Abducted In Plain Sight's Jan Broberg Says Her Parents Were Victims Too

Ever since Netflix's Abducted In Plain Sight was released, baffled viewers have questioned how such bizarre and shocking events were allowed to unfold, with many pointing the blame at the parents, Bob and Mary Ann Broberg.

However, Jan Broberg - who was kidnapped not once, but twice, by family friend Robert 'B' Berchtold - has since come forward to say her parents were victims too.

For anyone who hasn't seen the documentary, B sexually assaulted Jan many times throughout the 1970s when her parents allowed him to sleep in her bed.

While most viewers find it pretty impossible to imagine why Mary Ann and Bob would ever allow that to happen, Jan has defended her parents insisting they aren't to blame.

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Jan told Vulture the reason she decided to tell her harrowing story was to show just how easy it can be to fall victim do child predators, as grooming can be very difficult to spot - whether you're a child or an adult.

B subtly brainwashed the Broberg family before taking advantage of each of them a number of years later, including initiating sexual relations with Mary Ann and Bob, meanwhile molesting their child.

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"Grooming happens slowly all the time," Jan explained. "I don't feel like people really understand how it happens and they just blame my parents. The reality is that my parents were victims too, and this man was just a master manipulator."

She continued to explain that her parents "grew up in small, protected towns."

"My mother said 'you just don't know not to trust the world if nothing's happened to you. You don't have any data.'"

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Jan hinted at this on Twitter earlier in the month too, telling her followers: "My parents didn't see the pedophile. He looked like a nice father-of-five, married, business owner, church member.

"We hope to help you see what we didn't! Who relates to this?"

The Brobergs hope the documentary will raise awareness and provide families with the unfortunate data.

Abducted In Plain Sight is available to stream on Netflix now.

Topics: TV News, TV Entertainment, Netflix

Emma Rosemurgey

Emma Rosemurgey is an NCTJ trained Junior Journalist at Tyla. She graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in Preston and started her career in regional newspapers before joining the team in 2017. Contact her on [email protected]

@emmarosemurgey