5 Books to Read If You’re Interested in Abducted in Plain Sight

The true-crime documentary Abducted in Plain Sight has utterly shocked and disturbed anyone who dares to watch it. The film revolves around Jan Broberg, who was kidnapped TWICE (she was kidnapped TWICE) by family friend Robert Berchtold (aka “B”) in the 1970s. Berchtold essentially manipulated the Broberg family and gained their trust so he could later kidnap Jan.

The kidnapping tale began when Berchtold decided to take Jan horseback riding one afternoon. However, the two never came home. Berchtold then staged an “alien abduction” in order to manipulate Jan into thinking he was her protector. These “aliens” spoke to Jan in a recorder (which Berchtold obviously created) and told her that she needed to produce a child with Berchtold or else bad things would happen to her family. Jan, as an impressionable 12-year-old child, believed what she was told to be true and followed the instructions she was given by this psychotic man.

Jan was brainwashed and sexually abused by Berchtold during this time in her kidnapping. Her parents waited five days before contacting the FBI that their child was missing with the family friend (I don’t understand any of their logic in this AT ALL). This was only the beginning of Jan’s terrifying saga.

The most frightening part of the case is how this series of events could have been easily avoided, if the parents had been more aware about whom they had welcomed into their home and lives in the first place.

If you can make it through the whole documentary without throwing your remote at the television, I personally applaud you. I don’t want to give too much else away, but if you haven’t watched it yet, I highly recommend that you switch your Friday night plans so you can view this true-crime tale. If you’re intrigued by this story of abduction, manipulation, and redemption, you won’t want to miss these five books either.