(Not) Family Friendly: The Jan Broberg Story
“We didn’t even know what a pedophile was.” And yet, one was in their midst.
Jan Broberg was born on July 31, 1962 to Mary Ann and Bob Broberg. Being the oldest of three sisters, Jan was the apple of her family’s eye. She was loved and protected, and she lived a happy and normal childhood. At least, that’s what she thought. Then, in came Robert Berchtold to turn their lives upside down.
The first time the Brobergs met the Berchtolds was at church. Growing up in the small town of Pocatello, Idaho, in the 60s, no one ever locked their doors. Everyone knew everyone. In the Berchtolds case, they were new to the town. The family consisted of husband and wife Robert and Gail, and their five children, who were close in age to the three Broberg sisters. Not to mention how well the couples got along. Soon enough, the families were inseparable. Robert would pick up the children and drive them to school every day. It was almost as if each of the kids had gained a second set of parents.
It was clear from the beginning that Robert, who was now referred to by the Brobergs as “B,” was fascinated by Jan. He would often photograph her, and Jan would accompany the Berchtold family on many of their vacations. It was picked up on by Mary Ann and Bob almost instantly, but being so close…
