It would also give Robert private, intimate access to Janwhich he would get with her parents approval. Robert Berchtold is an abuser who groomed the Broberg family in order to become close to their 12-year-old daughter Jan. His life has been chronicled by the Peacock television program A Friend of the Family. Jan Broberg (third from left) and the 'A Friend of the Family' cast and crew at the premiere. 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. Six women have since come forward to say they were also raped by Berchtold. Robert Berchtold, feeling he was being misrepresented in the book, took to showing up at the readings. Jan assured her parents that nothing improper had gone on between them. In the Peacock miniseries A Friend of the Family, he played Robert Berchtold. What can I do to make it better? All her children live in the middle of the country. He was 70 years old, and they had been enjoying a happy marriage for more than 27 years at that point. My interpretation of Gail ended up being simplified. At the time, he was really stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but at the time, they made the decision to move. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Joi The Mole: Is He From The Mole on Netflix? 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. "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. Berchtold had a history of trying to ingratiate himself with families with young daughters. She had already filed for divorce at that point, and she hasnt talked about it online, in interviews, or as a consultant in documentaries or other shows since then. Jan said that, since sharing her story, six women contacted her to allege that they, too, were molested by Berchtold. The pair snuck into Berchtolds Lincoln Continental and headed south to California. Its not easy, and I feel sorry for all of them.. 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. Robert Berchtold died by suicide in 2005 According to his obituary: "Robert Ersol Berchtold, 69, of Logandale, died Nov. 11, 2005. Jan and Mary Ann went on a nationwide speaking tour in the hopes of raising awareness about the prevalence of sexual abuse but were repeatedly interrupted by none other than Berchtold himself, who publicly denied several of the claims made against him. Some people talk bad about Berchtolds ex-wife, which is reason enough for them to keep to themselves. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The pair lived in various places. For Lio, Gail and Robert's relationship was "uncomfortable." 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.. B also took great care of Jan who was 12 years old. As soon as Berchtold got Jan in his car, he drugged her and staged a fake alien abduction. 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. Not only did the family remain friends with Robert Berchtold, but Mary Ann fell in love with Robert and the pair had a full-on affair. 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. Robert Berchtold What's Gail Berchtold's name? 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. 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? 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. Its an open question how much Gail knows, Lio recently, exclusively told The Cut. Jan claimed that after she shared her story, six other females got in touch with her to claim that Berchtold had also abused them. 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. How can I make things better? They are Jerry, James, Joseph, Jeff, and Jill. Read More:Who Is Chris Dawsons Daughter Shanelle? Omri Katz: Know About His Bio, Wiki, Girlfriend And Why Is He Missing From Hocus Pocus 2? Once the FBI rescued Jan 4 months later, her kidnapper claimed to have a mental health defect. But the Berchtold family met the Brobergs in the town of Pocatello, Idaho. According to ABC News, he attended a women's conference that Jan Broberg and her mother, Mary Ann, hosted in 2004. After that, Berchtold kept his hold on their lives by getting both of the Brobergs involved in a sexual relationship. Where Is Jan Broberg Now? Berchtold was not sent to jail. But then what happened? Here's everything we know about what Gail Berchtold is up to now. Behind the faade, he is a lurking kidnapper poised to exploit and sexually assault his neighbor's child. Other others, however, feel she was unaware of anything because she helped him deceive the Brobergs. In truth, he was a pedophile who stopped at nothing to get access to his victims. Robert Berchtold married Gail in 1961. But the Berchtold family met the Brobergs in the town of Pocatello, Idaho. On October 17, 1974, Robert Berchtold picked up his young neighbor Jan Broberg from piano lessons in Pocatello, Idaho, so he could, he said, ride with her. Jake Lacy as Robert "B" Berchtold and Hendrix Yancey as Jan Broberg Felt in 'A Friend of the Family', According to Jan, Gail stayed with B after Jans first kidnapping. Jerry, James, Joseph, Jeff, and Jill are the names of the couples four sons as per the source. Its unclear how much Gail knows, Lio said in a recent exclusive interview with The Cut. Its also possible that he became aware of the fact that he was responsible for the destruction of so many lives. According to Lio, "I did not see that going into it. 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.". It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Jan Broberg, who is now an adult, says of Berchtold that he is a master of manipulation. ", Lio Tipton, who uses they pronouns, stars as Gail in the new Peacock series and opened up to Hollywood Life about their perception of Gail's involvement. Copyright 2023 H-Town News. 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. Every Thursday until November 10, the last five episodes will be released. 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. When they moved to Pocatello, the Berchtolds grew closer to the Brobergs, who had three girls around their childrens ages. But what happened to to the real life Berchtold after the events portrayed in A Friend of The Family? 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. Lio Tipton is about to get married; but first, they had to get through the New York premiere of their upcoming show, A . 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. Gail, Robert Berchtolds ex-wife, has a new husband, but no one knows her new name. What Is The Relation Between Kelvin And Thalyta, From Too Hot to Handle Brazil Now? So, where is Robert Berchtolds ex-wife now? Lio Tipton, who portrays Gail in A Friend of the Family, hopes the limited series will show her in a new light. Proving theres someone for everyone, Robert, who had long ago divorced Gail, moved to Brigham City, Utah and remarried. 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. He is 38 years old as of 14 February 2023. 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. 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. But Idaho was not at all good for the Berchtolds, especially since it was there that Robert became obsessed with Jan Broberg when she was still a child. 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 would sneak into Jans bedroom at night and leave the brainwashing tape on. 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. Sometimes, the voice on the other end of the line wasnt Roberts; rather, it was the aliens reminding Jan to complete her mission. In reality, Berchtold drugged the 12-year-old and set up the scene to make it appear that the two had been taken away against their will. "The affidavits that they signed, they retracted four days later. Part of the reason for this is that Gail packed her bags, took their kids, and left Robert for good before the second time he ran away with the 14-year-old in August 1976. In the television series, "A Friend of the Family," Gail, played byLio Tipton, and her children fade out of the picture before the second kidnapping. His obituary makes no mention of his horrific crimes. Jan Broberg changed her name to Jan Broberg Felt when she married for the second time. Robert Berchtolds Ex-Wife. In one thread on Reddit, a video editor said that they had worked on Abducted in Plain Sight. Its unclear how much Gail knows, Lio recently told The Cut in an exclusive interview. In 1972, he kidnapped her for the 1st time in October 1974 when she was 12 years old. Berchtold was born on February 7, 1936 in Tremonton, Utah. on Robert Berchtold Wiki: The Pedophile Who Convinced His Victim She Was Half-Alien. Although eventually proven guilty of assault, Berchtold killed himself just before being sentenced. I immediately saw someone who was groomed. As was Berchtolds modus operandi, he befriended the girls mother, who was a psychiatric nurse at a prominent hospital. Many fans of documentaries went to Reddit to talk about whether or not Gail could be involved. But not in this bizarre case. However, Idaho was not at all an appropriate place for the Berchtolds to live, especially considering the fact that it was there that Robert became enamored with a prepubescent Jan Broberg before kidnapping her in 1974 and 1976. 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. Robert had begun to sexually abuse them as well. In the early hours of November 23, 1974, police stormed Berchtolds motor home and arrested him. Jan told Entertainment Tonight, When she was taken back, she had filed for divorce. She divorced him and moved with her kids., Also Read: Angie Asimus (7 News Anchors) and Her Husband Chris Abbott Have a Child Together, There hasnt been a word for many, many years, and can you imagine how awful it would be to find out that this was your father? Jan added. It came back to haunt him. 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. How can I make things better? 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. So, some people say she knew what her husband was doing because she allegedly helped him get the Brobergs to lower their charges, while others say she didnt know anything. Yet for now, if you simply want to know more about the accuseds then-life partner in particular Robert Bob Berchtolds wife, Gail Toyn Berchtold weve got all the details for you in this blog. On numerous other occasions, he would rape Jan. Two years after kidnapping Jan the first time, Robert Berchtold stole her away again. He also managed to convince straight-laced Bob Broberg to masturbate him. According to Broberg, this is because she. The first four episodes of A Friend of the Family will air on Peacock on Thursday October 6th. 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. Robert was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the time, but he distinct to start a new chapter of his life by relocating. Fernando Decillis/Peacock, charmed his way into a favorable position. I thought about how Gail tries to protect and keep her family together in every scene I write. So, where is Robert Berchtold's ex-wife now? years. This time, to a second-grade teacher who had two daughters. 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). Who Is Kate Walshs Fiance Andrew Nixon? B and Gail were married with five children when they moved to Pocatello, Idaho, in the 1970s. Details on His Death. 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. [on how] to approach a scene [on how] to approach a scene [on how] to approach a scene [on how] to approach a scene [on The way I understood Gail turned out to be far more straightforward. I immediately saw someone who I saw as an unknowing victim of the situation. Offers may be subject to change without notice. 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. Content warning: This article references kidnapping and sexual assault some may find upsetting. In the first episode, viewers got a glimpse into Berchtolds life with his own family, including his wife at the time, Gail Berchtold. Robert Berchtold, aged 69, had no intention of going to jail. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. In the end, Robert Berchtold spent less than two weeks in jail. According to the Idaho State Journal, she yelled at him, Im doing this because I want to protect families from monsters like you, as her reason for doing what she was doing. As per NBC News, he was sentenced to a year in prison in 1986 after being found guilty. I mean, its pretty tough. This probably suits people who dont want a psychological profile on what turned a so-called clean-cut family man into an unrepentant, manipulative pedophile just fine. This shows that she didnt have anything to do with it. As a limited drama series that revisits the two 1970s kidnappings of Jan Broberg at the ages of 12 and 14, Peacocks A Friend of the Family can only be described as horrifically bone-chilling. Gail, however, never addressed the case publicly. I met with a lot of people [on] how to approach a scene, like, should I have a hint of Im doing this too to sweep things under the rug, or is Gail really clueless about whats going on? ', 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. Heres what we know about Gail Berchtold, Robert Berchtolds wife. Jan published a book on her correlation with Robert at the beginning of 2004, much to his displeasure. Jan's mother also had a long-term sexual affair with Berchtold between Jan's abductions. The master manipulator from Utha has a lengthy history of having a particular lust for young females. Its not easy, and I feel bad for all of them.. 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. Enthralled by Berchtolds charms, Mary Ann developed a schoolgirl-like crush on him. 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). Many people wonder if Gail Berchtold knew what her husband did to Jan Broberg after watching Kidnapped in Public and Family Friend. The first four episodes of A Friend of the Family will air on Peacock on Thursday, October 6. Type above and press Enter to search. A Peacock Family Friend came out on Netflix in early October, but only the first four episodes of the true crime drama were available. 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