's sitting there jumping on the hood. Caution is advised due to the following content: this work discusses sexual abuse in some detail. Gail remarried James Leslie Wadman in the late 1980s, but unfortunately, her husband, James passed away on 5 April 2015, after an extensive battle with bladder cancer. He remarried Deanna Lou Wiley in Utah's Pineview Reservoir on July 17, 1990. Jan Broberg changed her name to Jan Broberg Felt when she married for the second time. A close family friendship ensued, with 10-year-old Jan Broberg and her sisters Susan and Karen Broberg describing Robert as a second father, affectionately calling him "dad" and "Brother B." The Broberg Family; Image: Abducted in Plain Sight/Netflix 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. Robert was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the time, but he distinct to start a new chapter of his life by relocating. He was survived by his wife, Deanna; sons, Jerry, James, Joseph, and Jeff; daughter, Jill Scott; and mother, Lucille. When Jan was finally returned to her family, Berchtold managed to beat several kidnapping charges by arguing he had a mental defect, landing him in a mental institution for less than six months, according toDeseret News. He was found guilty and was scheduled to be sentenced. Like a few other villains, Robert was a menace. This weirder-than-life story is told in the documentaryAbducted in Plain Sight,which traces how Berchtold groomed, manipulated, and blackmailed the Broberg family in the 1970s. Berchtold began saying things to me that were very exciting to hear. Coming to Gails current standing, from what we can tell through a combination of online records and social media profiles, the family woman is a Grouse Creek, Utah native residing in Roy, Utah, at the moment. What could possibly go wrong? Jan Broberg Was Very Involved as A Friend of the Family Retold Her Abductions Where Was the Show Filmed? In spite of the fact that they reported Berchtolds actions to the FBI, the Brobergs continued to allow him to have contact with their child, so enabling him to continue his distressing (and illegal) pattern of abuse. In 1972, Robert Berchtold and his family met Mary Ann Broberg and her husband, Robert Bob Broberg, at the LDS church in their Idaho hometown. Does Klara Survive? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Watson, knocked into the front of the van, was dragged for 110 yards. Bob and Mary Ann took Jan back to Idaho, while Berchtold remained in prison until he was extradited to the U.S. to face kidnapping charges. In 1986, Berchtold was found guilty of the rape a child andspent one year in jail, according to Deseret News. It is also very important to note that Gail did advise the parents of the missing children not to contact the authorities during the first few days after their disappearance in October, but the cause behind her advice was never discovered. During this time, they were proud to welcome Jerry, James, Joseph, Jeff, and Jill into their lives. As a short drama series that redefined the 2 kidnappings in the 1970s of Jan Broberg at the ages of 12 and 14, Peacocks A Friend of the Family can only be narrated as dreadfully bone-chilling. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Mary Ann was a little apprehensive at first; it was, after all, a school night. It chronicles the peculiar kidnapping case of Jan Broberg, an Idaho. Two years later, when Jan was 14 years old, she said that Robert convinced her to leave with him again, and this time, Robert hid her at a Catholic girls school in Pasadena, California. Netflix first recounted the harrowing story in the 2019 documentary Abducted in Plain Sight. - Age. Then Berchtold ran away with Jan to Mexico, where he married her. However, he was never held accountable for his actions in court. Multiple Reddit reports stated that Gail remarried after she left B. United Methodists Agree To Split Over Homosexual Marriage Is Drag Queen Story Hour coming To Sunday Services? He had taken all his heart medicine and drank Kahlua and milk. Thereafter, Berchtold captured their lives by engaging both Brobergs in a sexual relationship. The first four episodes of A Friend of the Family will air on Peacock on Thursday, October 6. Jan eventually filed for a restraining order against Berchtold, who continued to assert her story was filled with lies created to sell books. However, they soon decided to start a new chapter in their lives by moving, so they lived in a few different places. In an interview with Jan Broberg about the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, she said that Gail and Robert divorced shortly after the kidnapping. Press Esc to cancel. Whats more, during their stay south of the border, Berchtold convinced the girl that she was the scion of an ancient alien race, tasked with saving the species by procreating with him. Part of the reason for this is that Gail packed her bags, took her children with her and left Robert forever before running off with the 14-year-old a second time in August 1976. To get help: In the US, call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to speak to a trained sexual assault service provider representative in your area. In the series, Berchtold deceives the Broberg family time and time again. He asked Jans parents for permission to return to the United States and legally marry there. She remarried in the late 1980s, but on April 5, 2015, her second husband, James Leslie Wadman, died after a long battle with bladder cancer. Where Is A Friend Of The Family Subject Robert Berchtold's Ex-Wife Now. NBC Insider is your all-access pass to some of your favorite NBC shows. Over time, the Broberg children started calling Robert Berchtold B, and Jan began to think of him as a second father. But he needed Jans family to bless their unholy union in order to cross the border back into the U.S. For once, Bob and Mary Ann did not agree. It was reportedly back on 7 June 1961, that Gail fell in then-active Army officer Robert Berchtold in an amazing ceremony at the Latter-day Saints (LDS) Logan Temple in Utah, United States. Michael Briere Wiki: The Man Who Raped & Murdered Holly Jones. Police were able to track him down a little while later at a local McDonalds, thanks to a witness remembering his license plate. Robert Berchtold allegedly committed horrendous crimes and supposedly no one stopped him, despite a seeming plethora of evidence against him. It was eventually published in October 2003. As soon as Berchtold got Jan in his car, he drugged her and staged a fake alien abduction. The convicted fellow got into legal difficulty after showing up at a stop on Jans book tour and hitting a man of her security staff with a minivan. Berchtold had a history of trying to ingratiate himself with families with young daughters. Its thus likely that not everything we see on our screens concerning Gail is 100% accurate, which A Friend of the Family actress Lio Tipton (who plays her) has also made abundantly clear. It would take a concerted effort. Gail Toyn married Robert Berchtold, played by Jake Lacy, on June 7, 1961 at the Logan Temple. Reader discretion is advised. Lacy married long-term girlfriend Lauren Deleo on . Berchtold refused and became threatening. Robert Berchtold was accused of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and simple assault. Robert Berchtold died Nov. 11, 2005. Peacock's A Friend of the Family sent social media into a frenzy because of its shocking depiction of Jan Broberg's life. Gail, however, never addressed the case publicly. Thats because, as in Netflixs Kidnapped in Full View, a close friend was responsible not only for catching her, but also for carefully grooming and brainwashing her. He was 70 years old, and they had been enjoying a happy marriage for more than 27 years at that point. On occasion, Jan would wake up with a small intercom device next to her pillow. It was rumored that Gail joyfully tied the knot with then-active Army officer Robert (or B) on June 7, 1961, in a lovely ceremony that took place at the Latter-day Saints (LDS) Logan Temple in Utah. But again, sexual abuse charges were never brought against him. On June 7, 1961, Gail got married in a beautiful ceremony at the Latter-day Saints (LDS) Logan Temple in Utah to Robert (or B), who was working for the Army at the time. Peacocks A Friend of the Family is a limited drama series that revisits the two kidnappings of Jan Broberg when she was 12 and 14 years old in the 1970s. When they moved to Pocatello, the Berchtolds grew closer to the Brobergs, who had three girls around their childrens ages. & More, Robert Berchtolds Ex-Wife Gail Berchtold, Who is Gail Berchtold? 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. It would also give Robert private, intimate access to Janwhich he would get with her parents approval. The first time Berchtold was in jail, hed allegedly paid two men $1,000 to burn down the Brobergs store. "I couldn't have anything to do with boys. The show stars McKenna Grace as Jan and Jake Lacy as Robert "B" Berchtold. I had a lot of meetings [on how to] approach a scene you know, should I have the undercurrent of I am doing this too as a way to brush things under the rug, or is Gail incredibly ignorant of the situation? In reality, Berchtold gave the 12-year-old drugs and set up the scene to make it look like the two of them were taken away against their will. Meanwhile, as all of this was going on, Jan and Robert continued to sneak in visits with each other. In one instance, he told a young girl that she was a princess from another planet, and was also on a mission. B also cared a lot about Jan, who was 12 years old. Jan's mother also had a long-term sexual affair with Berchtold between Jan's abductions. Robert Berchtold is an abuser who groomed the Broberg family in order to become close to their 12-year-old daughter Jan. Broberg Felt and her mother Mary Ann Broberg collaborated on a book, Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story. All she cared about was whether her family would be okay or not. Peacocks A Friend of the Family, a limited drama series that looks back at two kidnappings of Jan Broberg when she was 12 and 14 in the 1970s, can only be called horrifyingly spine-chilling. Who is Jake Lacy wife? Was he fascinated by science fiction? At that moment, she had already filed for divorce, and since then, she has kept a safe distance from the entire situation, to the point that she has never even brought it up online, in interviews, or as a consultant in films or series. In January 1974, he was given a slap on the wrist, a reprimand by the LDS Church for his behavior with a young girl. The FBI, on the other hand, wasnt convinced, what with Berchtold being away and all. Their fears should have also extended to the judicial system. In truth, he was a pedophile who stopped at nothing to get access to his victims. Gail also told the missing childrens parents not to call the police for the first few days after their disappearance in October, but no one was ever able to find out why. 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. The almost unbelievable, surreal story of his . He drank that and died.". No one in her family could see it back then, but Robert Berchtold had built the family from the moment they first met. According to Lio, "I did not see that going into it. Jan Broberg, who is now an adult, says of Berchtold that he was a master manipulator. At the time, no one in her family could see it, but Robert Berchtold had been setting up the family from the first time they met. Its not easy, and I feel sorry for all of them.. She divorced him and took her kids and moved.". So, its likely that not everything we see on screen about Gail is 100% true. Another Reddit user says that Gail remarried but she is now a widow. Gail Toyn married Robert Berchtold, played by Jake Lacy, on June 7, 1961 at the Logan Temple. ZeesBest. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more! Wikipedia, Net Worth, Twitter, Family, Who Is Randall Carlson? Robert Berchtold believed that he and Jan were meant to be together. The NBC App is the best place to catch up on the most recent season of your favorite shows, watch live TV, and stream movies. Once he (Berchtold) had something to hang over their heads, he controlled them. I immediately saw someone who I saw as an unknowing victim of the situation." Robert Berchtold was the Broberg's neighbor. I met a lot of people [on] How do I approach a scene, for example should I have a hint of I do this too to sweep things under the rug, or is Gail really clueless as to whats going on? Robert Berchtold, feeling he was being misrepresented in the book, took to showing up at the readings. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Also find all Bollywood Movie Information related to release date, Reviews, Web Series Information and celebrities, gossips, and entertainment news. Somehow, he managed to convince his neighbors that his therapist recommended he sleep in the same bed as their daughter Jan. Neither one of us was comfortable with him doing it, Mary Ann said, but it was his therapy.. . I thought about how Gail tries to protect and keep her family together in every scene I write. The Brobergs soon realized that their daughter and Robert were missing. Another Reddit user says that Gail got married again, but she is now a widow. If I did, my family would die.". Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. He was born in 1985 in Greenfield, Massachusetts, United States. Or did he know that his victims, who were mostly religious, grew up believing that an angel had appeared to Mary, telling her she would give birth to Jesus Christ and save the world? Amazingly, the affair lasted for nearly a yearduring the same period that he was charged with kidnapping Jan. Mary Ann claims she met up with Brother B a total of eight times, but, allegedly, only had sex with him three times. How can I make things better? Berchtold was, once again, charged with kidnapping. So it comes as no surprise it has been charted in a Netflix documentary titled 'Abducted in Plain Sight' as well as Peacock's drama 'A Friend of the Family' to really get to the heart of the matter. Thats because, as also traversed in Netflixs Abducted in Plain Sight, a close companion was conducted for not just her capture but even her chary grooming as well as brainwashing of her. Why Berchtold used the alien narrative has never been completely answered. In the Netflix documentary, Broberg's mother, Mary Ann, claimed Gail pleaded with them not to call the police after her husband and Jan disappeared. A close friendship ensued.. The Peacock drama miniseries A Friend of the Family shows how Jan Broberg was kidnapped twice when she was a child after her abductor ingratiated himself with her parents. RELATED:Where Are Jan Broberg's Parents, As Portrayed In The New Series 'A Friend Of The Family,' Now? It would appear that there is very little that can bring the country together at this time, but the true-crime documentary from 2017 (which is seeing a resurgence thanks to recently dropping on Netflix) Abducted Everyone despises one particular person after watching In Plain Sight, and that person is Robert Berchtold, also known as B. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. They were going to contact the FBI, but Gail Berchtold somehow convinced the Brobergs not to call; instead, they waited three days before calling the FBI. Berchtold was later found guilty of simple assault, criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct after getting into an altercation with a BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) demonstrator, who was protesting his appearance at Jans events, according to ABC News. In real life, the Berchtolds had five children whose names all began with the letter J. However, in A Friend of the Family on Peacock, their names were changed. His obituary makes no mention of his horrific crimes. After that, Berchtold kept his hold on their lives by getting both of the Brobergs involved in a sexual relationship. Robert Berchtold was married to Gail Berchtold and had five kids with her. They soon chose to start a new chapter of their lives by relocating, and as a result, they spent some time in a few different places. Oh you have a beautiful body and those legs! And I felt this fluttering inside of me He could give me a great feeling about myself, said Mary Ann. Earlier, he had been able to avoid the penalty for his claimed sex offenses against Jan Broberg for several years. After three months in hiding, Jan was, once again, returned to Idaho. The two 1970s abductions of Jan Broberg at the ages of 12 and 14 by none other than her trusted neighbor Robert "Bob" Berchtold is a case that can honestly only be described as atrocious. Type above and press Enter to search. Robert soon took a special interest in Jan. However, they soon decided to start a new chapter in their lives by moving and therefore lived in different places. He asked a volunteer for Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) if he could distribute some pamphlets at the conference. It came back to haunt him. Many fans of documentaries went to Reddit to talk about whether or not Gail could be involved. B also took great care of Jan who was 12 years old. - ZeesBest, Bryce Harper's Injury Update: Is He Playing Tonight? On June 7, 1961, in a beautiful ceremony at the Logan Latter-day Saint (LDS) Temple in Utah, Gail married Robert (or B), who was working for the Army at the time. Adam Strong Wikipedia, Murder Case and Documentary, Caige Rider Obituary, Cause of Death, And Family Details, How Did Keith Farmer Die? Karen explained the impact that incident had on her father. All her children live in the middle of the country. He also managed to convince straight-laced Bob Broberg to masturbate him. As a result, Gail grabbed her luggage, took their children, and said goodbye to him forever. Shed already filed for divorce by that point and has since stayed well away from the entire matter by never even giving it attention online, in interviews, or through consultancy in documentaries/shows. Peacock's "A Friend of the Family" is a nail-biting saga centered on the real-life story of Jan Broberg, a young girl who was kidnapped, not once, but twice, by a charismatic churchgoer disguised as a family friend, hence the title. But Idaho wasnt good for the Berchtolds at all, especially since Robert had been obsessed there with Jan Broberg since he was a kid. The show stars McKenna Grace as Jan and Jake Lacy as Robert B Berchtold. When they met, the Berchtold family also had a little girl. All Rights Reserved. How can I make things better? In the end, Robert Berchtold spent less than two weeks in jail. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Robert Berchtold kidnapped, sexually abused, and convinced his neighbors 12-year-old daughter, Jan Broberg, she was an alien hybrid on a perverse mission to save a faraway planet. Details About His Nearby Family in the Middle of Crude News. How old is Jake Lacy? She probably never meant to hurt anyone else., Also Read: Oklahoma News Anchor Julie Chin Has Stroke On Live TV. But she eventually agreed. Even though Bob and Mary Ann Broberg didnt want him to, Berchtold went back home with Jan, and things went back to normal without any charges being brought. As was Berchtolds modus operandi, he befriended the girls mother, who was a psychiatric nurse at a prominent hospital. Robert Berchtold: 'A Friend of the Family' Star on Playing 'Predator's Wife. However, the marriage didnt last long after that, and they divorced in the late 70s. It appears that the loss of control had a significant impact on Berchtold, as evidenced by his decision to take his own life in 2005 after combining a large quantity of heart medication pills with alcohol. The FBI finally caught up with the pair, but Robert Berchtold spent 10 days in prison after Gail, in the end convincing the Brobergs not to press charges. Not only does young Jan fall prey to the lies of Robert Berchtold, but her parents, sisters, and fellow parishioners get tangled up in his twisted web as well (via Screen Rant). Robert Berchtold used to live in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his wife Deanna until 1997, when they moved to Logandale, Nevada. Berchtold appeared in Jans bedroom window on one night in August 1976, telling her to pack her bags and leave a note saying she was running away. The dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) wasnt quite the family man he appeared to be. But only barely. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. As per NBC News, he was sentenced to a year in prison in 1986 after being found guilty. The couple remained married for 27 years until Wadman passed away from bladder cancer on April 2, 2015. Robert Berchtold married Gail in 1961. Joi The Mole: Is He From The Mole on Netflix? But not in this bizarre case. The Broberg family suffered at the hands of master manipulator Robert Berchtold in the 1970s. In the lead-up to the conference, Jan, members of her family, and the womens conference board had received threatening letters from Berchtold. Two years later, he took their daughter again. The actress who plays Gail on A Friend of the Family, Lio Tipton, has also made it clearly obvious that there is a strong possibility that not everything we see on our televisions relating to Gail is accurate one hundred percent of the time. Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. Berchtold, a close friend of the Brobergs, had allegedlycharmed his way into a favorable positionwith the family in the early 1970s. Since theylike almost everyone else, it seemsbelieved everything Berchtold told them. Although eventually proven guilty of assault, Berchtold killed himself just before being sentenced. Robert denied the allegations that the. They said that they had been watching me since I was born and I had been chosen to be impregnated with a child who would save their planet. Mary Ann and Bob had been married for 13 years and were, as is often the case, dealing with some issues. The information is frustrating, and its almost impossible to understand why Berchtold wasnt given a significant amount of time behind bars for his crimes (he spent less than a month in jail before he was transferred to a mental hospital for approximately six months; later, he spent one year in prison after pleading guilty to raping another child). Though Gail is now in her 70s, it seems like shes still living a quiet, happy life with her kids nearby. Berchtold when she was 12 and again when she was 14. At the beginning of the 1970s, he became friendly with the Broberg family with the express objective of one day sexually abusing Jan, who was nine years old at the time. According to ABC News, he attended a women's conference that Jan Broberg and her mother, Mary Ann, hosted in 2004. What Did Robert Berchtold Do With the Child? And nothing would stand in their way. Berchtold did not experience any consequences until Brobergs adult life was disrupted by his attempts to interfere with Brobergs daily activities. She was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by her neighbor and family friend Robert "B." Berchtold when she was 12 and again when she was 14. Jason Momoas World of Dreams grants all wishes in the Slumberland trailer. This is an example of art imitating life, as this is precisely what happened before, during, and after the story garnered widespread attention. He served one year. Thats because, as also explored in Netflixs Abducted in Plain Sight, a close confidant was, in fact, responsible for not just her capture but even her careful grooming as well as brainwashing. Berchtold took it upon himself to inform the local media, and anyone present, that the two women were telling lies.. A Friend of the Family is streaming exclusively on Peacock. The intercom told her to go to the front of the vehicle. Fading in and out of consciousness, Jan discovered her arms and legs tied to a bed. So, today, even in her 70s, it seems that Gail Berchtold is living a happy and peaceful life as a retiree in the company of her children. The two daughters, though, ran away to their biological fathers house in Idaho. How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to talk to a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. He was actually stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the time, but they soon decided to start a new chapter of their lives by relocating and thus spent some time in a few different places. He was a truck driver and served in the U.S. Army during. This is an important fact to keep in mind. They wed in the Latter-day Saints (LDS) Logan Temple in Utah.