Netflix's 'Abducted in Plain Sight' Documentary Stuns Audiences with Harrowing True Story
True crime enthusiasts are being urged to watch a chilling documentary on Netflix that has been labelled "the craziest ever" by viewers. Abducted in Plain Sight, which first appeared on the streaming platform in 2019, recounts the disturbing kidnappings of Jan Broberg, a child from Idaho who was abducted twice in the 1970s by her neighbour Robert Berchtold.
The Shocking Details of Jan Broberg's Ordeal
The award-winning programme features interview footage with Jan and is based on the memoir Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story, published by her and her mother in 2003. Jan was sexually abused and kidnapped by Berchtold, a family friend they met through their local church in 1972, with the crimes occurring right in front of her parents.
In 1974, Berchtold told the family he was taking Jan horseback riding, but instead held the 12-year-old hostage in his motor home and drove to Mexico. Her family did not contact the police for several days, fearing they would upset Berchtold's wife. Jan revealed in the documentary that she was tricked into believing she had been kidnapped by aliens and that she must save her family by procreating with Berchtold.
After five weeks, the FBI tracked them down, but Jan was too scared to disclose the abuse. Berchtold served only a few days in jail for kidnapping, and it was later revealed that he had persuaded both of Jan's parents to have sex with him before blackmailing them into signing affidavits giving consent for the trip to Mexico.
Continued Abuse and a Second Kidnapping
Upon returning from prison, Berchtold continued abusing Jan under the guise of the alien conspiracy for years, making her believe she was in love with him. In 1976, when Jan was 14, he kidnapped her again from her home, taking her to California and enrolling her in a Catholic school while posing as her father and a CIA agent. This kidnapping lasted several months until the FBI rescued her once more.
Viewer Reactions and Critical Acclaim
Audiences have expressed horror and disbelief after watching the documentary. On Reddit, one viewer shared, "Made me rage. Like wtf," while another said, "Absolutely horrifying." Many found the story so unbelievable that it seemed fictional, with one person noting, "If that was written into a movie, people would say it's unrealistic. But it happened."
Reviews praise the documentary as a true crime masterpiece, with comments such as:
- "Every time you thought it couldn't get more shocking, it does."
- "A must watch."
- "This is one of the creepiest scariest documentaries I have ever seen."
Some viewers admitted to losing sleep over the film, highlighting its emotional impact.
Filmmaker Insights and Production Challenges
Filmmaker Skye Borgman discussed the difficulties of creating the documentary, telling Vice that the interviews were brutal and emotionally charged. She experienced a range of emotions during the editing process, from judgement to deep care for those involved. Borgman explained, "There were times when I really judged them, there were times when I really didn't judge them... I went through all of these different emotions and different levels of understanding."
Abducted in Plain Sight remains available to stream on Netflix, continuing to captivate and disturb audiences with its unbelievable true crime narrative.
