In fact, Jan's abductor Robert Berchtold was a close friend of Jan's parents. Search above to list available cemeteries. The story is a real one. I am leaving without B and I do not plan on coming back until you accept me as me, I cannot accept your religion or your screwed-up morals. Manipulation and grooming are not understood by so many. In June 1976, he was sentenced to five years for kidnapping. He was arrested and served 10 days in jail, but the parents resumed contact, the site reported, adding that, at age 14, he abducted her again, lying that she was his daughter and enrolling her as a student in a Catholic school in Pasadena, California. Mary Anne let her daughter get on a plane to Wyoming on her own. At the time, she said she believed she was truly in love with him. Jan Broberg told The Independent that she felt so many emotions but ultimately felt relief that he couldnt hurt her family or anyone else anymore. But, due to the plea deal, the judge whittled his punishment down to just 45 days. While Jan was reluctant to discuss her alleged kidnapping the first time it happened, she told investigators what Berchtold allegedly did to her the second time around. She was told that should she ever stray from her task, she would face punishment. When nothing happened, she finally realised Robert Berchtold had been lying to her. Please try again later. Berchtold claimed that the Broberg family made up all the things in the book, but six other women came out saying that he had assaulted them as well. Unfortunately, Joseph "Joe" Ersol Berchtold passed away at the age of 82 on January 18, 2022, leaving behind his devoted wife Sue Bierwolf, five loving adult children, and 12 adorable grandchildren. The two had a sexual affair with one another, and Berchtold told Bob of the affair. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21312991/robert-ersol-berchtold. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Viewing also from 10-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, with services to follow, at Gilles Funeral Chapel, Brigham City, Utah. As a result of Robert Berchtolds grooming and manipulation, Jane genuinely believed she loved him and still thought she had to have a baby with him before she was 16. However, after her birthday passed and the planet was still here, she realized that the aliens were all made up (via ATI). Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. "I think he's desperate because he knows our story has come out," she said, according to ABC News. Robert 'B' Berchtold kidnapped 12-year-old Jan and took her in a camper to Mexico in 1974. Read more: A Friend of the Family on Sky: The new TV series based on the horrifying true crime story. What happened to Elisabeth and her children? Jan said that, since sharing her story, six women contacted her to allege that they, too, were molested by Berchtold. I was so happy to watch it in the comfort of my home hand in hand with my mother MaryAnn (who will be played by @_annapaquin in the series) and my supportive son Austen. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: Top Knot films/Netflix), The 56-year-old Jan Broberg has in several interviews tried to defend his parents in the eyes of many extreme naivety in connection with the pedophiles family friend Robert Berchtold. The restraining order came after Broberg and her mother released a non-fiction book about Broberg's life, titled Stolen Innocence. Skye Borgman, the filmmaker who chronicled Jan and her family's story in the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, noted Berchtold's bizarre plan was likely connected with the zeitgeist of the mid-1970s."This whole idea of science fiction was popular, and tape recorders had just come out," Borman told Vanity Fair.. "There were also a lot of newspaper articles about U.F.O.s and whether . A Friend of the Family is poised to be viewers' latest true-crime obsession, with its focus on what happened to Jan Broberg as a child at the hands of Robert 'B' Berchtold.. Berchtold was a friend of the Broberg family.Between 1972 and 1976 he groomed Broberg and abducted her twice: once at the age of 12 and the second time when she was 14. Mexican law enforcement found Jan Broberg and Robert Berchtold in the motor home. Another day, another new crime drama. Berchtold went on to kidnap Broberg again. Sources state that Gail Berchtold also remarried a former Marine, James Leslie Wadman, in . Share this memorial using social media sites or email. I just have no words pic.twitter.com/VdG5WsbtWL. Jan would go on to explain to "Good Morning America" what she believed were Berchtold's motives at the time. He is survived by his wife, Deanna; sons, Jerry, James, Joseph, and Jeff; daughter, Jill Scott; and mother, Lucille. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! When Jan woke up from being drugged, she heard voices from a speaker telling her she was part alien. In June 1977, Robert Berchtold faced charges of kidnapping, burglary and an arson attack on Rob Brobergs florist shop. Learn more about merges. But it wasnt until college when she really reflected on what truly happened to her. Jans captor maintained such a convincing and threatening hold on her that even after she returned home from the initial kidnapping she continued to secretly meet him and was eventually taken from home a second time. Full Episodes Watch Oxygen Shows Like 'Cold Justice' On Our Free App Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Twice. He is survived by his wife,. She is probably best known as Nurse Louise from the 2000s CW show Everwood. On November 20 1974, Robert Berchtold contacted his brother Joe. They were under such intense manipulation from Robert Berchtold that they genuinely believed Robert would return with their daughter. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. There is a problem with your email/password. Robert Berchtold manipulated Rob Broberg by complaining about his sex life with his wife and asked Rob Broberg to pleasure him instead. Netflix previously streamed a show on Brobergs story of grooming and manipulation. The Brobergs complied, and Robert Berchtold never served prison time for what he did to Jan. Jan has continued to have a successful career in acting. Theyre trying to make a buck, Berchtold told ABCNEWS.com. As Robert Berchtold awaited his sentencing for his assault on a BACA member and possession of a weapon, he took his own life on November 11 2005. A Friend of The Family | Official Teaser | Peacock Original, A Friend of The Family is streaming October 6th on Peacock: pck.tv/3AhAHSh Synopsis: A Friend of the Family is based on the harrowing true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by a charismatic, obsessed family friend. The Brobergs devoted to their faith, family,, Videos Capture Salman Rushdie Stabbing Scene. Broberg's Father Called The Police After. He had taken all his heart medicine and drank Kahlua and milk. What an absolutely wonderful week its been here in Atlanta getting to spend time with all the talented actors telling my story. Berchtold abducted Jan again in 1976, secretly enrolling her in a Catholic girls' school in California, where he visited her on weekends, posing as her father (Berchtold was living in Utah at the time); she was gone, I believe, for over 100 days this time. It claims the disturbing documentary film, 'Abducted in Plain Sight'. The man, who was accused of kidnapping the same girl twice, as well as sexually abusing her, was never charged for his crimes, though many would argue the evidence was more than sufficient. In adulthood, Jan and her mother, Mary Ann Broberg, would go on to write a book titled "Stolen Innocence" about the family's harrowing experiences. Try again later. 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 consider it a kidnapping. Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. According to an online obituary, she tied the knot with former Marine James Leslie Wadman in 1988. Robert Berchtold Now: Where Is Friend of the Family Now? However, Joe contacted the FBI, and Robert Berchtold was arrested and sent back to the United States, according to ATI. 07. Berchtold not only manipulated and preyed on a child but also seduced the entire family most notably Jan's parents to help continue his relationship with Jan. Born in 7 Feb 1936 and died in 11 Nov 2005 Brigham City, Utah Robert Ersol Berchtold He attempted to enter the event with a weapon, but a Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) member stopped him. It has been a question that a lot of people have asked or posed, and I also find it curious.. The site also claims that both parents also engaged in sexual relationships with Berchtold.. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Berchtold had a family of his own, and his children would often play with the Broberg kids, including Jan, according to ATI. Disturbingly, Jan Broberg was actually the victim of abduction a SECOND time this time when she was 14. He had bildt them in, using a fake psychologist that it would help him to get over his own trauma of being raped by an aunt when he was a child. The First Abduction. After that incident, he was no longer involved with the Broberg family until Mary Ann Broberg released the book "Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story" in 2003. In 1972, the Berchtolds, headed by Robert and his wife Gail, had moved into a peaceful, tight-knit neighborhood in Pocatello, Idaho. This August, Tanner made a heartwarming birthday speech in honor of his mother. It was around this time that Robert Berchtold began to abuse Jan Broberg sexually. (And that's saying something, because their story as it stands doesn't exactly make them look like saints). He has not disclosed much information about his father. Abducted on Plain Sight is now streaming on Netflix. Berchtold tells Bob that he admires him and wants to befriend him, dances with Mary Ann, throwing Jan a birthday party, and grooming the young girl. He overdosed on heart medication and alcohol. In 2005, Berchtold died by suicide, and the Broberg family continues to spread awareness about child predators (viaABC 4). He planned on coming back to the United States to officially have the wedding and asked his brother, Joe Berchtold, to ask the Brobergs for their blessing to marry their daughter. For five weeks, Broberg was held captive in Mexico, where Berchtold sexually assaulted her and forced her to marry him illegally. You must have strong nerves to see the cross-border documentary. based on information from your browser. In 2004, when Broberg wrote a book about the abductions, ABC News wrote about the case, alleging that Berchtold showed up at a womens conference Broberg was hosting with her mother. Roberts sexual relationship with Mary Ann was another way in which he manipulated the family. Berchtold had said Broberg's family would suffer, and one of her sisters would go blind. Abducted in Plain Sight filmmaker Skye Borgman told Vanity Fair: We certainly couldnt find any indication that it continued. We . "I couldn't have anything to do with boys. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. They attempted to, but were blackmailed by Berchtold. He was a truck driver and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. The voices told her that while Mary Ann was her birth mother, Rob Broberg was not her real father. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Learn more about managing a memorial . Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Just now on Netflix watch the disturbing documentary film, 'Abducted in Plain Sight', that has got the social media to go completely crazy. The male companion selected for her was Robert Berchtold. The two had a sexual affair with one another, and Berchtold told Bob of the affair. ET. Just like the name of the show A Friend of the Family, Robert Berchtold was a family friend. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Robert Berchtold (21312991)? She also contemplated suicide when she was 16, but says a theatre workshop at the time and her career in acting saved her. "Mom, even though I think the impact your making on this world is incredible and this new level of fame is really cool," he began. Brobergs story was also featured in a Netflix show called Abducted in Plain Sight, which aired in 2017. I have no words', Abducted in plain sight on Netflix is wild. The recently @TheEmmys nominated #JakeLacy is such a joy to be around and I cant wait to see him on screen playing B. The next thing she remembered, she was drugged and tied to the bed in a motor home. It happened to my whole family, this man was a master and my parents saved my life. Robert E Berchtold of Logandale, Clark County, Nevada was born on February 7, 1936, and died at age 69 years old on November 11, 2005. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. the Family Broberg. He drugged her and transported her to Mexico in his RV. There, she said they got a little too cosy. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. If you have experienced sexual. "Bob had gone to court that day and been found guilty," explained Berchtold's brother, Joe, in the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight. "He says, 'If it's one day in prison, it's going to kill me. Robert Berchtold and his repeated abduction of Jan Broberg is such a chilling true story, its no wonder its been made into a Sky drama. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. He is survived by his wife,. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Shortly after, he moved to Utah for work. Broberg, now 56 and thriving, appeared on Entertainment Tonight on Friday to discuss the details you wouldn't know after watching Abducted In Plain Sight. Abducted in plain sight has been one of the most infuriating docs I think I've ever seen. He drank that and died.". Jan and her mother Mary Ann served as producers and consultants on A Friend of the Family. 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. They told her she could not have physical contact with him or any other man other than Robert Berchtold. For the uninitiated: 12-year-old Jan Broberg was abducted by a neighbor and family friend, Robert Berchtold (known to Jan and most of her family as 'B') from her home in Pocatello, Idaho in 1974; then again, at the age of 13, in 1976. Berchtold was born on February 7, 1936 in Tremonton, Utah. 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 . Robert E Berchtold Robert Berchtold (1936 - 2005) Jump to: Biography Memories . More must not be divulged here. The FBI eventually traced Robert Berchtold and Jan to Pasadena, California. According to the documentary 'Abducted in Plain Sight,' the man, who was 69 years old at the time, decided that he . Jan Broberg was first kidnapped on October 17 1974, when she was just 12 years old. Later that year, Robert Berchtold convinced the Brobergs to allow him to take Jan Broberg horseback riding with him, and when he did, he drugged the 12-year-old and took her to a motor home, where she was tied in shackles to the bed with a radio repeatedly saying the phrase "female companion" by two separate feminine voices (via ABC 4). The series itself elegantly and subtly captures in a vivid way the crimes of Berchtold but also the naive air of the 1970s and the seeming inability to comprehend the disturbing nature of such predatory crimes. It was in 1989, during a book club event, that actress Jan Broberg first opened up about the years of s*xual abuse she endured at the hands of her family friend, Robert Berchtold, during her pre-teen On Christmas Eve 1974, Robert Berchtolds wife told the Brobergs that if they pressed charges, the details of the affair would come out. "I hope you know that I love you simply for being a wonderful mother every single day of my life!!! Theyre the bravest people I know, willing to try to help the rest of you see what they didnt. Jan's kidnapper brainwashed her into believing that her family would be harmed if she didn't have his child. He also scared her into believing that her family would be killed if she did not have his baby by her 16th. Weve updated the security on the site. According to his obituary: "Robert Ersol Berchtold, 69, of Logandale, died Nov. 11, 2005. our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix. Try again. charmed his way into a favorable position. In 1986, Berchtold was found guilty of the rape a child and, "I think he's desperate because he knows our story has come out," she said, according to, 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. Robert "B" Berchtold takes advantage of the Broberg family's trust, driving parents Mary Ann and Bob apart while turning their own daughter Jan against them. Somewhat predictably, the documentary soon reveals that in 1974, two . However, according to Reveille, Brobergs parents allowed Berchtold to sleep in Jans bed four times a week for six months right up until she was taken after Berchtold said it was part of church-approved therapy. During his time in Utah, Berchtold convinced Mary Ann Broberg to visit him. Robert Berchtold took Jan Broberg horseback riding one afternoon when she was 12 and disappeared with her. Where Was Buster When His Mom & Brother Were Shot? A Friend of the Family is available to stream on Peacock Oct. 6. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? This only strengthened Berchtold's hold on the family, and in 1974, when he was kicked out of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for molesting another young girl, he supposedly sought out a psychologist. This browser does not support getting your location. Berchtold then claimed he needed to sleep in Jan's bed to recover from his tendencies, which the Broberg parents reluctantly agreed to, according to ATI. Therefore came the incredible kidnapping-story only to cost Berchtold 45 days in prison. 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