Honestly, the first time I sat down to watch Abducted in Plain Sight, I thought I knew what to expect. We've all seen the true crime documentaries that lean into the "stranger danger" trope. But Skye Borgman’s 2017 film is something else entirely. It’s a fever dream. It’s a masterclass in how grooming works within the vacuum of a sheltered community. It’s a story that makes you want to reach through the screen and shake everyone involved.
Jan Broberg was kidnapped. Twice. By the same man.
That man was Robert Berchtold, a "family friend" who didn't just target a child; he systematically dismantled an entire family’s ability to perceive reality. If you’re looking to find where to stream it, the documentary is a staple on Netflix, though licensing can shift depending on your region. It’s become a cultural touchstone not because of the crime itself, but because of the "how" and the "why."
The Mechanics of a Double Kidnapping
It’s easy to judge the Brobergs. Most people do. In fact, that’s the most common reaction when people first see the film. "How could they let him back in?" "How did they not see the signs?" But human psychology is messy. Berchtold, or "B" as they called him, was a predator who understood the specific social architecture of the Mormon community in Pocatello, Idaho, during the 1970s.
He didn't start with a van and a handful of candy. He started with a station wagon and a pleasant smile.
Berchtold moved into the neighborhood and immediately positioned himself as the perfect neighbor. He was helpful. He was religious. He was there. By the time he first took Jan in 1974, he had already convinced her parents, Bob and Mary Ann, that he was an indispensable part of their lives. When they finally found Jan in Mexico after five weeks, the manipulation didn't end. It intensified.
The documentary reveals that Berchtold used sexual leverage against both parents. This is the part that usually leaves viewers speechless. He engaged in separate, compromising encounters with both Bob and Mary Ann Broberg. This wasn't about "love" or "attraction"—it was about insurance. He created a situation where the parents felt too guilty or compromised to fully cast him out.
Why This Story Still Haunts True Crime Fans
If you decide to watch Abducted in Plain Sight today, you're seeing a time capsule of a pre-digital age where "trust" was a currency that could be easily forged. There were no background checks. There was no social media to track a predator's previous movements. There was only the word of a neighbor.
The Alien Narrative
One of the most bizarre elements—and I mean genuinely, "is this real?" bizarre—is the alien subplot. Berchtold convinced a young Jan that he was part of a mission from "Zyrgon" and that she was a special child chosen to save their dying race. He used tape-recorded "alien" voices to brainwash her.
It sounds ridiculous to an adult. To a child who trusts the adults around her, it was a terrifying reality.
💡 You might also like: Why the Once Upon a Broken Heart Book Series Is Actually a Masterclass in Romantic Tension
The Second Abduction
Most people assume that after the first kidnapping, the story ends. It doesn't. In 1976, two years after the initial incident, Jan was taken again. This time, she was gone for months. The level of cognitive dissonance required for the Brobergs to allow Berchtold to remain in their orbit is the central mystery of the film. It highlights a terrifying truth about human nature: we see what we want to see. We see the person we think our friend is, not the monster they actually are.
Navigating the Controversy and Critiques
Critics often point out that the documentary leans heavily on the shock factor. And it does. The pacing is designed to drop bombshell after bombshell. However, the film also serves as a crucial educational tool. It has been used by child advocacy groups to illustrate the stages of grooming.
- Targeting: Finding a vulnerable family or child.
- Isolation: Moving the victim away from their support system (literally and figuratively).
- Normalization: Making inappropriate behavior seem normal or even "sacred."
- Silence: Using guilt, threats, or secrets to prevent the victim from speaking out.
Jan Broberg herself has become a massive advocate for survivors. She doesn't shy away from the film’s portrayal of her parents. She acknowledges their failures while also explaining the "spell" they were under. It’s a nuanced take that many true crime docs miss.
What to Watch After the Documentary
If you've finished the film and find yourself needing more context (or just a palate cleanser), there are a few places to go.
- A Friend of the Family (Peacock): This is a scripted miniseries based on the same events. It stars Nick Offerman and Jake Lacy. While the documentary gives you the facts, the series tries to show the "emotional atmosphere" of the Broberg home. It helps humanize the parents a bit more, showing the slow-motion car crash of their decision-making.
- Stolen Innocence: This is the book written by Jan Broberg and her mother. It goes into much deeper detail about the legal battles and the aftermath of Berchtold’s eventual downfall.
- The Jan Broberg Show: Jan has her own podcast where she talks to other survivors. It’s a great way to see her as a woman who has reclaimed her narrative rather than just a "victim" in a documentary.
Lessons Learned from the Broberg Case
You can’t watch Abducted in Plain Sight without coming away with some heavy takeaways. It’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of extreme politeness and the refusal to believe that "nice people" can do horrific things.
The biggest lesson is about boundaries. The Brobergs had none. Berchtold was allowed to sleep in the same bed as the children. He was allowed to take them on trips alone. While the 1970s were a "different time," the fundamental lack of protective barriers is what allowed the trauma to flourish.
Actionable Steps for Contemporary Safety
Modern parents face different threats, but the psychological tactics remain the same.
- Trust Your Gut over Politeness: If a "friend" makes you feel uneasy, or if they seem overly focused on your child, prioritize your intuition over the fear of being rude.
- Open Communication: Jan was told she couldn't tell her parents about the "mission." Teach children that there are no "good secrets" from parents, especially secrets involving other adults.
- Understand Grooming: It’s almost never a stranger in a dark alley. It’s the coach, the neighbor, the family friend, or the church leader.
- Digital Vigilance: Today, Berchtold wouldn't need to move next door; he’d just need an Instagram handle. Monitor the "friends" your kids meet online with the same scrutiny you'd use for a physical neighbor.
The documentary is a brutal watch. It’s frustrating. It’s heartbreaking. But it’s also an essential piece of media for understanding how predators exploit the best parts of human nature—our desire to be kind, our faith in our community, and our love for our friends—to commit the worst acts imaginable. Once you see it, you can't unsee the patterns it reveals.
When you sit down to finish it, pay attention to the end. Jan’s resilience is the only thing that outshines the darkness of the story. She isn't defined by what happened in that motorhome or in Mexico. She defined herself by what she did after. That's the real story.