When the documentary Abducted in Plain Sighthit Netflixin January 2019, it quickly became a hot topic of conversation on the internet, news programs, and anywhere people congregated. While the publication claims "Berchtold had tried to victimize at least a half-dozen other young girls," the film states: "According to the FBI, in January of 1974, Berchtold was reprimanded by the High Counsel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of his involvement with another young girl.". "My mom got sick when I was a teenager and I had to take care of my little sister," Berchtold said. When the man's family moved a few blocks away from Felt's family home in Pocatello, Utah, she says he befriended her family. The Broberg family now. He is survived by his wife, Deanna; sons, Jerry, James . Robert Berchtold was born to his parents in Utah. At the time, he was married to his wife Gail Berchtold, who stayed with him after the first kidnapping but divorced not long after. David Fincher is closing the door on his perfect true-crime series, one of Netflixs best offerings. In one thread on Reddit, a video editor said that they had worked on Abducted in Plain Sight. However, he was never found legally liable for this subsequent charge, but rather acquitted by reason of mental defect.. A Friend of the Family: True Evil premieres on Peacock on November 15, 2022. As Borgman explained, Jans relationship with Berchtold, understandably, had lasting effects on her adult life. 11/11/2005: Robert Berchtold died. Berchtold committed suicide before he could be brought to justice for his crimes in 2005. The latter is now living a secluded life in Roy, Utah, far from the public eye; it would appear that . Updates, job, pictures now in 2019. Bob said that he was just so grateful that we had told their story in such a sensitive way, said the filmmaker. 9-1-1 Season 7 Release Date: Who Will Be Part Of 9-1-1 Season 7? She still auditions, but she started running a theater company in Utah and its been wonderful for her, explained Borgman. and the Real-Life Bob Berchtold. It tells the story of how the Brobergs' close family friend and neighbor, Robert Berchtold, developed a fascination with then 12-year-old Jan Broberg. Every Thursday until November 10, the last five episodes will be released. In the series, Berchtold deceives the Broberg family time and time again. Filmmaker Skye Borgman opens up about the unbelievable twists and turns of the Jan Broberg kidnapping case, Robert Berchtolds commitment to his crime, and the crazy details she had to cut from her buzzy documentary. Among them is A Friend of the Family, a limited docuseries that tells the story of the Broberg family. Jan is now a working actress who has appeared on over 30 episodes of the WB series Everwood. Plus, did Mary Ann Broberg pull a gun on Robert Berchtold? Spoilers ahead for those who have not yet seen Abducted in Plain Sight. In the UK, Peacock is available with a Sky TV or NOW subscription. Be the first one to comment on this story. BBC News believes Berchtold committed suicide before sentencing. Dont trust everybody. Placing particular attention on Gail, in the limited series there is a point during Jan's . A Friend of the Family by Peacock came out on Netflix in early October, but only the first four episodes of the true-crime drama were available. It is alleged that James and Joseph were the only ones who stayed in touch with him after the incident. I think that comes out a lot with Joe, that he loves his brother, even though his brother was a pedophile, and I think those two things really are conflicts in him. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Broberg's father, Bob, revealed that he engaged in a singular sexual encounter with Berchtold, one that Gail reportedly used to blackmail him into signing an affidavit asking the FBI to drop the charges after Jan was returned. The press that shes getting has been a lot, but shes doing really well. Jenna Ortega and The Weeknd in a Movie Together , 24 of the Best New Horror Movies to Watch in 2023, Ashley Shares the Deets on Working with Selena, Jenna Fischer Joins the Mean Girls Musical Movie. February brings more A-listers migrating onto our small screens (Jake Gyllenhaal no less), two compelling and wildly different documentaries, and a thrilling post-WWII spy drama. Content warning: This article references kidnapping and sexual assault some may find upsetting. It is incredibly challenging to understand why and how these people went through this, but thats part of the story,explained Borgman to Vanity Fair, before admitting that even she became so incensed that she eventually had to take a break during the editing process. The two lived in Roy, Utah, at the time of Robert's demise in 2005. She claims to have gone there under the guise that he would share with her face-to-face why he married Jan in Mexico. In "A Friend of the Family," Lacy stars as Robert Berchtold, who twice abducted Jan Broberg (Hendrix Yancey). 2021 - Copyright @ Serve Vision Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved. While it is unclear if Mary Ann was the one with the gun, it is crystal clear that she confronted Berchtold about her daughter, and the mom did so with her brother in tow. Scroll down to know more about him. Skye Borgman, the director and producer of Abducted in Plain Sight, told Vanity Fair (opens in new tab) that Jans father Robert Broberg confessed to having sexual "indiscretions" with Jans abuser, Robert Berchtold. When Jan Broberg heard mention of this, she begged her parents to allow her to go to Jackson Hole to work at the family center, but her mother and father were vehemently opposed to the idea. Robert Berchtold is the villain in the true-crime saga on the Peacock channel called "A . She has yet to publicly address her ex-husband's crimes. Broberg revealed that she never directly reached out to Gail or her children despite having a close relationship with them in her youth. Talking about the names of the Children are James Berchtold, Joseph Berchtold, Jeff Berchtold, Jerry Berchtold, Jill Scott. Credit: Netflix. I think thats something that Jan and her sisters have all been advocates forgetting the word out there that it can happen to somebody close to you, by somebody you know. During Jan's second kidnapping, which took place two years later when she was 14 years old, Gail filed for divorce after which she took their five children and moved. "They didn't forgive him, she said. Berchtold got close to Jan and developed an . Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ", Lio Tipton, who uses they pronouns, stars as Gail in the new Peacock series and opened up to Hollywood Life about their perception of Gail's involvement. They kept living with their mother, but their father probably had the right to visit them. An underlying component of A Friend of the Family has been the involvement of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the LDS church. No one knows if the Berchtold children kept hanging out with Robert as they got older. He and Deanna Lou Wiley married at the Pineview Reservoir, Utah, on July 17, 1990. Today's best Peacock TV and Sky TV subscription deals, (Image credit: Fernando Decillis/Peacock), Mckenna Grace and Jake Lacy, A Friend of the Family, Fatal Attraction on Paramount Plus release date, cast, plot, trailer and all about the TV series, FuboTV channels, packages, price, DVR and add-ons, Emmerdale boss reveals more on storyline that was YEARS in the making, HBO Max: everything you need to know about the streaming service, Operation Fortune review: Jason Statham, Guy Ritchie action movie is old hat. The Brobergs, who had three girls of the same age as the Berchtold children, became friends soon after, leading to manipulation, affairs, and the grooming of a very young Jan Broberg. Therefore, if this is something that piques your curiosity, stick with us. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Following the parents continual rejection of Jans proposal, her mother Mary Ann said that 14-year-old Jan went on to become "a person that she had never become, to pick arguments, to pick on her sisters, to pick on us, to just make life miserable. However, Felt's memories of their relationship are very different from Berchtold's story. Get the latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more! Robert Berchtold kidnapped, sexually abused, and convinced his neighbor's 12-year-old daughter, Jan Broberg, she was an alien hybrid on a perverse mission to save a faraway planet. Broberg also shared that producers from the Netflix documentary reached out to Berchtold to discuss if she believed that she was manipulated by her ex or if she was complicit, but she never responded. He was 69 years old. In spite of all the allegations of grooming, kidnapping and sex crimes against Berchtold after Jans first abduction, he was ultimately only convicted of kidnapping in June 1976. Required fields are marked *. Jimmy Kimmel Roasts Fragile Snowflake Donald Trump for Allegedly Trying to Censor Him, He said that he had an offer for $250,000 to film with someone else, director Chris Smith told, What to Watch on Netflix, Amazon & TV in February. While the limited series has inferred several times that the church was aware of the predatory nature of Berchtold, most recently in episode 7, it became clearer what the religious sect knew and when they found out. Oct. 11 2022, Published 1:22 p.m. All of the brainwashing, the seeds, had been planted prior to waking up in the back of that motor home, strapped to the bed, with an ivory box playing in my ear in a high pitched monotone voice that I had been kidnapped by a UFO and was to do everything they told me, and if I didn't, I would be instantly vaporized," Felt said.As she listened to the voice coming out of the "ivory box," Felt says she became convinced that she had been abducted by a UFO, and that horrible things would happen to her if she did not do what she was told. Watch the exclusive trailer for the sharp upcoming series, starring Washington as a single mom whose father (Delroy Lindo) comes to live with her after being released from prison. Meanwhile, Berchtold said he only tried to take care of Felt. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. I did notice that in Bs obituary it mentions a second wife. As a limited drama series that revisits the two 1970s kidnappings of Jan Broberg at the ages of 12 and 14, Peacock's 'A Friend of the Family' can only be described as horrifically bone-chilling. So with that said, heres what actually happened in the story that inspired A Friend of the Family. Where is Robert Berchtold's Ex-Wife Gail Now? Who Sofie Dossi Is Dating Currently? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. I immediately saw someone who was groomed. Jeff resided in Ogden, Utah while Jill Berchtold was married to Richard and living in Utah. In the limited series, Robert Berchtold is standing in the kitchen of their family home when he informs his wife Gail that he is moving forward with a divorce, much to her dismay. What to Watch is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. It chronicles the peculiar kidnapping case of Jan Broberg, an Idaho teenager who was abducted by her decades-older neighbor Robert Berchtold in the 1970s. Some people talk badly about Berchtolds ex-wife, which is reason enough for her to keep to herself. In A Friend of the Family, Mary Ann Broberg tells her husband, Bob Broberg, They have three boys: one is Jans age, one is Karens age, and one is Susans age. Felt's parents never pressed any sexual abuse charges against Berchtold. We spent so much time with them on the computer, going through what they had said, and [editing] things together, Borgman continued. The first four episodes of A Friend of the Family will air on Peacock on Thursday, October 6. Your email address will not be published. Robert Berchtold was a well-known American truck driver, media face, retired US Army Officer who served the country during the Vietnam War and was also a convicted criminal suspect who kidnapped a too-young girl Jan Broberg in the 1970s. Can You Travel From Barbados to OBX By Boat? To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. He is survived by his wife, Deanna; sons, Jerry, James, Joseph, and Jeff; daughter, Jill Scott; and mother, Lucille." . I immediately saw someone who I saw as an unknowing victim of the situation." One jaw-dropping twist in Abducted in Plain Sight occurs during the first kidnapping, when Jan says that Berchtold used a cassette player to trick herjust 12 years old at the timeinto believing that she had been kidnapped by aliens and that she could save her family only if she accepted a secret mission to procreate with Berchtold. When Netflix released the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight in 2017, viewers found themselves completely baffled by the unfortunate events that took place in Jan Brobergs childhood. They were later divorced. I guess in a perfect world, itd be sort of a trilogy of films.. Berchtold when she was 12 and again when she was 14. The five children, namely Jerry, James, Joseph, Jeff, and Jill, stayed with their mother after the kidnappings, although their father was probably allowed to visit. In November 1976, the FBI was the one to track down Robert and Jan, but the former was able to successfully defend himself against the allegation of first-degree kidnapping during his trial. The volunteer was not seriously injured. Jan's mother, Mary Ann Broberg, worked at her church and spotted Berchtold, his wife, Gail, and their five children among the parishioners during a religious service. So, Gail Berchtold here is the ex-wife of Berchtold and Robert is the accused man in this story; he allegedly committed horrendous crimes and no one stopped him, despite a seeming surplus of evidence against him. Once more referring to the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, Mary Ann Broberg herself admitted to having an affair with Berchtold starting in the spring of 1975. In the series, Berchtold deceives the Broberg family time and time again. But the first edition of the book left out several very pertinent details, such as the affairs both Jans mother and father had with Berchtold. Questions have emerged about Gail's participation in her former husband's unspeakable crimes or whether she was a victim. Jan stayed in Wyoming for two weeks. They are Jerry, James, Joseph, Jeff, and Jill. Even more surprising, he only served 10 of those days behind bars. . In"Episode 2"Jan read an excerpt from the text that described an alleged encounter between Berchtold and Mary Ann. Some crazy details were left on the cutting-room floor. Felt says her troubles began with Berchtold back in the summer of 1972. Robert kidnapped Jan Broberg, who was only 12 years old girl. In 1970s Mormon Utah, this would have had major . On October 17, 1974, Berchtold took 12-year-old Janand made his way to Mexico with her, brainwashing and marrying her. Specifically, according to the Idaho State Journal, he asked her if he wanted to go horseback riding with her. But the filmmaker didnt know about Bobs own indiscretion until she got ahold of F.B.I. Jan still sees Berchtold as her benchmark for love. Felt, a 41-year-old actress who has a recurring role on the WB family drama Everwood, says the release of the book prompted the accused man, Robert Berchtold, to show up at a women's conference she was hosting with her mother in St. George, Utah, last week. Robert was born Oct. 1, 1926, in Edelstein, the son of Albert and Freida R. Streitmatter Berchtold. Zendaya Will Reportedly Make $1 Mil for Euphoria. The 91-minute film, originally released in 2017, has captivated an entirely new audience since premiering on Netflix this month. Enraged by the exposure of his long-term harassmentof the Broberg family - and Jan especially - Berchtold demanded they stop their release or he would make his book public. Heres the reddit post where I had seen this first: Probably the same way he managed to convince people to give them access to their children, and convinced devoutly religious, married people to have bizarre sexual contact with him. Despite the outcome of her marriage to Robert, Gail found love again. The Sickening Story of the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult, Director Zach Heinzerling on Hulus three-part docuseries, While making the docuseries, which premieres Wednesday, the filmmakers say they uncovered Murdaugh-related corruption stretching to the state and the federal level., Kerry Washington Goes for LaughsAnd TruthIn Hulu Comedy. Robert Berchtold playing here with the young Jan. Abducted in Plain Sight tells the horrifying true story of Jan Broberg, who was kidnapped twice and sexually assaulted more than "200 times" by a family friend named Robert "B" Berchtold in the 1970s. On October 17th, 1974, 12 year old Jan Broberg was kidnapped by her next door neighbor & parents' best friend. As it was put in the piece, "To streamline the documentary, Borgman ended up leaving out several story elements including a meet-up that Mary Ann had with Berchtold in a parking lot, allegedly involving a gun and Mary Anns brother.". Later, I had reverted back to taking care of a little girl.". They settled in Utah, where . Jake Lacy and Hendrix Yancey as Robert 'B' Berchtold and Jan Broberg in "A Friend of the Family." Peacock. Jan's family waited several days before notifying the FBI, and even after doing so were . In both a Forbes (opens in new tab)article and in the Abducted in Plain Sight documentary, its stated the church knew Berchtold had a fascination for underage girls. Heres The Info! I dont know that he trusted us completely, but he wanted to give his brother a voice, said Borgman. In Ogden, Utah, at the Pineview Reservoir, Utah, on July 17 1990! Oct. 1, 1926, in the story that inspired a Friend of family. 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