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. 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. James Leslie Wadman was 70 years old, and they were living in marital bliss for over 27 years. 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. 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. 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. During their time in Mexico, Berchtold and Jan married. He then kidnapped her in 1974 and 1976. The intercom told her to go to the front of the vehicle. Gail had already begun the divorce process when she discovered her husbands criminal activity. By the second kidnapping, she had filed for a divorce," Jan told Entertainment Tonight of Gail in 2019. He appears to have everybody fooled, but as the story unravels, one person fades out of the picture - Berchtold's loving wife Gail. 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. Throughout the series, we learn how the lives of all members of the Broberg family are adversely affected by this man who is secretly a master of manipulation. As if on cue, the intercom relayed more details about Jans mission. 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. She was told that should she ever stray from her task, she would face punishment. Their reactions to that event couldnt have been more different. He is 38 years old as of 14 February 2023. The show stars McKenna Grace as Jan and Jake Lacy as Robert B Berchtold. Here's everything we know about what Gail Berchtold is up to now. RELATED:Where Are Jan Broberg's Parents, As Portrayed In The New Series 'A Friend Of The Family,' Now? 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. 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. 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. "The affidavits that they signed, they retracted four days later. After Broberg made an effort to interrupt one of Berchtolds public speaking events in 2004, he was issued a lifetime restraining order to prevent him from having any further contact with Berchtold. She divorced him and took her kids and moved.". 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. Was he fascinated by science fiction? Lacy married long-term girlfriend Lauren Deleo on . ZeesBest, What Happens at the End of High Water? Their fears should have also extended to the judicial system. In a thread on Reddit, a video editor said they were working on Abducted in Plain Sight. Jan assured her parents that nothing improper had gone on between them. Berchtold was not sent to jail. He had taken all his heart medicine and drank Kahlua and milk. 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. Two years later he took her daughter with him again. Actress Lio Tipton, who plays Gail in A Friend of the Family, made that very clear. Many people wonder if Gail Berchtold knew what her husband did to Jan Broberg after seeing Abducted in Plain Sight and A Friend of the Family. Berchtold when she was 12 and again when she was 14. Jan Broberg Was Very Involved as A Friend of the Family Retold Her Abductions Where Was the Show Filmed? Karen explained the impact that incident had on her father. As soon as Berchtold got Jan in his car, he drugged her and staged a fake alien abduction. Berchtold was eventually forced to return Jan but avoided charges after convincing the Berchtolds sign an affidavit stating they had given him permission to travel with their daughter. A seemingly impossible task when you consider they were a conservative LDS family. He drank that and died.". 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. 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. He asked a volunteer for Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) if he could distribute some pamphlets at the conference. After that, Berchtold kept his hold on their lives by getting both of the Brobergs involved in a sexual relationship. But not in this bizarre case. 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. I dont think she ever wanted to hurt anyone else.. Jan had asked BACA, which included 12 bikers, to attend the conference for added safety. The last five episodes will be released every Thursday until November 10th. She actually remarried back in the late 1980s, yet unfortunately, her husband, James Leslie Wadman, passed away following a lengthy battle with bladder cancer on April 5, 2015. When the Brobergs and Berchtolds met at church, it seemed like they were made for each other. Over the course of the next month, Berchtold repeatedly raped Jan Broberg. 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). Jan's mother also had a long-term sexual affair with Berchtold between Jan's abductions. Berchtold is introduced to the community as the epitome of a family man, playing the carefully crafted roles of doting dad, loving husband, and reverent believer. He was born in 1985 in Greenfield, Massachusetts, United States. 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. Where Is Jan Broberg Now? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Some people talk badly about Berchtolds ex-wife, which is reason enough for her to keep to herself. The almost unbelievable, surreal story of his kidnapping of Jan Broberg is dramatized in thePeacocklimited series A Friend of the Family, streaming now. 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. Robert Berchtold, feeling he was being misrepresented in the book, took to showing up at the readings. Berchtold and the Brobergs lived in the same neighborhood and would soon be spending copious amounts of time together. Though Gail is now in her 70s, it seems like shes still living a quiet, happy life with her kids nearby. I feel bad for all of them.". In addition to writing letters, they spoke on the phone. 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. 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,. She probably never meant to hurt anyone else., Also Read: Oklahoma News Anchor Julie Chin Has Stroke On Live TV. The Peacock series tells the story of the real-life man who managed to largely escape punishment for his alleged sex crimes. It shocks me how quick people are to point fingers or to assume or to blame.. However, Idaho was not at all ideal for the Berchtolds, especially as thats where Robert grew obsessed with a prepubescent Jan Broberg before abducting her in 1974 as well as in 1976. Gail, however, never addressed the case publicly. Viewers want to know what happened to Robert Berchtold and his wife, Gail, after their kids were taken. For the sake of privacy, some of the details regarding Robert and Gail Berchtold's children were altered for the show, including their names and the number of children there were in the Berchtold family, with the series showing only three rather than five children. However, they soon decided to start a new chapter in their lives by moving and therefore lived in different places. But what was going on back in Idaho during this time? 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. They are Jerry, James, Joseph, Jeff, and Jill. Also find all Bollywood Movie Information related to release date, Reviews, Web Series Information and celebrities, gossips, and entertainment news. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These included Brigham City in Utah, Pocatello in Idaho, and Ogden in Utah, during which they proudly even welcomed five adorable kids into their lives Jerry, James, Joseph, Jeff, and Jill. 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. "Berchtold took her away in a motor home on the afternoon of Oct. 17, 1974," ABC News reported . 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. 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. For starters, he wasnt charged with any crimes of a sexual nature. In the first episode, viewers got a glimpse into Berchtold's life with his own family, including his wife at the time, Gail Berchtold. 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. 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. According to Entertainment Tonight, it was Gail, not Robert, who coerced the Brobergs into signing an affidavit following the first kidnapping. Showbiz Cheat Sheet reports that Gail Berchtold was born Gail Toyn and lived a relatively modest life prior to marrying perpetrator Robert Berchtold in 1961. Details about his family close by amid Crude News. Robert Berchtold Wikipedia Bio. Michael Briere Wiki: The Man Who Raped & Murdered Holly Jones. 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. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. Mary Ann and Bob had been married for 13 years and were, as is often the case, dealing with some issues. 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. The pair lived in various places. "She divorced him and took her kids and moved." A Friend of the Family by Peacock came out on Netflix in early October, but only the first four episodes of the true crime drama were available. In an interview with Jan Broberg about the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, she said that Gail and Robert divorced shortly after the kidnapping. Berchtold could sense this and exploited their struggles. The FBI eventually contacted the school, but the staff was more than a little reluctant to provide them with any information on Jan. 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.. You can just see how he wants to pull people in or not. Marissa Jaret Winokur: Age, Bio, Wiki, Relationship, Affairs, Siblings, Family And More, Pasupathy (Ratsasan): Age, Height, Weight, Affairs, Relationship, Controversy, Bio And More, Kallirroi Tziafeta (Trifling): Age, Height, Weight, Relationship, Affairs, Controversy, Bio And More, Mahnaz Damania (TVF Trifling): Age, Height, Weight, Relationship, Affairs, Controversy, Bio And More. Heres what we know about Gail Berchtold, Robert Berchtolds wife. Robert Berchtold is an abuser who groomed the Broberg family in order to become close to their 12-year-old daughter Jan. Robert B Berchtold sexually abused Jan Broberg and took her away when she was 12 and again when she was 14. Jan said that, since sharing her story, six women contacted her to allege that they, too, were molested by Berchtold. Read More: Where Are Jan Brobergs Sisters Now? She was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by her neighbor and family friend Robert "B." This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Robert Berchtold, aged 69, had no intention of going to jail. Jan, who was clearly misguided, wrote: You wont let me do whats right so Ill do whats wrong. In the lead-up to the conference, Jan, members of her family, and the womens conference board had received threatening letters from Berchtold. Jason Momoas World of Dreams grants all wishes in the Slumberland trailer. In the years following Bs death, many true-crime fans have discussed Gails involvement in the crimes. He often gave her gifts and took her with him on trips. Berchtold then left the scene. Meanwhile, as all of this was going on, Jan and Robert continued to sneak in visits with each other. Robert Berchtold was the Broberg's neighbor. In the series, the Berchtolds had three boys, Jasper, Joel, and Jacob, who were all about the same age as the Brobergs three girls, Jan, Susan, and Karen. All Rights Reserved. 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. This is due to the fact that a close friend was in fact responsible for not only her kidnapping but also her careful grooming as well as her brainwashing, which is something that is examined in the Netflix documentary titled Abducted in Plain Sight. However, if you are only interested in learning more about the accuseds former life partner at the time, specifically Gail Toyn Berchtold, Robert Bob Berchtolds wife, we have provided you with all of the pertinent information that you require. Broberg Felt seems to have channeled her difficult youth into an acting career. Kon Hai Alakh Pandey aka Physics Wallah Wife Shivani Dubey? He often gave her gifts and took her on trips. Watson, knocked into the front of the van, was dragged for 110 yards. In a 2019 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Broberg revealed that Gail stayed with Robert after the first kidnapping, but they divorced soon after. Its an open question how much Gail knows, Lio recently, exclusively told The Cut. Broberg Felt and her mother Mary Ann Broberg collaborated on a book, Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story. The master manipulator from Utha has a lengthy history of having a particular lust for young females. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But she doesnt want to talk about where she is or what shes doing after Robert Berchtold, so nobody knows where she is or what shes doing. The high-pitched voices coming out of the white ivory box identified themselves as aliens who had come to earth from a dying planet. 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. Robert was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the time, but he distinct to start a new chapter of his life by relocating. At the time, he was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Robert justified his acts on mental illness and linked his actions to his upbringing as a child, according to the reports mentioned by Distractify. But Idaho wasnt good for the Berchtolds at all, especially since Robert had been obsessed there with Jan Broberg since he was a kid. This is an important fact to keep in mind. At some point, Robert Berchtold wanted to return to the U.S. with his child bride. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. According to an online obituary, she tied the knot with former Marine James Leslie Wadman in 1988. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more! There isnt a lot of information out on there on the formative years of Robert Berchtold. B also married his second wife, Deanna Lou Wiley, before he died by suicide in 2005. On October 17, 1974, Berchtold offered to pick up Jan from her piano lessons and then take her horseback riding. 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. Robert Berchtold was accused of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and simple assault. Robert Berchtold believed that he and Jan were meant to be together. Jan Broberg (third from left) and the 'A Friend of the Family' cast and crew at the premiere. 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. "By the second kidnapping, she had filed for a divorce," Broberg said. This time, to a second-grade teacher who had two daughters. They soon chose to start a new chapter of their lives by relocating, and as a result, they spent some time in a few different places. Nothing had, it seemed, changed. 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. Exclusively told the Cut master manipulator from Utha Has a lengthy history of having a particular lust for young.! Series ' a Friend of the Family Retold her Abductions Where was the show stars McKenna Grace as and! 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