It was an ordinary afternoon when a routine call turned extraordinary. As I prepared for an eye exam, the receptionist’s voice on the other end of the line sparked a memory from decades past. “You’re Jan Broberg, from the new series, right?” she asked, referencing A Friend of the Family. Confirming her question, I mentioned the streaming premiere date on Peacock, October 6th. Her next words were unexpected and deeply moving. She recounted attending my high school English class over twenty years prior, a vulnerable 15-year-old grappling with abuse from a family member. My story, she explained, had been a turning point. That day, she found the courage to confide in her mother, a decision that changed her life. Now married with children, she expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating I had saved her life. Overwhelmed, I responded, acknowledging her bravery and the daily miracle of healing she had created for herself. We promised a hug at my upcoming appointment, another testament to the countless individuals who have shared their own stories since I first spoke out about mine.
A Friend of the Family, which concluded on November 10th, is a dramatization of my life. I am Jan Broberg, the girl who was abducted twice and sexually abused by a trusted family friend we met at church. For three years leading up to the kidnappings, this man, a father of five, expertly manipulated my parents, siblings, and our entire community, systematically grooming us all into trusting him. He presented himself as charming, fun-loving, and service-oriented, mirroring the image of everyone else in our seemingly safe Idaho town. The nine-part series on Peacock delves into the psychological tactics of a master manipulator, illustrating how such individuals operated in the 1970s and, alarmingly, continue to operate today, grooming and abusing countless children and families in 2022. This cautionary tale, unfortunately, resonates with far too many.
A Friend of the Family – Season 1
The harsh reality of child sexual abuse, affecting 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys, and the insidious grooming techniques predators employ, is a difficult conversation to have. Yet, my family and I made the conscious choice to reveal every painful detail, each mistake, every missed warning sign, hoping to empower even one person to recognize what we failed to see. This complete transparency and vulnerability exposed us to criticism and scrutiny, but I now understand the immense courage, honesty, and commitment required to confront such deeply buried truths.
The responsibility for these heinous acts rests solely with the criminal pedophile who inflicts sexual violence upon innocent children. Furthermore, we must confront the patriarchal structures within families, organizations, and systems that shield abusers and fail to prioritize child protection. I recognize the bravery it takes to hold accountable someone you know, regardless of their standing in the community or within your home. We must collectively be willing to uncover the truth and then address it directly. By sharing my story, I aim to give voice to the millions of other children who have endured similar abuse at the hands of someone they trusted.
A Friend of the Family – Season 1
The Jan Broberg Foundation serves as a community support system for victims (survivors), their families, partners, and friends, all of whom grapple with the long-lasting consequences of grooming, trauma, and abuse. We offer unwavering support, believing and listening to survivors, and working to remove perpetrators from society. We never place blame on victims or their uninformed family members.
FBI data reveals that criminal pedophiles are often serial offenders, harming an estimated 30 to 70 children throughout their lives. The fear of shame often outweighs the courage to protect a child. We must stop minimizing or ignoring child rape and incest, especially when the abuser is a family member or a “friend.” While the idea of stranger danger is more easily grasped, statistics show that 97 percent of the time, abusers are far from strangers. They are familiar figures within the child’s life.
Another common misconception is that grooming solely targets the child. In reality, predators groom everyone around the child. They often sow discord and isolation within families to ensure their manipulative behavior goes unnoticed. This calculated approach further confuses the child, blurring the lines between acceptable behavior and reality, particularly when the groomer is a trusted adult within the family, religious community, neighborhood, sports team, or school. The A Friend of the Family cast masterfully portrays these complex dynamics, highlighting how manipulation can occur within seemingly normal family structures.
A Friend of the Family – Season 1
In The Jan Broberg Story: The True Crime Story of a Young Girl Abducted and Brainwashed by a Friend of the Family, co-authored with my mother, MaryAnn Broberg, we meticulously detail our experiences to help readers recognize their own blind spots and biases. We urge you to confront the disbelief that such betrayal could come from someone you know, even within your own family circle. Vulnerability arises when we ignore our instincts, dismiss subtle warning signs, and second-guess our intuition. My aim is to expose the truth and inspire a proactive response – to educate ourselves, report suspected abuse, and protect ourselves and our vulnerable children. A Friend of the Family cast brings these crucial lessons to life, making the narrative both impactful and accessible.
Ultimately, my deepest wish is to empower victims not just to survive, but to thrive, to heal, and to move forward from their trauma. I believe every individual deserves a happy childhood, regardless of their age.
