I said, Did you do some deep dive on my dad that I dont even know about? Hes like, No. NetflixJan Broberg works as an actress, known for roles in Everwood and Criminal Minds. Netflix documentary tells the story of how Jan Broberg was kidnapped twice at the ages of 12 and 14 by Robert 'B' Berchtold, a trusted family friend . Jan had two younger. Find out more about how we use your information in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Jan, Karen and Susan. It happened to my whole family, this man was a master and my parents saved my life. More than 50 years ago, Jan was kidnapped and abused by a family friend, Berchtold, who had affairs with both her parents in order to cover up his actions. But I could see Bob playing the tape, so I didn't believe him. He holds a bachelor's degree in screenwriting (widely considered to be a bad move) from Point Park University. The master manipulator from Utha has a lengthy history of having a particular lust for young females. But whatever happened to Robert? Robert Berchtold was ultimately given a prison sentence, but rather than face life behind bars, he downed a bottle of heart medication with Kahla and milk and ended his life. Growing up Mormon, Broberg told "The View" co-hosts she was somewhat familiar with the "Mary, Jesus, and Joseph story," and B told her a similar story through the voice recordings. Robert Ersol Berchtold, 69, of Logandale, died Nov. 11, 2005. His brother Joe had even visited while Jan was there, and he noted that Robert, looked happier than hed ever been.. With Mckenna, I see all of the emotional intelligence of someone understanding how do you, at age 15, 16, how do you even portray someone thats brainwashed? Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The film tells the story of Jan Broberg, who, as a child in the 1970s, was kidnapped twice and sexually abused by Robert "B." Berchtold, a family friend who grew close with her parents. That doesnt stop me anymore. As we have discussed above Gail was the ex-wife of Robert Berchtold, who abducted his neighbour, Jan Broberg Felt. I just thought it was what you did. He drove her to California, where he enrolled her in an all-girls Catholic school claiming that she was his daughter. I guess it doesn't matter at this point, but since the doc is out and everything.looks like any kin he had will never speak of him Scan this QR code to download the app now. I never felt like I needed to be validated. Part of the problem is that Abducted in Plain Sight, a 90-minute movie in a field populated mostly with six- or eight-hour series, is focused entirely on telling a story rather than illuminating it. But Jan became even more withdrawn, and all the while, she was still thinking about what would happen to her family when she failed to complete the mission.. 'Abducted in Plain Sight' on Netflix tells the story of Jan Broberg, a girl who is kidnapped by a family friend named Robert "B" Berchtold in the 1970s. Be the creator of your life. I wanted to crawl into the backseat and find the tape recorder and Bob got upset with me. I was 10 and she was 12. I was 9 years old when I first met Bob in 1978. I wasnt prepared for people to blame my parents. I looked further and found that his real Dad died when he was 1, and his mother remarried to his Dad's elder brother (common to Mormon faith). 18 months later, while out on bail & awaiting trial for kidnapping, Robert Berchtold abducted Jan for the 2nd time, triggering FBI manhunt. Robert E Berchtold of Logandale, Clark County, Nevada was born on February 7, 1936. And then this really deep sorrow and sadness for all the people, all the girls, his whole familyall the people who he had affected. Congratulations on the seriesI definitely understand so much more about your experience. Her sons were quite a bit older than methe youngest was seven or eight years older than meand I don't remember them being in the house much. Either it happened to you, Julie, or it happened to somebody close to you. As Jans 16th birthday approached, Berchtolds contact became less frequent. That was a really crazy little period of time. It didn't take long before Bob had his own key and could come and go as he pleased. I didn't learn to swim because she was afraid I would drown. A Friend of the Family, created by Nick Antosca, is based on the real-life case featured in the 2017 documentary Abducted in Plain Sight . The affidavits compromised the FBIs case against B. Heidi Brewer met Broberg while filming this documentary. It's hard to say what impact the abuse had on my life. My father called the sheriffs department that same night when we didnt show up, she said. All views expressed in this article are the author's own. Cunning child predator Robert Berchtold would be accused of sexually abusing Jan Broberg over several years, but he would see little time behind bars for a multitude of reasons.. Peacock's original series, "A Friend of the Family," is based on the stranger-than-fiction story of the Broberg family, whose young daughter was twice kidnapped by trusted family friend Robert Berchtold. It was so shockingly hard for me. He never brought her home. I found my mother's cold reaction to be just what I expected from her. He would mention it every once in a whilethat I was specialbut he never mentioned that I needed to have a child to save some race or anything like that. Jan was one of three daughters born to Bob Broberg, a florist, and Mary Ann. Im home from this dance and safe. And then I start testing the waters over the next few months. This info was at 17 min left in the doc. In January 1974, Robert Berchtold was rebuked by the LDS . Nonetheless Berchtold, even after his conviction and his briefest of interludes in prison, was able not only to be around children, but also to purchase and run a family-fun center as a business. A recording began to tell her the story of how she was half-alien, and the extra-terrestrial species' survival depended on her to procreate with the male companion of their choosing. NetflixRobert Berchtold had an obsession with his 12-year-old neighbor Jan Broberg, even sleeping in the same bed as her four nights a week. Robert Berchtold and Jan Broberg. Let me inform you that her husband Robert Berchtold was behind the kidnapping of Jan Broberg Felt in the 1970s when she was just 12 years old. Although he ruined Jan's childhood, Berchtold never fully paid for his vile crimes against Jan Broberg in prison. When I would ask Bob about these differences, including why I couldn't have friends over or spend time away from home, he would get angry. Abducted in Plain Sight was first released as a documentary in 2017 with the title Forever B, but its gained rather more traction this month after being added to Netflixs true-crime library. Susan called him and said, Your father said that youre his attorney. He said, I would never represent my father. We didn't meet in person until we filmed the documentary, A Friend of the Family: True Evil. Did. I actually got this little message [from a woman who was] the little girl he abused right after me. This info was at 17 min left in the doc. When I woke up and that voice was therepeople often say, How long did it take for you to be brainwashed to believe that [aliens had kidnapped you]. I said, 10 secondswhen I [first] heard the voice [in the RV]. The planting of the seeds is where all of that nefarious grooming and manipulation happened, before that moment. My little sisters not missing. Due to the violence at her book tour, Jan Broberg filed a restraining order against Berchtold, which she was granted for life. You can never blame them or their family members who didnt know. The kids played together; the parents enjoyed each others company. He frequently called Mary Ann, confessing his love to her and asking her to meet him in Utah to talk about everything. Abducted in Plain Sight viewers learned B kidnapped Broberg a second time from her parents home in Idaho in 1976 when she was 14. My mom was divorced, lonely and didn't want to be alone anymore. Michael has been already been convicted and released for time served, but followup episodes happened, along with an HBO dramatization that appears further down in this list. Following the incident, he convinced the Brobergs that part of his therapy required him to sleep in the same bed as their 12-year-old daughter Jan while listening to tapes provided by his therapist. They are curious about where the real Robert Berchtold is now. In truth, Berchtold drugged the 12-year-old and staged the scene to make it seem as if the two of them had been captured and taken away against their will. He told the Brobergs he needed to sleep in Jans bed. The day after the series premiered, Broberg says she feels huge relief that a more complete version of the story is available. Generally, I am pretty happy and pretty great about 90% of the time. And yet several local families had been troubled enough by Berchtolds attempts to get close to their children that the church intervened. I guess, in your young head, you think, "This is just the way it is. Jan returned home, but only briefly. But Berchtold did not just kidnap Broberg oncehe entrapped Brobergs religious parents in such an elaborate web of trust and shame that he managed to convince the family to drop the most serious charges against him, continue letting him spend time with their young daughter, andin the most shocking twist of allkidnap her a second time when she was 14. Their home energy was quite ordinary for a few years, as per reports, yet everything changed shortly . Taylor Swifts opening act on her debut album, Trumps Relationship With Jared and Ivanka. The first time Berchtold kidnapped Broberg, he took her to Mexico and married her. At one point, she planned on buying a gun and explaining to her sister Susan what was going to happen. He took us to science-fiction movies. She strongly continues to spread awareness of Berchtolds crimes through the new drama series. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. They settled in Utah, where . But . (2001), Listen toVFsLittle Gold MenPodcast for Unrivaled Awards-Season Coverage, 2023 Cond Nast. B took the Broberg children and his own to science-fiction films in the two years prior to kidnapping Jan Broberg. The district attorneywho had basically prosecuted his showing up at that conference with a gun as a registered sex offendercalled me. Truth is, you don't really want to know what happens to Robert Berchtold after the events of the series. Its too painful for them to realize that they allowed that to happen to her.. I entered into a homosexual relationship with her father in order to have access to Jan, Berchtold later admitted. Theyre the bravest people I know, willing to try to help the rest of you see what they didn't. his) demands if she wanted her family to stay safe. Brewer feels she did not get a chance to properly tell her story. That is the only reason we told our story. Mary Ann was involved in an eight-month affair with B post kidnapping while she was still married to Bob, even though she knew he was her daughters abductor. In 1974, he abducted the then 12-year-old, and once again two years later. That is my goal.. By Nicky Idika. Monday on "The View," Broberg discussed her childhood and the steps taken by family friend Robert Berchtold, who went by the nickname "B," to manipulate the family and kidnap Broberg twice. I wanted this for a long timeto tell the story in a way that would affect the most change and the most understanding so that people could avoid this happening in their own life or help any traumatized young person get to a healthy, happy place. After becoming fast friends with a new family called the Berchtolds, the Brobergs noticed that the charismatic fun dad Robert Berchtold (known as B) seemed overly interested in Jan. He was like a second father to me, Jan explains, before detailing her memories of how he drugged and molested her. After the war, he returned to Utah, got married, had children, and settled in the small town of Pocatello, Idaho, where he ran a furniture store. Berchtold managed to keep her captive with an elaborate ruseclaiming they had been abducted by aliens, and that Jan needed to cooperate with the aliens (i.e. When Robert Berchtold first moved to town he became extremely close with the Broberg family, but as time went on it became clear that Berchtolds end goal was to get to Jan Broberg. The movie includes pictures Berchtold took of Jan as a 12-year-old girl, all straw-colored hair, wide eyes, and freckles. He is survived by his wife, Deanna; sons, Jerry, James, Joseph, Monday on "The View," Broberg discussed her childhood and the steps taken by family friend Robert Berchtold, who went by the nickname B, to manipulate the family and kidnap Broberg twice. And did that give you some sort of relief or closure? He took her inside the motor home and abused her, while I waited outside. Broberg continued to believe the make-believe alien story up until her 16th birthday. He brainwashed the little girl to believe that she was half alien and half human, and that her mission in life was to have a child with him. I could dig into the pockets. It is a lifelong process. He continued to try to terrorize me in the weirdest ways. Peacock. So Broberg was thrilled to help reframe her and her parents story in Peacocks new limited series A Friend of the Family, which was created by Nick Antosca (The Act and Candy) and invited Broberg and her mother, Mary Ann, to act as producers. My dad did that with every boy I ever went on a date with. So I felt like I was protecting her from being hurt, by allowing the abuse to happen. I found out from Jan that Bob died by suicide in 2005. Everybody gets hurt. B blackmailed Brobergs parents, Bob and Mary Ann, into signing affidavits claiming he had consent to bring their daughter to Mexico after the first kidnapping, according to the documentary. I know that theyve been invited to share their side [of the story], including his ex-wife, but theyve never wanted to talk to anybody. Directed by Skye Borgman, Abducted in Plain Sight begins in the early 1970s in Pocatello, Idaho. The children in the clan considered Berchtold a second father, so much so that when he fled to Mexico with a 12-year-old Jan by his side in August 1974, the family was initially unwilling to. But I know the abuse impacted my relationships. Jan Broberg whose story about being kidnapped by her neighbor Bob Berchtold inspired Peacock's "A Friend of the Family" has written a new book about the experience, with her mother MaryAnn. Heidi Brewer on the documentary, A Friend of the Family: True Evil. Every episode of ABC's award-winning talk show "The View" is now available as a podcast! She loves movie villains (specifically Loki), Bojack Horseman, Harry Styles and writing creative fiction and poetry in her spare time. I moved back to Texas to stay with one of my brothers, and my mother stayed in Utah. I knew what he was doing, Bob said. Our two families, with the popcorn, watched Star Trek and Lost in Space. But I didnt know what was missing in the conversation. Jake Lacy in A Friend of the Family (Image credit: Peacock ) In the summer of 1972, Robert Berchtold moved a few blocks away from the Brogberg family in Pocatello, Idaho. Today, Jan Broberg has a "wonderful relationship" with her parents. Despite the outcome of her marriage to Robert, Gail found love again. and our Other revelations, though, come thick and fast. Berchtold died in 2005, according to an obituary, which says he was a truck driver. In actuality, though, Jan explained that Berchtold had just been careful. She endured some of the worst imaginable psychological manipulation during her childhood. Jannow Jan Broberg Felt, an actor whos appeared in Criminal Minds and Everwoodhas subsequently defended her mother and father. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. I really did find a way to hang up that very heavy coat of abuse and have it be outside of me. He was raised with half siblings, one of which looked very much like Jan, the "little girl" he said he took care of when his Mother left home when she was sick. It did. Much of the outrage targets Jans parents, who participated fully in the documentary, and whose behavior in response to Berchtolds prolonged abuse of their daughter strikes many viewers as shockingly inadequate at best. She brought him to the house for dinner and he seemed nice enough. They didnt want to know. . You have a cameo in the final episode. After earning the Broberg family's trust with his charismatic personality, Berchtold began grooming daughter Jan (Mckenna Grace and Hendrix Yancey in different time periods) in 1972, and. He, on some other level, was able to truly do what great actors do, which is to figure out what, What do I want? In 1974 at the age of 12, Broberg was taken on a special trip alone with B to go horseback riding. Over the course of the next six months, Berchtold slept in Jans bed roughly four times a week. He gave her allergy medication that knocked her out and drove with her to Pasadena, California where he enrolled her in a Catholic school with the alias Janis Tobler, feeding the nuns a fake story about being a CIA agent who needed someone to care for his daughter. Robert Berchtold took Jan Broberg horseback riding one afternoon when she was 12 and disappeared with her. Not. After learning about Robert Berchtolds vile actions, read the story of Jody Plauch and his father, who killed his abductor on live television. The new series also delves into how said abductor Robert "B" Berchtold manipulated the family.. And if you saw the 2017 true-crime documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, you know that Jan's father, the late Bob Broberg (who . Berchtold and his family often had sleepovers with the Broberg children. When Bob was 3 yrs old his father passed away and in 1939 his mother married Joseph Ersol Berchtold who raised Bob and . That companion was B, and the mission was to have a child with him before Broberg turned 16 years old. But when we got to his apartment, his kids weren't there. In January 1974, just over a year after Berchtold met the Brobergs, he was reprimanded by the High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because of his involvement with another young girl. However, the family still wasn't rid of Robert Berchtold. 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