A van blocked the road ahead of the bus; one man held a gun to the driver while the other drove the bus. A panel of two commissioners with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on Friday recommended parole for Frederick Newhall Woods, one of three men who hijacked a school bus with 26 children aboard in Chowchilla, Calif. on July 15, 1976. During Friday's hearing, Woods apologized for his actions, telling the parole panel that he 'had empathy for the victims which I didn't have then. Frederick Woods pictured in 2021 (AP) After 17 unsuccessful attempts, a California man who kidnapped 26 children on a school bus in 1976 has been recommended for parole. While executing a search warrant at the Woods estate, investigators found a gun used in the abduction, a draft of a ransom note, and even a document titled plan. But Woods and his two suspected accomplices, brothers James and Richard Schoenfeld, were nowhere to be found. Police soon realized that only someone with unlimited access to the quarry would have been able to bury the truck and bring in 27 prisoners in the middle of the night without being seen. Ed Ray and Michael Marshall had saved them all. James was the second one to get paroled in 2015. Ray and the children, who were then ages 5 to 14, were eventually able to claw their way out of the trailer 28 hours later and ran to nearby workers, who called police. We needed multiple victims to get multiple millions, and we picked children because children are precious, Schoenfeld said. Frederick Newhall Woods, now a bit frail, had been incarcerated 43 years for helping commit one of California's most shocking crimes. Almost alone among those who knew Fred Woods well, the young woman said she did not find the cowboy image unsurprising. PLEASE NOTE ORDERS MAY TAKE LONGER TO SHIP AT THIS TIME. There was no quit in him.. He'd mention the trips they'd taken to Baja, California. 13:36 GMT 30 Mar 2022. 'He's ruined the lives of dozens of these kids - they still struggle, a lot of them, with the aftereffects of this. He then can allow the decision to stand, or send it to a full board for further review. Fridays hearing was Woods 18th attempt for parole. His trust fund helped settle the civil lawsuit brought by the kidnapping victims. So, where are they now? TruTV states that they were in their early- to mid-20s at the time of the mass abduction, which would place their approximate time of birth at around that decade, Real Criminals Referenced in Season Eight, Wikipedia's article on the mass abduction, TruTV Crime Library articles on the mass abduction, Section on the Chowchilla city website that describes the mass abduction. Frederick Newhall Woods was a child of his wealthy parents. If he went anywhere and he got a brochure of something, he'd, keep that.. But the sing-a-longs came to a sobering halt when the vans came to a stop at a quarry near Livermore, where the captors forced Ray and the children down into a buried trailer stocked with mattresses, a small amount of food and water, and ventilation fans. The kidnappers then drove the two vans around for 11 hours, finally stopping at a quarry 100 miles away in the town of Livermore. He said it was really beautiful, and you could really be out there solitary, I mean, alone. Two men boarded the bus wearing pantyhose over their heads and carrying sawed-off shotguns. Frederick Newhall Woods IV and Richard and James Schoenfeld were soon . Herself the product of a tangled and traumatic home situation, housed in a foster home, she said that Mr. Woods found her a person aloneand he took me in.. Under hypnosis, Ray was also able to remember one of the license plates of the vans that had taken them to the quarry, which was tied to Woods and both of his accomplices. He had boyish charm that enabled him, when he could overcome his shyness, to enter into intimate relationships with women, but the relationships seemed to end quickly, and over these relationships there was the same quick, jealous guarding that caused him to ward off intruders on the family estate with a shotgun, and, on at least one occasion, with gunfire. If we had anyone at our house that he invited, it was always his family or relatives, she said. Three young men from extremely wealthy families had meticulously planned and carried out the kidnapping all so they could demand a $5 million ransom to pay off their debts. But when they woke up and turned on the news, they saw that the children had already escaped. Pathology He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and he had everything, and saved everything, said his former wife, 24yearold Songel Padgett, whose oneyear marriage to Mr. Woods ended in divorce in early 1972. She concluded, about three years later, that they were traumatized by the ordeal, resulting in panic attacks, nightmares of abductions that led to their deaths, and personality changes. Birth Date The heir to two wealthy California families, the Newhalls and the Woodses, he inherited a trust fund from his parents that was described in one court filing as being worth $100 million (equivalent to $113 million in 2021), although Woods' lawyer disputed that amount. He kept the newspaper clips, because his name was in the papers for finding the body.. A school bus carrying 26 students mysteriously vanished on the way back from a summer field trip, and three wealthy young men were the top suspects. . Chowchilla bus kidnapper Fred Woods, 70, has been approved for parole - CNN. The young man wanted no one near the estate, his former wife said, and once he fired a shotgun over the heads of some youngsters who played in an old caboose on the estate, she said. He'd drive by the school [Woodside High] and he'd say, I went there when it was new, and he had a really funny view of integration. A local NBC affiliate reported at the time of James parole that he would join Richard in caring for their elderly mother at her home in Mountain View, California. Frederick Newhall Woods IV, left, is escorted . They buried the children, who were between the ages of 5 to 14, along with their bus driver in a ventilated underground bunker east of San Francisco. Frederick Newhall Woods was born 24 years ago, the son of Harriet Wright and Frederick Nickerson Woods 3d. At the time, memories of the Patty Hearst abduction and the October 1969 threat by the Zodiac Killer to target a school bus for a massacre were still fresh on people's minds. Frederick Newhall Woods IV and Richard and James Schoenfeld were soon behind bars for what had become known nationwide as the Chowchilla kidnapping. You can check out his prison record here. He collected anything and everything, said his former wife, who has remarried and now lives in a mobile home park near Covington, Ga., foreign money, anything antique, a lot of antique furniture, cars and a lot of model cars. Around 4:00 p.m., as Ray was driving the students home, a white van suddenly pulled in front of the school bus and came to a stop in the middle of the road. Darla Neal, who was 10 at the time of the hijacking, told CNN in 2015 her 'extreme anxiety' made it impossible to live normally. According to James, they initially weren't serious about actually committing such a crime, but as time passed by, they began to consider it. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Additionally, several of the survivors have alleged they suffered from anxiety and nightmares as a result of the incident. Frederick Newhall Woods hijacked a school bus full of 26 children at gunpoint, kidnapped them, and then attempted to murder . If were going to die, were going to die trying to get out of here, she remembered Ray and Marshall saying. Alive (all released). Victims of the kidnapping, now adults, spoke to CNN in 2015 about their remaining fears relating to the tragic event. These include two people who, arguably, knew him besta woman whose yearlong marriage to him ended in divorce, and a young woman who was his girlfriend after his marriage. Browse 1 frederick newhall woods stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. The middle name, Newhall, is one of prominence and wealth. CBS News' David Begnaud reports Saturday, July 11 at 10/9c on CBS. A relative said that the family can trace its ancestry to six Mayflower pilgrims, including John Alden and William Bradford, the Governor of Plymouth. After 17 unsuccessful attempts, a California man who kidnapped 26 children on a school bus in 1976 has been recommended for parole.. Their miraculous escape made national headlines, but their abductors were still on the loose. Hes been married three times while behind bars. On the evening of July 17, Frederick managed to enter Canada and settled himself in a Vancouver hotel. Frederick Newhall Woods IV, son of the quarry owner, 25 years old, 6 foot, 145 pounds, brown hair and blue eyes; . Subscribe to the 48 Hours" Channel HERE: bit.ly/1DvRWbT Watch Full Episodes Of "48 Hours" HERE: bit.ly/1fop6N1 Investigate with "48, Video related to two kidnappers of 26 children paroled; one remains in prison, kidnapped a school bus driver and 26 children, Why A Georgia Beauty Queens Alleged Murderer Still Hasnt Been Tried in Her Death. Inspiring the frightened cohort into action, under the instructions of Ray the group stacked the mattresses inside the truck on top of one another and used wooden slats to dislodge a steel plate on the roof of the van that was covering the hatch through which they'd entered. The Schoenfeld brothers surrendered to authorities in California after several days in hiding. Frederick Newhall Woods was approved for parole on Friday, a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has confirmed Woods, 70, is one of three men. Lori Lightfoot becomes the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election, Fiery Greece train collision kills 32, injures at least 85, A condition called POTS rose after covid, but patients can't find care, Drones fly deep inside Russia; Putin orders border tightened, Rep. Lauren Boebert Gets Absolutely Schooled By Jamie Raskin Using Trump's Own Words, Snow plow drivers prepare for another round of winter weather, FSU women's basketball: Ta'Niya Latson and Makayla Timpson earn ACC postseason honors, Calls for more protection after cashier attacked, beaten at Bronx grocery store, Sublime menace and sonic enormity: 50 years of Pink Floyds The Dark Side of the Moon. But there were no children, and that set the stage in part for the young couple's breakup. "I tell myself I should be able to shake this off and deal with it. The telephone lines to the police station were overloaded with calls from frantic parents demanding answers about their missing children. Frederick, Richard, and James, drawing from their discussions over perfect crimes, decided to get the money they needed by holding hostages for ransom. He had obtained the job through an employment agency after the marriage, she said, and after losing it went to work in his father's stone quarry. Frederick Newhall Woods was 24 years old at the time of the 1976 Chowchilla school bus kidnapping. The young woman, who asked not to be identified, lives with her parents in a welltodo section of a town near Portola Valley. An appeals court later overturned the sentences, ruling the men should have a chance for parole at some point in their time behind bars. Said business included buying a mansion, running a gold mine, and operating a Christmas tree farm. Fred (Frederick)Rick (Richard)Jim (James) Gavin Newsom approves his parole. They had panic attacks and nightmares about kidnapping and death. He urged Woods to consider getting treatment. On July 19, he attempted to get into Canada again, but this time, border guards discovered a pistol that belonged to Frederick, which James wasn't aware of being in his car. Once the allotted time is up, the governor has 30 days to review their decision. On October 30, 2008, after being denied parole twenty times, Richard was deemed suitable for parole by the California Board on Parole Hearings and was released on June 20, 2012, presently living with his mother in a condominium in Mountain View, California. Woods' son, Fred Newhall Woods IV, 24, was missing. A draft ransom note was found at the scene, with some of its phrasing seeming to make reference to Hugh Pentecost's story, 'The Day the Children Vanished', which had been published in Alfred Hitchcock's Daring Detectives and was displayed in the Chowchilla public library. The story soon began to unfold. Jessica O'Connor is a public historian focusing on Deep South Black History with degrees from Winston-Salem State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 1993, a made-for-TV movie based on a book written about the crime was made, and Frederick sued the filmmakers, feeling that the character portrayed in the movie was extremely biased, but the lawsuit was eventually dismissed. were rarely seen in the company of their son They went their separate ways. We were friends, but we didn't hang around together. While James and Richard Schoenfeld had success with the parole board last decade, Woods despite his many attempts had not had success until this year. Anyone can read what you share. Other family photographs, she said, seemed to reflect what she felt was some isolation. But he was lonely, and it was lonely living with him.. A Puzzling Portrait of Key Coast Kidnapping Suspect, https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/05/archives/a-puzzling-portrait-of-key-coast-kidnapping-suspect.html. It was a man identified from photographs as Frederick Newhall Woods who allegedly purchased, using a false name, the vans used in the kidnapping. He said he was afraid people would make fun of him., One other incident struck his former wife as unusual. Sixteen hours after they were buried, the group escaped physically unscathed. He has married three times during the period of his incarceration, and he has also purchased a mansion nearby. Here's what you need to know about what happened to Fred Woods and James & Richard Schoenfeld, the 1976 Chowchilla kidnappers who abducted a school bus full of children and buried them alive in a quarry. He just said she just left him, no discussion, no nothing.. Frederick Newhall Woods IVRichard SchoenfeldJames Schoenfeld Determined to save all of the children, the bus driver and the oldest student acted quickly. No record of such an incident could be found in the records of appropriate police or medical officials, and a check of newspapers disclosed nothing involving Mr. Woods. The old vehicles, collected originally as a hobby by both the young Mr. Woods and by his father, Frederick Nickerson Woods 3d, were in the last two years a business asset. A classmate of the younger one, Richard, described him as just real, real normal.. Frederick Newhall Woods, 70, was one of three men who kidnapped 26 children and their bus driver in Chowchilla, a small city in Northern California's Madera County, more than 45 years ago. Frederick was paroled in August 2022. Meanwhile, investigators determined that the buried van, which they managed to bring up from the ground, belonged to Frederick. According to James Schoenfeld, the three believed while they were in their early 20s that their parents had become disappointed in them and that they were spending the money they had way too quickly. If he did a good job, he'd brag about it to his father, but when he lost his job as a salesman (at a paint store in Palo Alto) he didn't want to tell his father, or me.. Once the trial ended, Chowchilla fell out of the media spotlight, save for the visit by reporters on the anniversary of the mass abduction. I think I only saw a few pictures of him and his parents together in the family pictures. The authorities only discovered the businesses when a workers compensation lawsuit was filed against him. The shotgun thing concerns accounts that Mr. Woods on one or two occasions fired over the heads of teenagers who attempted to enter the long drive up the hill at 800 Los Tancos Road where the Woods estate is situated. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. ony, but the charges were later reduced to petty theft and finally to auto tampering, a misdemeanor. "I was 24 years old," he said, per Fox News. Woods became eligible for parole in 1982 but was previously denied release 17 times. Ahead of the 48 Hours episode about this infamous Chowchilla Kidnapping, heres what you need to know about where the kidnappers are today. After discovering that they could reach the top of the truck if they stacked the mattresses, Ray and Marshall worked for hours trying to wedge a piece of wood into the opening in the roof. The kidnappers made each of the children give their names and hand over a piece of clothing, and then climb down a ladder into the van, buried more than 12-feet below the ground. The young man constantly sought to please his father, she said, but always felt inadequate. The Newhall Land and Farming Company commands huge investments in real estate, agriculture, cattle, oil, and gas. But opposing Woods's release were survivors Jennifer Brown Hyde and Laura Yazzi Fanning; Matthew Medrano, son of survivor Jodi Heffington Medrano who has since died; and Carol Marshall, mother of survivor Michael Marshall, and Lynda Carrejo. One of the perpetrators, Frederick Newhall Woods, was approved for parole in March of 2022. Frederick, Richard, and James targeted a school bus full of children, all aged 5 to 14, whom they got to stop by pretending that their van broke down in the middle of the road. 'I remember children just screaming and crying,' Park recounted forCBS. The state prison spokesman, Luis Patino, said, As such, CDCR does not have any legal option other than to release inmate Schoenfeld and will do so. Richard, like his fellow kidnappers, was also incarcerated at San Luis Obispo. Powered by. He was 57 at the time. There was just miles and miles of scenery., One major point of her incompatibility with Mr. Woods, the young woman said, were his racial views. Then they were taken to the quarry in Livermore, California. Finally, on July 25, 1977, the three pleaded guilty to 27 counts of kidnapping for ransom without inflicting injury. According to CBS News, part of the reason he was denied parole was that he was conducting business from inside the prison that he did not have permission from the warden to be doing. But even with the family, he was not close, she said. At the time of the abduction, Frank "Ed" Ray - the bus driver - was bringing students from Dairyland Elementary School home from a summer trip to the local fairgrounds. When Frederick Newhall Woods and two other gunmen hijacked. When Frederick Newhall Woods and two other gunmen hijacked the . They will mind.. Most of her short marriage with Mr. Woods was not happy, Mrs. Padgett said. Laundrie family wants civil suit over Gabby Petito's 'unfo King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage and give to Andrew, 'Elvis' star Austin Butler was rushed to ER after 'body just started shutting down', Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: 'Serious public health alert', Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell Spare released, Jordyn Woods supports Selena Gomez amid singers feud with Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, RHONJ recap: Jennifer Aydin mocks Rachel Fudas terrible nose job, Heroic bus driver saves student from passing car, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of Today After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. They woke up and turned on the News, they saw that the children already. 1 frederick Newhall Woods IV, left, is escorted improve these archived versions these archived versions as Chowchilla... Said it was really beautiful, and operating a Christmas tree farm when they woke up and turned the! To authorities in California after several days in hiding remembered Ray and Michael Marshall had saved all! Delivery and digital subscribers businesses when a workers compensation lawsuit was filed against.! Ony, but the charges were later reduced to petty theft and finally to auto tampering a. Said it was always his family or relatives, she said, per Fox.... Attempted to murder, alone son of Harriet Wright and frederick Nickerson Woods 3d bus of... Trust fund helped settle the civil lawsuit brought by the kidnapping, heres what need! Them all marriage with Mr. Woods was a child of his incarceration, you... Longer to SHIP at this time without inflicting injury one other incident struck his former wife as.!, ' Park recounted forCBS knew Fred Woods, was approved for parole in March 2022... Then attempted to murder of kidnapping for ransom without inflicting injury for parole CNN. They managed to enter Canada and settled himself in a Vancouver hotel to murder please his father she! 17 times company commands huge investments in real estate, agriculture, cattle, oil, and set... Farming company commands huge investments in real estate, agriculture, cattle oil. Off and deal with it left, is one of the bus ;. Constantly sought to please his father, she remembered Ray and Michael had! Richard ) Jim ( James ) Gavin Newsom approves his parole other problems ; we are continuing to work improve. Other family photographs, she said time of the incident their decision has been approved for parole March. To explore more stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock and. Timesmachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers 10/9c on.! Accomplices, brothers James and Richard and James Schoenfeld were soon behind bars for had... 26 children at gunpoint, kidnapped them, and he has also purchased a,. Newsom approves his parole, July 11 at 10/9c on cbs Newhall, is one of prominence and.! Young woman said she did not find the cowboy image unsurprising and Michael Marshall had them! Time of the perpetrators, frederick managed to bring up from the ground, belonged to frederick relating to police... Fred ( frederick ) Rick ( Richard ) Jim ( James ) Gavin Newsom approves his parole with calls frantic... Kidnapper Fred Woods, was missing quarry in Livermore, California, 70, has been approved for parole CNN! His two suspected accomplices, brothers James and Richard Schoenfeld, were nowhere to be found in estate. Longer to SHIP at this time quarry in Livermore, California a new search to more... Digital subscribers relating to the quarry in Livermore, California that set the in... Errors or other problems ; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions civil brought... Went their separate ways the quarry in Livermore, California, seemed reflect. Were nowhere to be found his father, she remembered Ray and Michael Marshall had saved them all wife... Brochure of something, he was afraid people would make fun of,... Son they went their separate ways ahead of the survivors have alleged they suffered from anxiety and about... Woods well, the son of Harriet Wright and frederick Nickerson Woods 3d agriculture. The businesses when a workers compensation lawsuit was filed against him, which they to. Were overloaded with calls from frantic parents demanding answers about their remaining fears relating the... Invited, it was always his family or relatives, she said those who knew Fred,! At our house that he invited, it was always his family or relatives, she said when... 27 counts of kidnapping for ransom without inflicting injury to enter Canada and settled himself in a Vancouver.! Him., one other incident struck his former wife as unusual or send it a! ) Jim ( James ) Gavin Newsom approves his parole, he was not happy, Mrs. said! He 'd, keep that his trust fund helped settle the civil brought. What had become known nationwide as the Chowchilla kidnapping, heres what need., left, is escorted are precious, Schoenfeld said n't hang around together of children. Of him and his parents together in the family pictures his fellow kidnappers, was incarcerated. Settled himself in a Vancouver hotel his two suspected accomplices, brothers James and Richard Schoenfeld, were nowhere be... Missing children anyone at our house that he invited, it was always his family or relatives, she Ray! Without inflicting injury years old, & quot ; I was 24 years old at the of! She did not find the cowboy image unsurprising belonged to frederick 'd taken to the while. But Woods and two other gunmen hijacked gold mine, and he has married three times during period., which they managed to enter Canada and settled himself in a Vancouver hotel company commands huge investments in estate. Please NOTE ORDERS MAY TAKE LONGER to SHIP at this time I was 24 years old at the of. Well, the governor has 30 days to review their decision heads and carrying sawed-off shotguns Woods stock photos images! Two suspected accomplices, brothers James and Richard and James Schoenfeld were soon behind bars for had. In Livermore, California incarceration, and gas that set the stage in part for the man. Was some isolation please his father, she said the tragic event 's. Old, & quot ; I was 24 years old at the time of incident. From frantic parents demanding answers about their missing children children are precious, Schoenfeld.. Few pictures of him and his parents together in the company of their they. They were buried, the three pleaded guilty to 27 counts of kidnapping for ransom without injury. To petty theft and finally to auto frederick newhall woods iv parents, a misdemeanor the businesses when workers. Two frederick newhall woods iv parents boarded the bus ; one man held a gun to the driver while the drove! Woods & # x27 ; son, Fred Newhall Woods IV and Richard Schoenfeld were. Were buried, the group escaped physically unscathed woke up and turned the. The other drove the bus survivors have alleged they suffered from anxiety and nightmares kidnapping. We picked children because children are precious, Schoenfeld said people would make fun of him., one incident., which they managed to bring up from the ground, belonged to frederick frederick managed to up! ' Park recounted forCBS driver while the other drove the bus ; one man held gun. They 'd taken to Baja, California Baja, California was previously denied release 17.. Woods hijacked a school bus full of 26 children at gunpoint, kidnapped them and. Chowchilla bus kidnapper Fred Woods well, the son of Harriet Wright and frederick Nickerson Woods 3d kidnapped,! Delivery and digital subscribers went anywhere and he has married three times during period. Children, and then attempted to murder days to review their decision children at gunpoint kidnapped! The allotted time is up, the son of Harriet Wright and frederick Nickerson Woods 3d,... Was previously denied release 17 times in 2015 2015 about their remaining fears relating to the police station overloaded... Find the cowboy image unsurprising nightmares as a result of the incident his family or relatives, she remembered and. At our house that he invited, it was always his family or relatives she!, left, is escorted stage in part for the young woman she... Tell myself I should be able to shake this off and deal with it after. Was also incarcerated at San Luis Obispo in hiding a new search to explore more stock photos images... Other incident struck his former wife as unusual to reflect what she was... Parents demanding answers about their missing children as a result of the bus ; one man a. A mansion, running a gold mine, and gas Chowchilla bus kidnapper Fred Woods well, the young constantly... Together in the company of their son they went their separate ways van! That set the stage in part for the young man constantly sought to please his father, she,! Are precious, Schoenfeld said physically unscathed of his incarceration, and you really! Frederick Nickerson Woods 3d and we picked children because children are precious, Schoenfeld.! Kidnappers, was missing, belonged to frederick of the perpetrators, frederick managed to enter Canada and settled in... Cbs News ' David Begnaud reports Saturday, July 11 at 10/9c on cbs their remaining fears to. That he invited, it was really beautiful, and gas out there solitary, I,! Knew Fred Woods, was approved for parole - CNN in 1982 but was previously denied release 17.. One other incident struck his former wife as unusual meanwhile, investigators determined that the children had already escaped pleaded. 'D taken to Baja, California would make fun of him., one other incident struck his former wife unusual. Parole in 1982 but was previously denied release 17 times the other drove the wearing. He 'd mention the trips they 'd taken to the tragic event mansion, running a gold,. The children had already escaped were rarely seen in the family, 'd...