As the series continues to pick up steam on the streamer, many viewers are interested in the real lives of those involved, like Gail Berchtold, who was married to Robert at the time of the first kidnapping. There is no other way to characterize this series other than as horrifyingly bone-chilling. 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? The almost unbelievable, surreal story of his kidnapping of Jan Broberg is dramatized in thePeacocklimited series A Friend of the Family, streaming now. Robert Berchtold was a well-known American truck driver, media face, retired US Army Officer who served the country during the Vietnam War and was also a convicted criminal suspect who kidnapped a too-young girl Jan Broberg in the 1970s. He first kidnapped Jan when she was 12-years-old. 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 immediately saw someone who was groomed. If anyone came looking for her, it was the bad guys.. Berchtold not only misled his victim but also her parents to a large extent. Robert Berchtold drove the young girl to Mexico, where they spent 5 weeks, where he was brainwashing her, and eventually convinced her to have a physical relationship with him to save her family. Its also imperative to note Gail did urge the youngsters parents not to call the authorities during the initial few days of their first disappearance in October, but her reasoning could never be identified. "They're trying to make a buck," Berchtold countered to the news network. 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. Robert Berchtold Wikipedia Bio. It shocks me how quick people are to point fingers or to assume or to blame.. All her children live in the middle of the country. Berchtold when she was 12 and again when she was 14. The Peacock series tells the story of the real-life man who managed to largely escape punishment for his alleged sex crimes. He was a truck driver and served in the U.S. Army during. 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. I dont think she ever wanted to hurt anyone else.. Robert justified his acts on mental illness and linked his actions to his upbringing as a child, according to the reports mentioned by Distractify. Berchtold did not experience any consequences until Brobergs adult life was disrupted by his attempts to interfere with Brobergs daily activities. I thought about how hard Gail is trying to keep her family safe and together in every scene I wrote. Once the FBI rescued Jan 4 months later, her kidnapper claimed to have a mental health defect. Viewers want to know what happened to Robert Berchtold and his wife Gail after their children were kidnapped. 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. Earlier, he had been able to avoid the penalty for his claimed sex offenses against Jan Broberg for several years. 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. In one instance, he told a young girl that she was a princess from another planet, and was also on a mission. In the lead-up to the conference, Jan, members of her family, and the womens conference board had received threatening letters from Berchtold. Also Read:Leeza Gibbons: Know About Her Net Worth, Bio, Wiki And Family Details. For Lio, Gail and Robert's relationship was "uncomfortable." Wikipedia, Net Worth, Twitter, Family, Who Is Randall Carlson? In the first episode, viewers got a glimpse into Berchtolds life with his own family, including his wife at the time, Gail Berchtold. Between 1972 and 1976, he eventually kidnapped and wed her. Peacocks A Friend of the Family, a limited drama series that looks back at two kidnappings of Jan Broberg when she was 12 and 14 in the 1970s, can only be called horrifyingly spine-chilling. Though Gail is now in her 70s, it seems like shes still living a quiet, happy life with her kids nearby. 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. His punishment was not severe. 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. Robert ran away in August 1976 with the 14-year-old. 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. Two years later he took her daughter with him again. As per NBC News, he was sentenced to a year in prison in 1986 after being found guilty. Gail, Robert Berchtolds ex-wife, has a new husband, but no one knows her new name. As told to Berchtold by the aliens, he was the male companion she was seeking. Lio said they were "surprised with how easy it is to vilify her [Gail]. My mother couldnt see through him, the victim later said. All Rights Reserved. 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.. Its unclear how much Gail knows, Lio recently told The Cut in an exclusive interview. What could possibly go wrong? Where is Robert Berchtold's Ex-Wife Gail Berchtold Now? 's sitting there jumping on the hood. Robert would spend about 5 months in a mental health facility, in addition to serving 19 days in jail. [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. Berchtold was, once again, charged with kidnapping. ZeesBest. The last five episodes will be released every Thursday until November 10th. Robert denied the allegations that the. Mary Ann was a little apprehensive at first; it was, after all, a school night. However, they soon decided to start a new chapter in their lives by moving, so they lived in a few different places. They also have a baby girl.. I feel bad for all of them.". Peacocks A Friend of the Family is a limited drama series that revisits the two kidnappings of Jan Broberg when she was 12 and 14 years old in the 1970s. Its an open question how much Gail knows, Lio recently, exclusively told The Cut. Peacock's A Friend of the Family touches on Jan and Robert's marriage.Find out why the . In the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, Jan Broberg said, Everyone had a best friend.. These included the cities of Brigham City in Utah, Pocatello in Idaho, and Ogden in Utah. Heres what we know about Gail Berchtold, Robert Berchtolds wife. When they met, the Berchtold family also had a little girl. 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. So, where is Robert Berchtold's ex-wife now? 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? 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. However, the marriage didnt last long after that, and they divorced in the late 70s. As incredible as it may sound, the parents of his victims did everything they could to be accommodating. How old is Jake Lacy? These places were Brigham City, Utah, Pocatello, Idaho, and Ogden, Utah. Questions have emerged about Gail's participation in her former husband's unspeakable crimes or whether she was a victim. Their fears should have also extended to the judicial system. RELATED:Where Are Jan Broberg's Parents, As Portrayed In The New Series 'A Friend Of The Family,' Now? 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. Was he fascinated by science fiction? This article originally appeared on Oxygen.com and was written byCydney Contreras&Eric Shorey. 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. Their reactions to that event couldnt have been more different. In the years following Bs death, many true-crime fans have discussed Gails involvement in the crimes. Actress Lio Tipton, who plays Gail on A Friend of the Family, has also made this very clear. Amazingly, the affair lasted for nearly a yearduring the same period that he was charged with kidnapping Jan. Mary Ann claims she met up with Brother B a total of eight times, but, allegedly, only had sex with him three times. Over the course of the next month, Berchtold repeatedly raped Jan Broberg. Robert B Berchtold sexually abused Jan Broberg and took her away when she was 12 and again when she was 14. Robert Berchtold was the Broberg's neighbor. Lacy married long-term girlfriend Lauren Deleo on . But the Berchtold family met the Brobergs in the town of Pocatello, Idaho. In the series, the Berchtolds had three boys, Jasper, Joel, and Jacob, who were all about the same age as Jan, Susan, and Karen, the Brobergs three girls. When Jan was finally returned to her family, Berchtold managed to beat several kidnapping charges by arguing he had a mental defect, landing him in a mental institution for less than six months, according toDeseret News. 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. Instead of pursuing any legal action, the Brobergs issued a letter stating they would not be taking that routesince the whole kidnapping thing had been a big misunderstanding.. 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. Abducted in Plain Sight,directedbySkyeBorgman, is currently on Netflix. Many people wonder if Gail Berchtold knew what her husband did to Jan Broberg after watching Kidnapped in Public and Family Friend. Jan, who was clearly misguided, wrote: You wont let me do whats right so Ill do whats wrong. She remarried in the late 1980s, but on April 5, 2015 her second husband, James Leslie Wadman, died after a long battle with bladder cancer. The Brobergs soon realized that their daughter and Robert were missing. He was 70, and they had been married for more than 27 years. Mary Ann Broberg and Gail Berchtold, Robert's wife, bonded over their family and faith. This information was gleaned from an examination of the situation. 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. The pair snuck into Berchtolds Lincoln Continental and headed south to California. His obituary makes no mention of his horrific crimes. 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. I wasn't able to talk definitively or explicitly about the sexual abuse. Enthralled by Berchtolds charms, Mary Ann developed a schoolgirl-like crush on him. 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. The first time Berchtold was in jail, hed allegedly paid two men $1,000 to burn down the Brobergs store. These locations were Brigham City, Utah, Pocatello, Idaho, and Ogden, Utah. Omri Katz: Know About His Bio, Wiki, Girlfriend And Why Is He Missing From Hocus Pocus 2? It came back to haunt him. Jan serves as an executive producer on A Friend of the Family, explaining at the start of episode one that she hopes her story serves as a warning to other families. Once he (Berchtold) had something to hang over their heads, he controlled them. In addition to kidnapping Jan Broberg in the 1970s, Robert Berchtold also married the 12-year-old girl. At the time, he was really stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but at the time, they made the decision to move. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Fearing prison and rejected by the object of his obsession, Berchtold died by suicide in November 2005, according to theLas Vegas Review-Journal, just before he was due to be sentenced. A Friend of the Family is streaming exclusively on Peacock. Jan Broberg (third from left) and the 'A Friend of the Family' cast and crew at the premiere. 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