The Jan Broberg Story tells the winding tale of the Brobergs, a church-going, Idaho family that falls prey to a sociopathic neighbor who will stop at nothing to be with their young daughter. Robert Berchtold, furniture store owner and family man, coaxes his way into the Broberg’s life, meticulously building their trust and bonding with their young girls. One day, Robert offers to take their 12-year-old daughter, Jan, horseback riding, only he doesn’t return her home. When Jan awakes, kidnapped and strapped to a bed in the back of a motor home bound for Mexico, she hears strange high-pitched “alien” voices telling her that she has been chosen for a special mission. What follows is the real-life trail of deception that plagued Jan Broberg from the age of 12, when she became the victim of Robert Berchtold’s bizarre four-year brainwashing scheme. Written from the perspective of Jan Broberg’s mother, this gripping cautionary tale not only details the frightening acts and manipulation of a pedophile, but also highlights the Broberg family’s courage and resilience in the aftermath of harrowing events.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.