- I'm Jan Broberg,
and this series is based on my story.
I know it may seem unbelievable,
but we lived in a different world back then.
I want to tell my family story today
because so many seem to think
something like this could never happen to them,
especially at the hands of someone they know and trust,
but it did happen.
It happened to my family. It happened to me.
Thank you for watching.
[soft resonant music]
* *
- Good night, sweetheart.
Everything all right?
- Everything's fine, Mom. - Okay.
I love you, Jani.
[thump]
- [breathing shakily]
[dog barking]
[soft unsettling music]
* *
[pleasant guitar music]
* *
- Today was church,
and we had quite a good sacrament meeting.
I really had the spirit today.
I'm thankful for the wonderful parents I have.
My mom and dad teach me the Gospel
and how to be a good person.
If I didn't have my parents and sisters--
[approaching footsteps]
- Jan! - Karen, hold your horses.
* *
- She's coming! She's coming!
- Jan? - She said "hold your horses."
- Who are the Birchers?
- Well, we're gonna find out today, Freckles.
- Berchtolds, Susan.
Remember, we met them outside church?
Mr. Berchtold owns a freight outlet.
Jan, honey, come up here. - All right, let's go.
- Ready!
- We're gonna show them how nice Pocatello folk are, right?
Grab your coat.
Come here.
* *
We love you.
- Okay, crew.
Hup, two, three, four! Hup, two, three, four!
* *
- Girls, it's only two streets over. Let's walk.
- Just down the street that way.
* *
- So they have three boys,
one Jan's age, one Karen's age, and one Susan's age,
and a little baby girl. - Aww.
Three boys and a baby girl. - All right.
* *
- Hey, Jan. - Hey, Brobergs.
- Hey, Caroline.
* *
- Ah, dang.
Okay, who wants to ring the bell?
* *
- Well, what is the Brady Bunch doing on my lawn?
- That's our favorite show.
- That's no surprise. You're a dead ringer for Jan.
- I am Jan.
* *
- Well, pleased to meet you, Jan.
* *
You must be the patriarch.
Good to meet you, Broberg. Bob Berchtold.
- Ah. Nice to meet you, Bob.
I'm Bob. Everybody's Bob.
[girls giggling] Are you girls a Bob?
- Well, come on in, you bunch of Bobs.
[girls giggling]
[jaunty piano tune playing]
Brobergs, these are my boy--
boys, boys.
And this is my lovely wife, Gail.
- Hi there. - God kveld.
That's Norwegian for "good evening."
- Huh!
- What's all this?
- Oh.
Well, because we didn't get to have you over
for a summer picnic, we decided to move it indoors.
It's a little bit off the wall, but that's just how we are.
[jaunty piano tune playing]
So, grab a pillow, and I will grill up some burgers.
Come on in.
The moment I knew we'd found the perfect place
was when I met you outside church that day, Mary Ann.
- Oh, goodness.
The girls love growing up here, and I have no complaints.
- I bet when you were a little kid,
and you pictured the perfect place,
this is probably what you wanted for yourself, huh?
- Yes, I guess it is.
- What good luck that you folks moved in two blocks up.
I mean, I tell Mary Ann,
it is always a good time to make new friends.
- Everyone in Pocatello's already your friend.
There's no one left.
- That's where you come in, Berchtolds.
- Oh, boy. - And the schools are so good.
Oh, and the little theater. - Mm.
We saw all the kids in "Oliver" the week we got here.
Thought we took a wrong turn and wound up on Broadway.
- That was me!
I was Oliver. - Was it?
- That was Jani in "Oliver." She stole the show.
Of course I think that. I'm her father.
- Especially... [snaps fingers]
"Where Is Love?" "Where Is Love?"
Your daughter has got a beautiful voice.
- She does.
Hey, Jani, what do you--
what do you say you sing for us now?
- Oh, like a talent show?
That sounds fun.
- Okay.
But I need to rehearse. - Sure.
Well, um, you can use Jasper and Joel's room,
or mine and Gail's.
- Uh, Jasper and Joel and Jacob, Karen, Susan?
You be my audience.
- Boys, you heard Jan. Off you go.
- Be good. Be nice.
- Okay, you here.
[quietly] Okay.
I'm gonna do it quiet now, but loud for them.
- Oh, we could never live in a big city.
Not with all the noise and violence.
Not with three girls.
- I like to see the stars at night.
- Oh. Gail.
Speaking of stars...
tell them about your daddy's thing that he saw.
This is--
- [chuckles]
Okay.
I was just a girl.
My daddy was driving home from the feed store
in Brigham City one night.
The moon went behind a cloud.
And he sees these two lights moving across the field.
Not headlights. They were going too fast.
So he sped up.
And then he says to himself,
"Oh, my goodness. They're chasing me."
Then, his truck starts to go cuckoo.
The radio and the dials.
And then it just conks out in the middle of the road, dead.
And those lights just set down across the field,
watching him.
And then they take off.
And they go up, up, into the sky,
until they're gone.
The next morning, my mother and I
went down to the sugar beet field,
and we saw that burnt circle with our own eyes.
- Did the truck start up again?
- No, it never worked right from that day on.
- You ever seen a thing like that, Jan?
Well, never say never.
Say, I am in the mood for a talent show.
- Oh, "talent show" is my middle name.
[soft music]
Come on. Sit on down, kiddos.
- All right, now, wait, just before the fun part here,
I want to thank you, Mary Ann,
for bringing your husband
and your three beautiful daughters over,
and making us feel so welcome.
I almost feel like we're two sides of the same family.
Although, yes, could get confusing with the two Bobs.
- We're gonna have to duel. [laughter]
- You know what, you just call me "B."
It's easier than "Brother Berchtold."
And the kids, too.
I am so sorry, Jan. I interrupted.
The stage is all yours.
- * Where is love? *
* Does it fall from skies above? *
* Is it underneath the willow tree *
* That I've been dreaming of? *
[Jim Croce's "Time In A Bottle"]
* *
- * If I could save time in a bottle *
* The first thing that I'd like to do *
* Is to save every day till eternity passes away *
* Just to spend them with you *
* But there never seems to be enough time *
* To do the things you want to do once you find them *
- Get home safe.
Brobergs.
- * I've looked around enough to know *
- Let's do this again sometime.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
- Thanks for coming. - Bye.
- Good night, B. - Good night, Brother B.
- Good night. - Bye.
* *
- Well, that was nice.
- Pretty nice.
- * If I had a box just for wishes *
* And dreams that had never come true *
* The box would be empty except for the memory *
- All right, ladies. Give me your coats. Come on.
- Come on, girls. It's bedtime.
- * But there never seems to be enough time *
* To do the things you want to do *
* Once you find them *
* *
* I've looked around enough to know that you're the one *
- Dear Heavenly Father,
we thank Thee for this happy day.
For our family, Tiffy and Bandit, the Gospel,
and a fun picnic dinner tonight with our new friends.
Bless the sick and the needy
and protect us from harm and danger.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
- Amen. - Amen.
Good job.
[upbeat pop music]
- * I just wrote a gospel *
* Feeling mighty good today *
* I'm gonna find some friends gonna help me sing *
* Singing this song of praise *
* Gather round me, brothers *
* See how many we can raise *
* Call up all your sisters *
* Sing about the song of praise *
[overlapping chatter]
- That was so good. - Loved it. Loved it, loved it.
"Brother B!" One, two, three.
all: Brother B!
- * The only thing left to do is sing *
* Singing the songs of the Lord *
- Ready?
- * Gather round me, brothers *
- Maybe you just need to wait until Jenny grows up.
- * See how many we can raise *
- You make this look so easy, B.
- * Sing about the song of praise *
* As long as you believe * - * I believe *
- * You must believe *
- Thank you. - * Capture every word I say *
* As long as you believe *
- [chuckles]
- * Yes, I do believe *
* Really gonna make it great *
* *
* The Good Book's had its day, I think *
* They don't write about it no more *
* The only thing left to do is sing *
* Singing the songs of the Lord *
- Just use a lot of it. I'm just gonna stick it on.
- * See how many we can raise *
- Hi!
Hi, honey. Did you have fun?
Thanks. - Ah, of course.
* *
- * Sing about the song of praise *
[upbeat piano tune]
* *
- Time for breakfast, precious jewels.
* *
- * Do you believe in magic *
- All right, mush and toast, piping hot.
* *
- Jan, remember, you've got piano lesson
after school today.
- Yeah. And after dinner tonight,
what do you say we all do a puzzle, huh?
- Sounds great, Dad. - Hmm?
[makes quacking sound]
* *
- "Woman Sees Heavy Breathing UFO."
Wow.
Neat.
- I wish B would quit it with
all of the "Lost in Space," "Star Trek" stuff.
[soft pleasant music]
- I'm so excited for first period.
I have Miss Landry.
- Me too.
Did you know Jasper has the biggest crush on you ever?
- He does? - I promise.
Kindergarten, too. - That's so weird.
I can't believe I had a crush on him.
- [giggling] Yeah.
* *
- Hello, Mrs. Jensen.
* *
[singing to himself softly]
[bell rings]
Oh, morning, Jennifer.
Hope yours is going as good as mine.
- It will be if you can tell me what flowers
to bring a ten-year-old girl for her first choir solo.
- Is Ruthie ten already?
- I feel like I'll blink, and she'll be grown and married.
- Well, every day is a bonus. I've always said.
[phone rings] Oh, pardon me one second.
- Sure.
* *
[phone rings]
- Atkins Florist. What can I do for you?
- Good morning, Broberg. How are you?
- Oh. Fine, B.
And yourself? - Oh, I'm great.
I was just calling to make sure it'd be all right with you
if I took Jan horseback riding after her piano lesson.
- We already have plans.
We're doing a puzzle this evening.
- Aww, dang. That's--
You know, the thing is, I promised her,
and, oh, I hate to disappoint her.
You know how Jan gets
when she's got her heart set on something.
- Well, sorry, B. It'll have to be another time.
Have a good day now. Bye, bye. - No, Bob--
- Now, you cannot go wrong with some long-stem roses.
[phone rings]
- Hello, Brobergs.
- Gosh, Mary Ann, you sound so blue.
- Hi, B.
I'm not blue at all. How are you?
- Oh, well, now that you mention it,
I skipped breakfast,
and I am a bit peckish.
- Well, you just hold your horses.
- Bob's always bragging about his sandwiches.
I think you're the real artist in the house.
- [chuckles] It's just what's in the fridge.
- It's how you put it together.
I don't know how you do it.
You sure are special, Mary Ann. You know that?
Hey.
[country music on stereo]
* *
Are you sure you're not blue?
* *
Why don't I take you for birthday milkshakes
with the girls this weekend?
That might cheer you up.
- It sure would. [chuckles]
Maybe afterwards, we could-- - Before I forget.
Before I forget.
I promised Jan that I'd take her horseback riding
in American Falls after her piano lesson.
She's getting pretty good.
- Tonight? - Yeah.
Yeah, I'd have her back by 6:30, 7:00 at the latest.
- That should be all right. I better ask Bob.
- Sure. Sure.
- * You leave me nothing else to do *
* But tell you to go on but I still love you *
* Restless woman *
* Oh, woman *
* Restless woman *
[phone ringing]
- Atkins Florist, what can I do for you?
- Hi, hon. How are things at the shop?
- Oh, pretty good. Got some nice carnations in.
- B wants to take Jan horseback riding in American Falls
tonight after piano.
She might be a little late for dinner,
but that's no problem, right?
- Actually, it is a problem. I already told him no.
- I didn't realize that.
Do you think maybe you ought to reconsider?
You know how upset she'll be.
And she's getting really good.
- I said no, and the answer is still no.
- You don't have to get testy.
I just think you might be being a little bit unreasonable.
If you could ride horses, you could take Jan yourself.
- I'm allergic to horses!
- Well, B isn't.
- [sighs] Mary Ann, who is her father?
Him or me?
- You are, Bob.
[soft pleasant music]
- One Mississippi, two Mississippi,
three Mississippi,
four Mississippi, five Mississippi.
[children chanting, clapping] Concentration...64.
- Lion.
- Cat.
* *
[both chuckle]
[ominous music]
* *
- Ed Stephens. Just the man I need to see.
- Howdy, Bob. What can I help you with?
- Oh, just need to deposit a check.
$27,208.43.
- Good grief, Bob.
Where'd you get a chunk of change like this?
- Well, I sold the store.
Need to make a withdrawal, too.
* *
[machine whirring]
* *
- All right, here we go. - [fusses]
Good girl, Jenny.
So good.
- [fussing]
- Bob.
What are you doing home in the middle of the day?
- Oh, I'm just starved.
Wanted to grab a bite
while on my way back.
* *
- Back from where?
* *
- Gonna head back to the store for the afternoon.
I'll see you tonight.
* *
[engine turns over]
* *
- Pick out a good horse for me. - I will.
- Come on.
- Will you keep my dinner in the oven
in case I get home a little late
from horseback riding with Brother B?
After piano?
- It's gonna have to be another day for that.
- Another day?
How come?
- Jan, we're having dinner tonight and doing a puzzle.
Plus, I guess we have been
spending a bit too much with Brother B and his family.
both: No, we haven't!
- You spend all your time with Sister Gail.
And a lot with Brother B.
- That is true.
But still, your father thinks it's time for a little break.
- He's just mad he can't do the things we can do.
It's not fair.
- [sighs]
[soft dramatic music]
* *
- Hi there, ma'am.
I am here to escort a young lady
to a piano lesson and then to ride a horse.
- I wasn't expecting you, B.
I think there's been a misunderstanding.
- Thought I heard your voice. - Yeah, you thought right.
How was school? - Pretty good.
Now horseback riding?
- B, didn't Bob tell you that tonight wasn't gonna work?
- Oh, you know Bob.
Back and forth till your head spins.
- I'm afraid he still says no.
- Sure wish Bob wouldn't be so strict with her.
- Why don't we all just do something together
this weekend?
Or how about I bring you another sandwich
tomorrow at the store?
I like our talks. - Yeah.
Well, that sounds great.
Meantime, what are we gonna tell that little girl?
- It doesn't even make sense
for you to take her to piano now.
I have to take Karen and Susan to choir practice anyway.
- [chuckles]
I don't even want to go horseback riding for myself.
Jasper asked me to build a bookcase for his room.
I'm neglecting my own boy just so I can keep my word to Jan.
- B.
- [groans] For Pete's sake.
I don't care who takes her. You take her to the lesson.
I'll go home and play with the boys.
I'll pick her up after.
The only thing I care about
is not disappointing a little girl.
You know what that's like.
Just wanting something so bad.
Don't you, Mary Ann?
[sparse ominous music]
* *
[softly] Hey.
Do you remember what I told you?
[indistinct whispering]
* *
[footsteps thudding]
Jan, I'll see you after your piano lesson.
But we need to be home by 6:30 sharp.
- Yes!
[door opens]
- Bob Berchtold's gonna pick her up
to go horseback riding when she's finished today.
- That sounds fun.
* *
Did you practice this week?
- Yes, ma'am.
* *
[Bach's "Minuet in G Minor"]
* *
- Don't look at your hands.
Read your music, and put your hands like--
yes, perfect.
Okay.
Those horses aren't going anywhere,
and the more you look at that clock,
the slower times goes.
Again.
* *
- He's here! - What? Uh--
[soft pleasant music]
* *
- What took you so long?
These horses aren't gonna wait forever.
- I'm not late. - [chuckling] Oh.
* *
[sighs]
Oh. Almost forgot.
Your allergy pill.
- Look. I can take it without water.
- You are something else. You know that?
All right. Giddy up.
* *
- * I've always got a smilin' face *
* Any time and any place *
* And every time they ask me why *
* I just smile and say *
* You've got to... *
- * Kiss an angel good morning *
* And let her know you think about her when you're gone *
* You kiss an angel good morning *
* And love her like the devil when you get back home *
- [laughing] Oh, my gosh.
If you were in a choir, they'd kick you out.
[giggles]
- * The secret of a happiness *
- Well, the way I see it, dolly,
whatever voice you're blessed with,
you gotta sing with that voice.
- Yeah.
I guess you're right.
- * The secret I'm speakin' of *
* Is a woman and a man in love *
* And the answer is... *
- B? - Yes, dolly.
- I'm glad we're friends.
- * You've got to kiss an angel good mornin' *
- Me too, honey.
Me too.
- * Kiss an angel good mornin' *
* And lover her like the devil when you get back home *
- World sure would be a nice place to live
if everybody could just have a friendship like we do.
To be who you are,
and do what makes you happy.
- [yawns]
Yeah.
That sounds nice.
[soft pleasant music]
* *
- Is chicken almost ready?
- Five minutes. Go wash your hands.
You too, Susie Q.
- Where's Jani?
- Oh, she should be home any minute.
You know, she just had her heart set on
horseback riding tonight.
- Well, dang it, Mary Ann.
We discussed this, didn't we?
- Yes, but then B came by the house after school,
and Jan just got so excited.
- How am I supposed to lead this family
if every time I put my foot down,
you go and just--
- I'm sorry.
I made him promise they'd be home by 6:30.
- Where are they?
[ominous music]
[crickets chirping]
* *
- If we're not gonna do the puzzle,
can we watch "The Waltons" at 8:00?
- Yes. But finish your homework first.
- What was the name of the ranch
where they went riding?
Gail would know, wouldn't she?
* *
[phone ringing]
[indistinct chatter] - Boys, hush.
[phone ringing]
Yes?
- Hi, Gail. It's Mary Ann and Bob.
- Oh, hi, Mary Ann. What's going on?
- We're a bit worried, to be honest.
B was supposed to bring Jan back an hour ago.
- I hope they haven't had a flat or anything like that.
- Oh, I--I hope not.
- I bet they lost track of time is all.
You know how Jan loves that old paint horse.
- The one at my brother Keith's ranch?
But I'm sure he said
they were going to American Falls.
He told me about a customer who has a ranch out that way?
- Oh, I see.
- Gail, this is Bob. I don't like this one bit.
- I think it would be better if I just come over there
and we can talk about this in person.
Would that be all right?
- Yeah, okay.
[ominous music]
- Boys. Boys, look at me.
I have to go to the Brobergs. Watch your sister for me.
- [grunting] - Get off me!
* *
[dog barking]
* *
- Gail, hi.
- Hello.
[indistinct chatter on TV]
- Come on in. Can I get you something?
- Oh, no. I'm okay.
So I just remembered walking over.
Do you remember when he drove the kids to Salt Lake City?
But they wanted to go to the circus,
so they stayed overnight, and he came back the next day.
- Have a seat.
- Yeah, but he called to tell us.
And it wasn't a school night.
- Well, he may still call. It's only 8:00.
- It's not like B.
- Well, you know he gets.
- You mean his depression?
- Manic depression is what the doctors call it.
One minute, he can be down in the dumps.
And the next thing you know, it's, whew, up like a rocket.
He just, he gets so excited.
- Are you saying that he got excited
and that they went to the circus again?
- Or it could be a flat.
[soft ominous music]
* *
The only thing is--
- What is it?
* *
- Gail, if you have something to say,
I think you better say it.
- I'm sure it's nothing.
For the past two weeks,
he's been coming home quite late,
and I've been worried about his well-being,
so I followed him out to our storage unit,
where we keep our boat,
and I could see him inside, working on a motorhome.
- I didn't know you had a motorhome.
- And neither did I.
- Oh.
- He gets... these impulsive moods.
- But he has Jan with him, though,
so he has to think about her too.
That's the main thing.
I know that he would never intentionally
do anything to upset us, but...
- [sighs]
I think we gotta call the police,
just to let them know that Jan hasn't come home yet.
* *
- What?
I mean, I'd hate to cause all that trouble,
when it's only been just 90 minutes.
* *
And think how scared Jan would be
if the police come and cause a fuss.
* *
Let's just give them a little longer, all right?
* *
- I guess there isn't much they can do
after 90 minutes, is there?
- [clears throat]
Well...
if he's been going out to the storage unit every night
to work on this motorhome,
then maybe you ought to take us there.
Maybe he took Jani there to, you know, show her.
- Sure. I can do that.
- How about Gail and I go,
and you stay here with the girls?
Maybe he'll call.
- Yeah. All right.
Hey, Gail, could you give me the number for the fella
he's got working down at the store, Bob Eldridge?
If they did go riding at some customer's ranch,
I mean, he would know who it was, wouldn't he?
- Sure. Of course. I can write it down.
- Great.
* *
Good evening, Bob. It's Bob Broberg.
- Oh, hi, Bob! What's going on?
- Well, Berchtold--[sighs]
Well, Berchtold went and took Jan horseback riding,
and they were supposed to be back some time ago.
It seems they went to a ranch
that belongs to a customer of yours?
Does that ring a bell? Do you know who that is?
- I can't say I know a customer with a horse ranch.
Not off hand.
- [sighs]
Okay. All right. Well, thank you for your help.
- Oh, don't worry, though. You know how reliable he is.
He's always saying how much he thinks of you, Bob.
He says, "Good old Broberg's always there
to give me a hand."
- You...
Have a good night.
* *
- This one?
- Yes. This is it right here.
I guess I don't have the key.
- What is it?
Do you see it in there?
- I can't see anything.
We better get back home.
- Just can't figure out why he's got a motorhome in there
without telling you.
They didn't call?
- Well, it must be car trouble.
That's the only explanation.
- I think we need to call the police and let them know.
- What'll you say?
- Just that they were supposed to be home by 6:30,
and that we're getting a bit-- - Dad?
- Yeah, Bright Eyes?
- Did Jan and B come back yet?
- Uh, no. No.
Go on to bed now.
- [sobbing]
- What's wrong?
- What's gotten into you, Gail?
- I felt so bad.
And we didn't want to tell anyone.
- Tell anyone what?
- He's been struggling.
There was this...
little Mexican girl.
You know how much he loves children.
And we've--we want another.
Then, we heard about this little girl down there.
This Maria.
Who needed a better life.
So I flew down
and met him with all the adoption papers.
[sighs]
And she was cute as a button.
But at the last minute...
her mother just cried and cried
and wouldn't let her go.
[sighs]
You should have seen how disappointed he was
that he had to leave her in Mexico.
- I had no idea.
I guess that helps explain his depression and so on.
We still have to call the police.
- Oh, wait. Mary Ann.
Wait until tomorrow.
Whatever's got them delayed,
he would never let anything happen to her.
And you know...
he would never forgive you.
* *
[dial whirring]
- [exhales shakily] [line ringing]
- District 5, Idaho State Police.
What can I do for you?
- Well, I suppose I have an inquiry for somebody there.
- Yes, ma'am. What's your question?
- I was wondering if anyone reported
a car broken down or an accident of some kind
involving a green 1974 Ford Maverick.
Anyone injured or...
anything like that.
- I'll ask. Hold on just a sec.
- Thank you.
[unsettling music]
* *
- Ma'am, I've got nothing like that tonight.
- Oh, that's a relief.
- Is that all?
- Yes.
Thank you.
- All right, then. You have a good night.
- You have a good night, too.
I'm sure they'll be back soon.
He'll take good care of her.
[unsettling music]
* *
- Good night, Mary Ann.
- When they get back,
you'll give him a piece of your mind, won't you?
- You're damn right, I will.
- Do you remember what I told you?
Do you remember what I told you at the Gold and Green Ball?
I wish I had met you earlier.
You just hold your horses.
* *
[static droning]
- [struggling]
B!
- Female companion. Female companion.
Female companion.
[eerie music]
* *