By Dan Nephin

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A woman who ran away as a teenager and lived for a decade with a school security guard sued the city and school district Thursday, claiming they failed to fully investigate her disappearance.

advertisement

Tanya Nicole Kach, 24, came forward March 21 and told police that she had been living in Thomas Hose's house for 10 years. Kach told police that Hose, 48, kept her in a bedroom in the small, two-story home where he lived with his parents.

Kach also claims in the lawsuit that Hose assaulted her and threatened to kill her and dump her body in a river.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, claims police and city officials involved in the case were incompetent. It also alleges school officials knew or should have known Kach and Hose were having an improper relationship before her disappearance and did nothing to stop it.

"Now she has a completely stilted existence. She suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. She's unable to function in the community," said Lawrence Fisher, Kach's attorney. "We're calling on those institutions that failed her 10 years ago to step up and do something to help her."

Fisher said he will leave it up to a jury to determine damages.

Hose has pleaded not guilty to statutory sexual assault, three counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, two counts of indecent assault and other charges. He is living under house arrest and is unemployed, said his attorney in the criminal case, James Ecker.

He said he guessed the lawsuit was about money.

"I can guarantee you, he has no, no deep pockets," Ecker said.

Hose, who is under house arrest pending trial, declined to comment. He also said his parents, who are named as defendants, could not comment.

Messages left for city officials, school officials and the security firm that employed Hose were not returned Thursday.