally let Tanya leave the house, and she eventually secured a part-time job at a local convenience store. With the support of the store owner, Joe Sparico, Tanya revealed her true identity and contacted the police in 2006, finally escaping her captor. Hose was sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison and was released in 2022.
The Lifetime film, starring Jordyn Ashley Olsen as Tanya Kach and Robert Baker as Tom Hose, brings to life the disturbing story of Tanya’s captivity and her brave path to freedom. Following the film, Lifetime will premiere Beyond the Headlines: The Tanya Kach Story, a documentary featuring Elizabeth Smart, who also executive-produced the film. This documentary will offer further insights into the real-life experiences and impact of Tanya Kach’s tragic ordeal.
The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story airs Saturday June 8, 2024 at 8:00 pm.
