Robert Berchtold’s wife, Gail Berchtold, eventually divorced him. She had been through a tumultuous period due to her husband’s criminal activities, particularly his involvement with the Jan Broberg kidnapping case.
Gail Berchtold’s life was significantly impacted by her husband’s actions. Robert Berchtold, infamously known for kidnapping Jan Broberg twice in the 1970s, was married to Gail during the time of his offenses. The couple had five children together. The strain of the events, public scrutiny, and the legal consequences that followed took a toll on their marriage.
Gail stood by Robert for a period, but as the full extent of his actions became clear, and after he faced charges related to the kidnappings, their relationship deteriorated. The public nature of the case, which included extensive media coverage and the involvement of the FBI, added to the pressure on the family.
The marriage was further strained by Robert’s obsession with Jan Broberg, which was not only illegal but also deeply disturbing. Gail had to cope with the reality that her husband had committed serious crimes and had manipulated not just their family but also the Brobergs, who had been close family friends.
After years of dealing with the fallout from her husband’s actions, Gail decided to divorce Robert. The exact date of their divorce is not widely publicized, but it is known that they were no longer together by the time Robert died by suicide in 2005. Following the divorce, Gail Berchtold lived a more private life, away from the media attention that had surrounded her due to her husband’s notorious actions.
