Abducted in Plain Sight

[Guest]

One of my fears about being a parent has been that my kids would be harmed because I exposed them to danger that I should have seen.

I’m right there with you, brother. But these people were unbelievably pliable and naïve. It’s almost inexplicable.

Consider that the mother nearly left her husband for the kidnapper after the first kidnapping and the perp’s threat to reveal the dirt on the parents unless they sign the affidavits exonerating him.

[_Res Ipsa]

One of my fears about being a parent has been that my kids would be harmed because I exposed them to danger that I should have seen.

I’m right there with you, brother. But these people were unbelievably pliable and naïve. It’s almost inexplicable.

Consider that the mother nearly left her husband for the kidnapper after the first kidnapping and the perp’s threat to reveal the dirt on the parents lest they sign the affidavits exonerating him.

I read the Daily Mail article. Unreal. The dad breaks down during filming over giving the perp a hand job, saying it’s the worst thing he ever did in his life. Hello??? How about letting an adult man sleep in the same bed as your 12 year old daughter? How about helping the perp get out of serving his sentence? How about failing to either move or keep the perp away from your daughter after he’s already kidnapped and raped her?

But no, the handjob is the worst thing ever.

[_Dr. Shades]

From the article:

Bob Berchtold was a master manipulator, he used charm and charisma to insert himself into the Broberg family and drive a wedge between Bob and Mary Ann.

Bob had well inserted himself into the Broberg family; winning their trust and confidence.

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree that he inserted himself into the Broberg family, all right.

[_Madison54]

The pedo rapist piece of garbage was a temple worker for 7 years.

He was only disfellowshipped and never was excommunicated. He served a year in prison for raping another child and still was not ex'd.

He not only went on to serve in the temple after this, but he also served in a bishopric (where he held one on one interviews with children and teens).

[_GameOver]

Thanks for the rundown on this film. I think I’ll avoid it (too triggering of outrage).

[_Meadowchik]

It's a horrific result of not just communal trust but also of misunderstanding evil. Evil can walk in with a warm smile and flowers. It can look authentic and vulnerable. It can look so pitiable that you don't know what it is, especially when there are no boundaries for your being nice to others.

[_Kishkumen]

But no, the handjob is the worst thing ever.

Yup. That’s the thing that reduced him to a puddle of tears.

That bit was jaw-droppingly disturbing.

As were so many other parts of this documentary.

[_Kishkumen]

He was only disfellowshipped and never was excommunicated. He served a year in prison for raping another child and still was not ex'd.

He not only went on to serve in the temple after this, but he also served in a bishopric (where he held one on one interviews with children and teens).

Absolutely outrageous.

A big turd on the turd mountain of evidence that the LDS Church is systemically broken when it comes to protecting children from sexual abuse.

[_Meadowchik]

But no, the handjob is the worst thing ever.

Yup. That’s the thing that reduced him to a puddle of tears.

That bit was jaw-droppingly disturbing.

As were so many other parts of this documentary.

My teen daughter and I watched it together and were exclaiming profanities throughout. It was enraging! It was sumultaneously understandable, though, and eerily familiar. I totally get the environment of trust and shame. I can imagine how unspeakable things can cease to exist in our minds if we think they're impossible, even when presented with the evidence.

[_Kishkumen]

My teen daughter and I watched it together and were exclaiming profanities throughout. It was enraging! It was sumultaneously understandable, though, and eerily familiar. I totally get the environment of trust and shame. I can imagine how unspeakable things can cease to exist in our minds if we think they're impossible, even when presented with the evidence.

True, MC. I think it is much more the case in the homogenous LDS communities of the Mountain West. I grew up outside of Washington, D.C., and I just can't see the level of naïve trust in others that would allow something like that to happen occurring too often in my LDS environment. Won't say it didn't or couldn't happen, but those homogeneously LDS communities out West make a better hunting ground for the predators, in my opinion. Just my two cents.