Jan Broberg Was Kidnapped Twice by a Trusted Family Friend — How She Rebuilt Her Life 52 Years Later

More than five decades after a trusted family friend abducted her as a child, Jan Broberg has transformed one of the most painful chapters of her life into a mission to help others. Her story shocked audiences around the world through the Netflix documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, revealing how a man who was welcomed into her family’s home manipulated the people around him to carry out his crimes. Today, Broberg is an actress, public speaker and advocate who works to raise awareness about childhood abuse and support survivors.

Broberg was just 12 years old when Robert Berchtold first abducted her on October 17, 1974. At the time, Berchtold and his family were close friends with the Brobergs, having met them through their church community in Pocatello, Idaho. Jan viewed him as a trusted adult and even described him as a second father. He regularly spent time with the family, making his behavior appear familiar and safe. Behind that trust, however, he was manipulating Jan and those closest to her.

Berchtold used an elaborate fabricated story involving aliens to control the young girl. He convinced her that they had been chosen for a secret mission and that they needed to have a child together to save the world. According to accounts later shared in the documentary, he drugged Jan before taking her away in an RV. He eventually brought her to Mexico, where the two were married under disturbing circumstances. After several weeks, Jan’s parents located her and brought her home. Yet the psychological manipulation did not end with her return.

In August 1976, Berchtold abducted Jan a second time. She disappeared in the middle of the night, leaving behind a note that suggested she had run away voluntarily. Investigators later determined that Berchtold had helped arrange her disappearance and concealed her whereabouts. He enrolled her in a Catholic girls’ boarding school in California under a false identity, telling staff that she was his daughter and presenting an elaborate story about his background. Authorities eventually traced her location, and she was reunited with her family.

Despite the repeated abductions, Berchtold faced limited consequences at the time. He was charged in connection with the case, but later proceedings resulted in his being found not guilty of kidnapping by reason of mental defect. He spent time in a court-ordered mental health facility before being released. Years later, he continued to harass Jan after she began sharing her experience publicly. He died by suicide in 2005 before he could be sentenced in a separate case involving firearm possession and aggravated assault.

For Jan, understanding what had happened took years. She gradually began questioning the alien story as a teenager and eventually recognized that it had been fabricated to manipulate and control her. Returning to everyday life was difficult, and the experience left deep emotional scars. Over time, however, she found a way to move forward. She has spoken about forgiveness as part of her personal healing, emphasizing that it does not mean excusing what happened but refusing to let the trauma control the rest of her life.

Broberg later pursued acting, appearing in productions including Everwood and Criminal Minds. She also became involved in telling her own story through documentaries and television projects. The Netflix documentary Abducted in Plain Sight brought international attention to the case, while the Peacock drama A Friend of the Family explored the manipulation and failures that allowed the abuse to continue. Broberg participated in the project, helping ensure that the story reflected the experience of the people who lived through it.

Today, she continues her work through the Jan Broberg Foundation, which focuses on supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse and educating families and communities about grooming and prevention. She also speaks publicly about her experiences and hosts the podcast Trauma Interrupted, where conversations center on trauma, recovery and the paths people take toward healing. Her goal is to help others recognize warning signs and make sure survivors are heard and supported.

Jan Broberg’s story remains deeply unsettling, not only because of what happened to her, but because the person responsible was someone her family trusted. Her life today, however, is not defined solely by the crimes she survived. Through advocacy, storytelling and support for other survivors, she has worked to turn a painful history into a source of awareness and hope for people facing similar experiences.

Source: PEOPLE