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. Peacock's A Friend of the Family touches on Jan and Robert's marriage.Find out why the . Two years later, he took their daughter again. Also Read:Omri Katz: Know About His Bio, Wiki, Girlfriend And Why Is He Missing From Hocus Pocus 2? The court hearing was unquestionably a watershed moment in their relationship, and Broberg made it quite obvious to Berchtold that he would never again be able to control or hurt her. He is 38 years old as of 14 February 2023. Robert B Berchtold sexually abused Jan Broberg and took her away when she was 12 and again when she was 14. Heres what we know about Gail Berchtold, Robert Berchtolds wife. Lio said they were "surprised with how easy it is to vilify her [Gail]. In the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, Jan Broberg said, Everyone had a best friend.. She did marry again in the late 1980s, but sadly, her second husband, James Leslie Wadman, lost his fight with bladder cancer on April 5, 2015, little over three decades after their first marriage. A Friend of the Family is available to stream onPeacock now. 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? For this, Berchtold was actually charged and convicted of rape of a child and sentenced to jail. He remarried Deanna Lou Wiley in Utah's Pineview Reservoir on July 17, 1990. 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? Why? . Les Watson, the volunteer, asked to see the material. 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. I thought about how Gail tries to protect and keep her family together in every scene I write. In a thread on Reddit, a video editor said they were working on Abducted in Plain Sight. Where Is A Friend Of The Family Subject Robert Berchtold's Ex-Wife Now. However, they soon decided to start a new chapter in their lives by moving, so they lived in a few different places. Some wondered if Gail was wholly innocent and unaware of her husbands actions or if she knew all along. 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., They had all the fun toys we didnt have, like a boat, snowmobiles, a trampoline, Jan recalled. - ZeesBest, Bryce Harper's Injury Update: Is He Playing Tonight? Upon learning that Jan and her sister Karen shared a basement bedroom, the handy Robert built a wall, giving the two girls their own bedrooms. Jan Broberg (third from left) and the 'A Friend of the Family' cast and crew at the premiere. In March 2004, Berchtold, who was now 68 years old, showed up at a womens conference at Dixie State College (now Dixie State University) in St. George, Utah where Jan was speaking. The children in the clanconsidered 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. Fading in and out of consciousness, Jan discovered her arms and legs tied to a bed. ', 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. When they met, the Berchtold family also had a little girl. 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. How old is Jake Lacy? When Watson walked away, Berchtold got into his white minivan and drove into him, striking his right knee. In addition to writing letters, they spoke on the phone. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Gail Berchtold and Robert Berchtold were married in a lovely ceremony on June 7, 1961. "She divorced him and took her kids and moved.". He was 70 years old, and they had been enjoying a happy marriage for more than 27 years at that point. Broberg Felt and her mother Mary Ann Broberg collaborated on a book, Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. In the first episode, viewers got a glimpse into Berchtolds life with his own family, including his wife at the time, Gail Berchtold. Mary Ann was a little apprehensive at first; it was, after all, a school night. Other others, however, feel she was unaware of anything because she helped him deceive the Brobergs. Stay tuned for more updates on LatestinBollywood. Questions have emerged about Gail's participation in her former husband's unspeakable crimes or whether she was a victim. 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). Enthralled by Berchtolds charms, Mary Ann developed a schoolgirl-like crush on him. For starters, he wasnt charged with any crimes of a sexual nature. James Leslie Wadman was 70 years old, and they were living in marital bliss for over 27 years. They lived together in places like Albuquerque, New Mexico, Brigham City, Harper, and Ogden, Utah. But the Berchtold family met the Brobergs in the town of Pocatello, Idaho. Gail turned out to be easier to understand than I had thought. As was Berchtolds modus operandi, he befriended the girls mother, who was a psychiatric nurse at a prominent hospital. It was reportedly back on June 7, 1961, that Gail blissfully tied the knot with then-active Army official Robert (or B) in a beautiful ceremony at the Latter-day Saints (LDS) Logan Temple in Utah. I immediately saw someone who was groomed. Even then, they didnt want to believe that Robert had done anything wrong. A dazed and confused Berchtold acted as though he had no idea what was going on. Despite there appears to be an abundance of evidence against him. 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. Who Is Kate Walshs Fiance Andrew Nixon? Also Read:Leeza Gibbons: Know About Her Net Worth, Bio, Wiki And Family Details. True to form, Berchtold convinced the educators at the school that he was in the CIA and that he and Jan were on the run! As depicted in A Friend of the Family, Bs abuse toward Jan caused issues in his and Gails marriage. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Berchtold when she was 12 and again when she was 14. Wikipedia, Net Worth, Twitter, Family, Is Pilar Pascual Married With A Husband? Berchtold not only misled his victim but also her parents to a large extent. Recently, and in an exclusive interview with The Cut, Lio stated, Its an open question how much Gail knows. I participated in a number 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? Netflix first recounted the harrowing story in the. 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 Berchtold allegedly committed horrendous crimes and supposedly no one stopped him, despite a seeming plethora of evidence against him. Subsequently, the pair embarked on a speaking tour. Reader discretion is advised. So now that he was in jail again, the Brobergs feared for their lives. In real life, the Berchtolds had five children whose names all started with the letter J. In A Friend of the Family on Peacock, however, their names were changed. According to ABC News, he attended a women's conference that Jan Broberg and her mother, Mary Ann, hosted in 2004. on Robert Berchtold Wiki: The Pedophile Who Convinced His Victim She Was Half-Alien. The latest telling is a fictionalized account of Broberg's encounter and highlights many people who did not participate in the original doc. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This conclusion can be reached in part due to the fact that Gail packed her belongings, gathered their children, and left Robert for good before his second attempt to leave with the then-14-year-old in August 1976, suggesting that she had nothing to do with the incident. 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. 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. This happened because Gail was able to use the affair and other sexual misdeeds against Mary Ann and Bob. Not only that, Berchtold needed to impregnate her before she turned 16 so she could help save the extraterrestrials dying planet. It was really hard for me to do, Jan told theBBC. The first time Berchtold was in jail, hed allegedly paid two men $1,000 to burn down the Brobergs store. It wasnt until November, though, that it was discovered that Berchtold had kidnapped Jan and was now living in Salt Lake City, Utah. He asked Jans parents for permission to come back to the U.S. and get married legally there. 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. But if you just want to know more about the defendants then-wife, Robert Bob Berchtolds wife Gail Toyn Berchtold, for now, weve got all the important information for you. He was survived by his wife, Deanna; sons, Jerry, James, Joseph, and Jeff; daughter, Jill Scott; and mother, Lucille. On occasion, Jan would wake up with a small intercom device next to her pillow. When they moved to Pocatello, the Berchtolds grew closer to the Brobergs, who had three girls around their childrens ages. At the time he was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. What can I do to make the situation more favorable? Berchtold was born on February 7, 1936 in Tremonton, Utah. He kidnaps their daughter, not once but twice, and even has an affair with both Robert and Mary Ann Broberg. It was 2004, a full 28 years after hed kidnapped Jan Broberg for a second time, and years after serving jail time for raping a child, he was still sexually abusing young girls. How can I make things better? Joi The Mole: Is He From The Mole on Netflix? 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. Once the FBI rescued Jan 4 months later, her kidnapper claimed to have a mental health defect. The dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) wasnt quite the family man he appeared to be. The almost unbelievable, surreal story of his . Caution is advised due to the following content: this work discusses sexual abuse in some detail. These included Pocatello in Idaho, Brigham City in Utah, and Ogden in Utah, during which Gail and Robert also welcomed their 5 children into their lives, and their names are Jerry Berchtold, James Berchtold, Joseph Berchtold, Jeff Berchtold, and Jill Berchtold. Berchtolds wife, Gail, stays by his side in the first few episodes of the Peacock drama. "Berchtold took her away in a motor home on the afternoon of Oct. 17, 1974," ABC News reported . According to Broberg, this is because she. Its an open question how much Gail knows, Lio recently, exclusively told The Cut. 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. RELATED:Where Are Jan Broberg's Parents, As Portrayed In The New Series 'A Friend Of The Family,' Now? Basically I had all these rules that I was supposed to follow that had been given to me from the aliens," Jan told theBBCin June 2019. I wasn't able to talk definitively or explicitly about the sexual abuse. Its not easy, and I feel bad for all of them.. In 2019, the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight told the chilling true story of the Broberg family. Its possible that Berchtolds death put a stop to his reign of terror, but theres no doubt that those he mistreated and attacked will continue to have nightmares about him for the rest of their lives. He was 70, and theyd been living in marital bliss for over 27 years. His wife stayed with him after the first kidnapping but divorced him after the second one and took away her children with her. However, the marriage didnt last long after that, and they divorced in the late 70s. NFL Player Damar Hamlin in Critical Condition after Collapsing on Field, Legendary Designer Vivienne Westwood Dies Aged 81, 10 Female IAS Officers who can inspire us. Find the latest Bollywood News and Celebrity Gossips from Latest In Bollywood. Two years later he took her daughter with him again. 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. However, they soon decided to start a new chapter in their lives by moving, so they lived in a few different places. 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. Berchtold is one of the most formidable supervillains around. Then Berchtold fled to Mexico with Jan, where he married her. As incredible as it may sound, the parents of his victims did everything they could to be accommodating. 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. According to Entertainment Tonight, it was Gail, not Robert, who coerced the Brobergs into signing an affidavit following the first kidnapping. Despite Netflix and several major publications contacting her for comment, she has chosen not to disclose her side of the story which is one of the show's most enduring mysteries. 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. She had already filed for divorce at that point and hasnt spoken about it online, in interviews, or as a counselor on documentaries or other shows since. If she didnt follow the aliens order, they would kill her and her father, Karen would go blind, and her sister Susan would be kidnapped and take her place as the female companion.. Jan's mother also had a long-term sexual affair with Berchtold between Jan's abductions. While in court, Berchtold told the presiding judge that You can just see how he wants to pull people in or not. 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. 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. Read More: Where Are Jan Brobergs Sisters Now? Robert Berchtold was married to Gail Berchtold and had five kids with her. 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. Berchtold's wife, Gail, is often referenced in the beginning of Abducted In Plain Sight, but she seems to disappear by the second half of the movie. 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. During this time, Gail was basically trying to hold back a car from going off a cliff desperately, and B. ", 18 Best Leggings Brands That Will Make Your Butt Look Like an 11/10, 37 Selena Gomez Hairstyles to Copy If You're Trying to Level-Up Your Hair Game, How To Contour and Highlight Your Face Like A Total Pro. Content warning: This article references kidnapping and sexual assault some may find upsetting. 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