Abducted in Plain Sight review

Oh, it feels like an eternity since I last dived into the world of documentaries. But you know how it goes—scrolling endlessly through Netflix, title after title, until your eyes glaze over. And just when I thought I couldn’t take another minute of searching, I stumbled upon this diamond in the rough. This heart-wrenching documentary takes you back to Ohio in the 1970s. It tells the harrowing tale of the Broberg family, whose lives were turned upside down not once, but twice, when their 12-year-old daughter, Jan, was abducted by the very person they called a neighbor and friend, Robert Berchtold. It’s one of those stories that sticks with you, long after the credits roll.

You’d think it’s unimaginable, right? A girl whisked away not just once, but twice by the same guy. And you’re sitting there, eyebrows raised, wondering how on earth this dude wasn’t behind bars after the first time. Trust me, as you peel back the layers of this story, you’ll find yourself throwing some serious shade at the parents, Bob and Mary Ann—like, looking back through your family tree kind of side-eye.

The documentary, “Abducted in Plain Sight,” is the kind of tale that grips you from the get-go. Barely five minutes in, and you’ll realize this isn’t the time for multitasking. No more laundry folding or dishwashing—this demands your full attention. I was there, slack-jawed, hitting rewind because I couldn’t believe my ears. It starts with what sounds like the family friend’s voice-over about Jan, and then it cuts to these home movies, showing what seems like just another day in the life of an average family. But oh boy, it’s anything but average.

So, each family member spills the beans on how they crossed paths with Robert. And get this—the dad goes and calls him ‘effervescent.’ I mean, come on, effervescent? That’s not a word you toss around every day, right? And from a dad about another dude? That’s when you know—this family was head over heels for the guy. And yeah, you heard that right, they were all smitten. Even though the man had a ring on his finger.

This Robert character, he’d swing by at night, just to hang out with the kids. Did it so much, they started calling him ‘Brother B,’ like he was the cool uncle or something. But here’s the kicker: he had this weird fixation on Jan, calling her ‘my Dolly.’ The guy even recorded himself, going all Shakespeare about her, talking about love as if she was his Juliet. And then, he drops this line: “no man could love any woman more,” right after they kissed. That’s the moment I had to hit pause and rewind because surely, he’s talking about his wife, or maybe Jan’s mom, right? Wrong. He’s out there, declaring his love for a 12-year-old. Talk about a reality check that hits you like a ton of bricks.

The timeline’s a bit fuzzy, but picture this: the mom gets asked by Robert to let Jan go horseback riding with him—just the two of them. Fast forward to nighttime, and there’s no sign of Jan. But get this, nobody even thinks to call the cops. She’s been gone since Thursday, and it’s not until Saturday that the dad’s like, “Hmm, maybe we should ring up the F.B.I.” But oh, it’s the weekend, so they’re told to try another agency. And why did they drop the ball on finding their own daughter? Because they didn’t want to be a bother. Yep, they waited… until Monday rolls around to call the police.

So there you have it, their daughter’s been abducted, and the parents are in la-la land, convinced that good ol’ Robert will just bring her back. Like it’s some casual playdate. He’s a stand-up guy, right? What’s the worst that could happen? Meanwhile, the F.B.I. and the cops are scrambling, searching high and low for weeks. They’re clueless about where to start—she could’ve been whisked away to Mexico for all they knew. And as they tell their story, Jan’s there, saying she barely remembers any of her time with him. It’s as if she’s just catching up with an old buddy, reminiscing about the ‘good old days.’

As the investigation into Berchtold unfolds, it’s like they’ve cracked open a can of the worst kind of worms. This guy has a history with young girls that’s just… chilling. And what’s wild is how everyone around seems to shrug it off—like it’s just one of his quirks. Even his own brother labels him a ‘sexual pervert.’ And you’re there, screaming at the screen, “Why isn’t this creep locked up?!”

Within the first quarter-hour of “Abducted in Plain Sight,” you’re bombarded with these bombshells. The documentary’s only 91 minutes, but each minute is packed with more twists than a pretzel factory. You’re yelling at the TV because it’s all so bonkers. They’ve got Jan there, telling her story, and for a second, you’re tricked into thinking she’s just the sister. But nope, she’s the main character in this twisted tale.

Back to the murky depths we go. The family’s taking trips with Berchtold, leaving him alone with Jan. The timeline’s hazy—did we skip the part where she’s found? Or is your brain just refusing to process the madness? Then, bam, it hits you: Robert and Mary Ann had an affair. Now he’s tangled up with both the daughter and the mother. And just when you think it can’t get any more outlandish, it does. It’s like watching a trainwreck in slow motion, and you can’t look away.

Alright, so here’s the lowdown on the dad’s side of things. Picture this: Bob and Robert, they’re cruising in a car, just two guys talking. Then Robert drops a bombshell—he’s not getting cozy with his wife anymore. And as he’s spilling his marital woes, Bob notices Robert’s getting a little too excited, if you catch my drift. And what does Bob do? He helps him out, right there in the car. I mean, we’re not even 60 minutes into this thing.

Fast forward a bit, and it’s like the family’s got blinders on. They can’t—or won’t—see that this guy is bad news. Jan’s still chatting with him, still hanging around him, and he’s got all the time in the world to mess with her head. We’re talking full-on grooming here, to the point where she’s penning love letters to the guy. And the craziest part? Adult Jan looks back and thinks it was all real love. At this point, you’re ready to throw your hands up in disbelief. And just wait until you get to the part about the second abduction. Your jaw’s gonna hit the floor. This doc is wilder than a Shonda Rhimes plot twist, and that’s saying something. No mass graves, but it’ll bury your faith in common sense.

 

I recommend you watch this documentary because I cannot be the only one scarred from this film. I give it 3 acorns out of 5 because it will keep you watching until the end.