In 1976, 26 children between the ages of 5 through 14 were returning from a hot summer field trip at the Chowchilla fairgrounds swimming pool. They weren't too far from their destination when they were intercepted at gunpoint by three men, Frederick Newhall Woods who was 24 at the time, his friend James Schoenfeld, also 24, and James' younger brother Richard, 22. All three men came from affluent backgrounds and, by all accounts, would have no need to kidnap these kids for ransom. So what was the point of this seemingly senseless crime?

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Chowchilla bus kidnapping: Rare photos from one of the largest abductions in U.S. history

1976 Chowchilla kidnapping

Captor paroled 46 years after hijacking bus, trying to bury 26 kids alive

Frederick Woods abducted 26 children and buried them alive. 46 years later, he’s set to walk free