T Specific Issue Assignment T

.docx

School

Liberty University Online Academy *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

625

Subject

Philosophy

Date

May 9, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by GeneralKookaburaPerson797

SPECIFIC ISSUE Specific Issue Assignment School of Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling, Liberty University Author Note I have no known conflict of interest to disclose. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jenny Alvarez

2 SPECIFIC ISSUE Specific Issue Assignment Case Study The specific sexual issue I am reviewing is based on the Netflix documentary Abducted In Plain Sight, 2019. This is a disturbing story about a little girl by the name of Jan Broberg who is sexually abused by the family’s close friend and neighbor, Robert Berchtold. The story has many chilling details of shame, absence of supervision, selfishness, broken trust, and lack of protection on top of the continuous rape and mental manipulation of a little girl. Anyone who listens to the story will be shocked by the heartbreaking details of her abuse and possibly angered by her parents’ actions to assist or possibly facilitate such horrific incidents. Jan was about ten years old when the abuse began, and it was not until the age of sixteen that she understood what had happened to her was not right. She had been manipulated for many years to accomplish a mission ordered by “aliens”. Jan was threatened that if the mission was not completed her family would suffer the consequences. Robert Berchtold was very savvy in his approach to the family and completely brainwashed them from the beginning to almost the very end of the abuse toward Jan. The families met at church, where you would think, most people are searching to do the right thing and live a decent life in God's eye. The Berchtold and the Broberg families became very close to one another, not only were they also neighbors but it seemed like each member of the family had their own best friend within the other family. There was blind trust that they would protect each other and want the best for one another as well. The sleepovers between the kids soon were taken advantage of by Robert Berchtold. He would give Jan sleeping pills to fondle her, she recalls one incident where she woke up from a sleepover with her underwear to her ankles and Robert Berchtold hugging her. He

3 SPECIFIC ISSUE stated she moved around a lot and removed her underwear to be more comfortable. Jan never doubted him as he took care of her, played with her, and was very involved with her life in a positive way. During this time, he also began a homosexual relationship with Jan’s father and an affair with Jan’s mother. Robert Berchtold had cornered Jan’s parents individually to feel shame and guilt with their choices to eventually one day hold it above them and try to use it as a “get out of jail free card”. This family was an all-American family who attended church, owned a flower business, was kind to their neighbors, raised beautiful girls who were actively involved with music and horses and fell into a deep dark world of abuse right beneath their eyes. They believed sexual abuse was non-existent, especially within their community and proximity. Whether it was selfishness that blinded them from the abuse of Jan or a true belief of immunity to sexual abuse, it caused Jan pain and lifelong trauma. No one would comprehend why it took so long to end the abuse right before their eyes. Robert Berchtold, kidnapped Jan three times. The first time she was taken for five days, and her parents did not make a call to the authorities until the fifth day. Thinking there had to be a misunderstanding or they were in trouble that did not need law enforcement to be involved. The second time she was taken to Mazatlán, Mexico for weeks and Robert Berchtold married her at the age of twelve, she was rescued but Jan began to believe she was in love with him. At the age of fourteen, she was kidnapped again and hidden at a Roman Catholic all-girl school as he impersonated a CIA agent and also her father, authorities thought she was a runaway but in reality, he was keeping her away from her family. The FBI eventually found her, and her parents continued minimal contact with him. He served a total of one year for all these crimes.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help