Robert Berchtold kidnapped a young Jan Broberg from Pocatello, Idaho, twice in the 1970s, using manipulation and deception to control her and her parents, Mary Ann and Bob Broberg, to stay out of legal trouble. The events left a lasting impact on Jan and her family, according to an interview with Vanity Fair.
But did Berchtold pay for his crimes in the end? Let’s see what happened to him before his conviction!
How Did Berchtold Get Away With It?
Photo Credit: Abducted in Plain Sight – YouTube
Robert Berchtold, a member of the same church as the Brobergs, became close to them in the early 1970s. He was a father of five and appeared trustworthy enough to have affairs with the couple, which allowed him access to Jan, as People shared.
In October 1974, Berchtold took 12-year-old Jan on a supposed horseback riding trip. He took her to Mexico, where child marriage was legal, claiming they were part of an alien mission to save a dying planet by having a child, the outlet further told. The FBI rescued the girl after tracing a call Berchtold made to his brother.
Berchtold used his influence over the Brobergs to make them sign affidavits that weakened the legal case against him. He spent minimal time in jail. In 1976, he kidnapped Jan again, enrolling her in a California boarding school under a false name. Authorities eventually found her.
What Landed The Kidnapper In Trouble?
Photo Credit: Abducted in Plain Sight – YouTube
This time, Berchtold faced charges, including kidnapping and impersonation, but avoided significant jail time by exploiting legal loopholes and claiming mental illness. He only spent less than six months in a mental facility, according to Deseret News.
When Jan began sharing her story publicly through nationwide speaking tours, Berchtold harassed her (per NBC). She eventually got a restraining order against her kidnapper while he continued to claim her accounts of the incident were fake.
ABC News reported that Berchtold later got into a fight with a Bikers Against Child Abuse demonstrator over his appearance at Jan’s events, facing prison again. Just before he was due, though, he died by suicide in 2005, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Did His Wife Have Anything To Do With Berchtold’s Crimes?
Photo Credit: Top Knot Films
Since Berchtold was married at the time of the kidnappings, many people on social media believed his ex-wife Gail helped with the crime (via Yahoo). The 2017 documentary, ‘Abducted in Plain Sight,’ People shared, revealed that she convinced the Brobergs to delay contacting authorities, giving him time to take Jan to Mexico.
Moreover, Jan told Entertainment Tonight that Gail remained married to Berchtold after the first kidnapping though she filed for a divorce by the time the second one happened. Gail never spoke publicly about the incidents, but based on Jan’s account, she seems to be a victim, as well.
Peacock’s 2022 miniseries ‘A Friend of the Family’ delves more into these events as Jan and her mother, Mary Ann, serve as producers for the show. The two also share more about the story in the 2003 memoir ‘Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story.’
