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. But again, sexual abuse charges were never brought against him. 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. 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. Broberg Felt and her mother Mary Ann Broberg collaborated on a book, Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story. Their fears should have also extended to the judicial system. 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. The documentary became one of Netflixs most-watched films and brought more awareness to Jan and her mothers child abuse advocacy work. But then what happened? But she eventually agreed. He was 70, and theyd been living in marital bliss for over 27 years. Enthralled by Berchtolds charms, Mary Ann developed a schoolgirl-like crush on him. Robert Berchtold: 'A Friend of the Family' Star on Playing 'Predator's Wife. Once the FBI rescued Jan 4 months later, her kidnapper claimed to have a mental health defect. I dont think she ever wanted to hurt anyone else.. READ ALSO: Who Is Chris Dawsons Daughter Shanelle? 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 Shes also a writer. Robert Berchtold allegedly committed horrendous crimes and supposedly no one stopped him, despite a seeming plethora of evidence against him. All her children live in the middle of the country. When they moved to Pocatello, the Berchtolds grew closer to the Brobergs, who had three girls around their childrens ages. Gail turned out to be easier to understand than I had thought. The intercom told her to go to the front of the vehicle. Berchtold when she was 12 and again when she was 14. Lacy married long-term girlfriend Lauren Deleo on . They also have a little girl.. 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. He drank that and died.". Berchtold was not sent to jail. But for now, if you just want to know more about the accuseds then-spouse, Robert Bob Berchtolds wife Gail Toyn Berchtold, we have all the important information for you. Meanwhile, as all of this was going on, Jan and Robert continued to sneak in visits with each other. It came back to haunt him. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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? But what. Wikipedia, Instagram, Age, Alex Hales Girlfriend or Wife, Net Worth, Twitter. Naturally, Jans parents were distraught about her running away. They lived together in places like Albuquerque, New Mexico, Brigham City, Harper, and Ogden, Utah. Press Esc to cancel. Jan wasnt, however. It wasnt only the church that turned a seemingly blind eye. On numerous other occasions, he would rape Jan. Two years after kidnapping Jan the first time, Robert Berchtold stole her away again. He asked a volunteer for Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) if he could distribute some pamphlets at the conference. I dont believe she ever had any intention of causing harm to anyone else., Also Read:Know About Yvette Fieldings Net Worth, Bio, Wiki And More. Robert Berchtold is an abuser who groomed the Broberg family in order to become close to their 12-year-old daughter Jan. But what was going on back in Idaho during this time? In 1972, he kidnapped her for the 1st time in October 1974 when she was 12 years old. Hence, today, in her 70s too, it seems like Gail is leading a quiet yet happy life as a retiree in the close company of her children. 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. For Lio, Gail and Robert's relationship was "uncomfortable." He served one year. His obituary makes no mention of his horrific crimes. In a thread on Reddit, a video editor said they were working on Abducted in Plain Sight. 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. When questioned by Berchtold about her motives in a hearing for a restraining order against him in 2004which, according to the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, was their first direct encounter in almost three decadesJan responded by saying, "My goal, Mr. Berchtold, is to educate the public about predators like you.". This shows that she didnt have anything to do with it. Although Bob and Mary Ann Broberg didnt want it, Berchtold went home with Jan, and things returned to normal without charges being filed. 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. It was, like his experience with the LDS Church, a slap on the wrist. In the early hours of November 23, 1974, police stormed Berchtolds motor home and arrested him. It was to last for the rest of his life. This time, to a second-grade teacher who had two daughters. So now that he was in jail again, the Brobergs feared for their lives. Berchtold had even managed to manipulate the Brobergs so thoroughly that he was able to temporarily abscond with Jan once again in August 1976. The convicted abuser had previously worked for the Army and was posted in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the time. Berchtold did not experience any consequences until Brobergs adult life was disrupted by his attempts to interfere with Brobergs daily activities. However, he was never held accountable for his actions in court. Broberg Felt was just looking for her 15 minutes of fame, a reference to American pop artist Andy Warhols oft-quoted refrain, In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes., The woman hed victimized as a child stood up and yelled, No, Im doing this because I want to protect families from monsters like you.. He was 70 years old, and they had been enjoying a happy marriage for more than 27 years at that point. 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. Peacocks Family Friend, a limited drama series that looks back on two kidnappings by Jan Broberg aged 12 and 14 in the 1970s, can only be described as chillingly creepy. In the first episode, viewers got a glimpse into Berchtolds life with his own family, including his wife at the time, Gail Berchtold. "She divorced him and took her kids and moved." He was survived by his wife, Deanna; sons, Jerry, James, Joseph, and Jeff; daughter, Jill Scott; and mother, Lucille. Robert ran away in August 1976 with the 14-year-old. Although A Friend of the Family showed the Berchtolds with three children, the couple welcomed five kids during their marriage James Jerry, Joseph, Jeff, and Jill. In the Peacock miniseries A Friend of the Family, he played Robert Berchtold. 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).Jan eventually found Berchtold, who was covered in blood . on Robert Berchtold Wiki: The Pedophile Who Convinced His Victim She Was Half-Alien. Their reactions to that event couldnt have been more different. 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 the series, Berchtold deceives the Broberg family time and time again. The 'Friend of the Family' Subject Was Abducted Twice as a Child, What Happened to the *REAL* Robert Berchtold? In addition to writing letters, they spoke on the phone. The dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) wasnt quite the family man he appeared to be. As of this writing, she is still alive and reportedly living a private life with her adult children. Robert Berchtold was the Broberg's neighbor. 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. RELATED:Where Are Jan Broberg's Parents, As Portrayed In The New Series 'A Friend Of The Family,' Now? The last five episodes will be released every Thursday until November 10th. "I couldn't have anything to do with boys. Mark Standen Wikipedia, Girlfriend or Wife, Where Is He Now? In the first episode, viewers got a glimpse into Berchtold's life with his own family, including his wife at the time, Gail Berchtold. One might think that kidnapping a child and marrying her would mean you were on the outs with said childs family. Despite the outcome of her marriage to Robert, Gail found love again. However, the marriage didnt last long after that, and they divorced in the late 70s. The show stars McKenna Grace as Jan and Jake Lacy as Robert B Berchtold. 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. Watch the limited series finale available November 10. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Every scene I went into, I focused on how much Gail is trying to keep her family safe and together The only thing that mattered [to her] was, Is my family going to be okay? 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? Concerning the present circumstances of Gail, it appears through a mix of web records and social media profiles that the family woman was born in Grouse Creek, Utah, but she currently resides in Roy, Utah. No one in her family could see it back then, but Robert Berchtold had built the family from the moment they first met. Boyfriend In 2023, Politician and Engineer Sagar Dhakal Biography, Age and More, Treason Actress Beau Gadsdon Wikipedia Biography and Age, Who Is Sophie Stonehouse From Too Hot To Handle? Where is Robert Berchtold's Ex-Wife Gail Berchtold Now? RELATED:A First Look At Peacock's Much Anticipated True Crime Drama 'A Friend of the Family'. All she cared about was whether or not her family would be okay. https://t.co/vh2ZnhqjE0, IndieWire (@IndieWire) November 3, 2022. Robert Berchtold and his wife Gail married in 1961 Gail Toyn married Robert Berchtold (portrayed by Jake Lacy) on June 7, 1961, in the Logan Temple. Jan would go on to explain to "Good Morning America" what she believed were Berchtold's motives at the time. While Broberg Felt never saw Berchtold at the event in St. George, she was sufficiently worried for her life and decided to get a restraining order, which he contested. I immediately saw someone who was groomed. A Peacock Family Friend came out on Netflix in early October, but only the first four episodes of the true crime drama were available. The pair snuck into Berchtolds Lincoln Continental and headed south to California. Did The White Hats Prevent An Even Bigger Tragedy? 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. In truth, he was a pedophile who stopped at nothing to get access to his victims. Details on His Death. Heres what we know about Gail Berchtold, Robert Berchtolds wife. 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. The person said Gail was asked for an interview, but she declined. Type above and press Enter to search. "They didn't forgive him, she said. Many people wonder if Gail Berchtold knew what her husband did to Jan Broberg after watching Kidnapped in Public and Family Friend. Jan told Entertainment Tonight, By the time she was taken again, she had filed for a divorce. She got a divorce from him and moved with her kids., Also Read:Angie Asimus(7 news anchor) and her husband Chris Abbott had a child together, There has been no word in many, many years, and can you imagine how terrible it would be to find out that this was your dad? Jan added. The FBI is the FBI after all, so they were eventually able to get Jan out of the school. As was Berchtolds modus operandi, he befriended the girls mother, who was a psychiatric nurse at a prominent hospital. - Age. A close friendship ensued.. Robert Berchtold allegedly committed horrendous crimes and supposedly no one stopped him, despite a seeming plethora of evidence against him. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Berchtolds wife Gail remains by his side in the early episodes of the Peacock drama. ', Death toll keeps rising in Greece's deadliest train crash, Brunt of storm moving out of SoCal, light showers on tap Wednesday, Missing 19-year-old man found dead in wooded area of Milford, 'Kiss' is coming to Seattle for their last tour ever, Solar Panels Over California's Canals Could Save Water While Making Clean Energy. They are Jerry, James, Joseph, Jeff, and Jill. The almost unbelievable, surreal story of his kidnapping of Jan Broberg is dramatized in thePeacocklimited series A Friend of the Family, streaming now. The FBI, on the other hand, wasnt convinced, what with Berchtold being away and all. Jerry, James, Joseph, Jeff, and Jill are the names of the couples four sons as per the source. Like Jan, Lio believes Gail had no control over Bs behavior and described their marriage as uncomfortable., [I was] surprised with how easy it is to vilify her because I did not see that going into it, Lio explained to HollywoodLife about Gail. But not in this bizarre case. Robert B Berchtold sexually abused Jan Broberg and took her away when she was 12 and again when she was 14. She did marry again in the late 1980s, but . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Presuming her innocence, as we should since she was never convicted of anything, it is likely she was devastated by her husband's betrayal of her trust though we can never truly know for sure, as she has refused to address the media in any way. 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. Since the series "A Friend of the Family" aired, speculation has surrounded Robert Berchtold's wife Gail, who was the mother of Robert's five children (via Showbiz Cheat Sheet). 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. Content warning: This article references kidnapping and sexual assault some may find upsetting. The high-pitched voices coming out of the white ivory box identified themselves as aliens who had come to earth from a dying planet. The two daughters, though, ran away to their biological fathers house in Idaho. Cause of Death, Wikipedia Bio, Is Jason David Frank Dead or Alive? In an interview with Jan Broberg about the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, she said that Gail and Robert got a divorce soon after the kidnapping. Therefore, it would appear that Gail is living a peaceful yet content life as a retiree in the close company of her children despite the fact that she is now in her 70s. Despite there appears to be an abundance of evidence against him. Actor Lio Tipton plays Gail, portraying her reported anxiety around her husbands actions during that time. Robert would sneak into Jans bedroom at night and leave the brainwashing tape on. These included the cities of Brigham City in Utah, Pocatello in Idaho, and Ogden in Utah. Bombshell: FDA Has Never Approved A Drug Or Vaccine! Watson, knocked into the front of the van, was dragged for 110 yards. He is 38 years old as of 14 February 2023. However, they soon decided to start a new chapter in their lives by moving, so they lived in a few different places. Though Gail is now in her 70s, it seems like shes still living a quiet, happy life with her kids nearby. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The Broberg family suffered at the hands of master manipulator Robert Berchtold in the 1970s. Berchtold had a history of trying to ingratiate himself with families with young daughters. 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