Released in 2023, the Chowchilla documentary dives into the harrowing kidnapping of 26 children in Chowchilla, California, reminding viewers of a significant tragedy from the 1970s. Unlike many other grim events of that decade, this incident concluded with a “happy”ending, although the psychological wounds of the survivors lingered long afterwards. The plot unfolds as three men hijacking a school bus with 26 children and their driver transport them to an abandoned quarry, where they are confined in a hidden chamber, held for ransom.
This documentary, available on Max, offers a nuanced exploration of both the crime and the subsequent legal ramifications. It highlights the controversial appeal granted to the kidnappers based on a legal technicality while simultaneously shining a light on the courage of Michael Marshall, the young boy whose brave actions significantly contributed to the children’s escape, despite receiving little recognition at the time.
The Chowchilla Kidnapping: What Happened?
Three Men Hijacked A School Bus With Ransom Demands
The drama unravels on July 15, 1976, when bus driver Ed Ray was navigating his route back from Dairyland Elementary School. According to reports, a van obstructed the bus, allowing three masked gunmen to seize control of the vehicle (as covered by The New York Times).
During the hijacking, the bus contained 26 children, aged six to 14, alongside the driver. The group was forcibly taken to a remote quarry called California Rock & Gravel, located 110 miles away from their previous location. Here, they were made to enter an underground bunker fashioned from a truck trailer buried beneath the ground, which was equipped minimally with ventilation and a pit toilet (source: CBS News).
As the kidnappers devised a ransom plan, leaving with the children’s names, one child would ultimately take it upon himself to orchestrate an escape.
Planned ransom demands were elucidated by one of the kidnappers, James Schoenfeld, who stated: “We needed multiple victims to get multiple millions. We picked children because they are precious and the state would pay for them. And they don’t fight back” (source: CBS News).
How Michael Marshall Helped His Classmates Escape
Marshall Dug His Way Out To Free Everyone
To orchestrate their escape, 14-year-old Michael Marshall managed to wedge his body through a crack when Ed Ray, the bus driver, pushed against the hatch. Michael then began a desperate endeavor to dig their way out. After enduring 16 arduous hours of captivity, he and the other children successfully escaped to a guard’s shack at the quarry (source: City of Chowchilla).
The Chowchilla documentary features interviews with surviving children, all crediting Michael for their escape, even though the bus driver was the only one who received accolades at that time. The film includes dramatizations of the kidnapping events.
Reflecting on his pivotal role, Marshall recalled the shared sense of impending doom among the children (source: PEOPLE):
“I thought to myself: If we’re going to die, we’re going to die getting the hell out of here… It was my chance to tell the world what happened — getting out and everything. And I didn’t do it; I let the grown-ups do it.”
Marshall noted that when journalists arrived to cover the story, his Principal, LeRoy Tatum, intervened to protect the children from the spotlight, ultimately allowing the bus driver to claim all the glory for their rescue.
How The Chowchilla Kidnappers Were Finally Caught
The Police Learned Their Identities & The Manhunt Began
After police excavated the trailer used in the kidnapping, they discovered it belonged to Frederick Nickerson Woods. Investigating further, authorities found that Woods’ son, Fred Newhall Woods IV, aged 24, was among the missing persons. Consequently, a bulletin was circulated for Woods and his two accomplices, James and Richard Schoenfeld, both sons of affluent parents. A ransom note draft was also uncovered at Woods’ residence (source: City of Chowchilla).
Richard Schoenfeld surrendered to police shortly after, along with his attorney and father, triggering a series of subsequent arrests. Eventually, the remaining kidnappers were apprehended—Fred Woods in Canada and James Schoenfeld in California. All three faced 27 counts of kidnapping for ransom and ultimately were sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole, in December 1977.
What The Chowchilla Movie Leaves Out From The Real Story
The Documentary Actually Adds More To The Story
Rather than omitting aspects of the true story, the Chowchilla documentary supplements existing narratives with new details. This is particularly evident in its portrayal of Michael Marshall, recognized as the real hero but historically overshadowed by the bus driver Ed Ray. The community honored Ray with parades and named a local park in his honor.
However, the documentary successfully rectifies this oversight, positioning Marshall as a key figure in the rescue. His emotional reunion with fellow survivor Larry Park provided profound insights, as Marshall reflected, “I didn’t realize how much it would help me to understand and to actually hear one of the kids tell me that I saved their lives and that they were grateful” during the film.
Where The Chowchilla Kidnappers Are Now
All Three Men Have Been Paroled From Prison
The convicts—Fred Woods, James Schoenfeld, and Richard Schoenfeld—faced a complex legal situation. Initially convicted of three counts of kidnapping with bodily harm, they received life sentences without parole. However, their attorneys appealed the ruling successfully, arguing the absence of physical harm, leading to a resentencing of life with the possibility of parole.
Richard Schoenfeld was paroled 36 years following the incident, and within three years, his brother James followed suit. In contrast, Fred Woods experienced a more challenging prison term marred by infractions, including attempts to operate businesses from within prison walls. Tragically, survivor Jodi Heffington passed away in 2021, unaware that Woods would ultimately be granted parole in 2022 at 70 years old.
What Happened To The Chowchilla Victims
Some Forgave The Kidnappers & Others Could Never Get Past The Trauma
Michael Marshall emerged as the hero who liberated his classmates, yet his personal narrative remained untold until the release of the Chowchilla documentary. This platform allowed survivors to share their experiences and acknowledge Marshall’s crucial role in their rescue. However, the aftermath of the kidnapping fractured Marshall’s life, leading to difficulties he struggled with from a young age (source: PEOPLE):
“Before the kidnapping, I could see so much light ahead of me — see my future. But then after the kidnapping, I couldn’t see anything… [I was] blackout drunk every single night {when he was 19 or 20}. I just didn’t want to remember any more about the kidnapping.”
Though many believed the children had the chance for a joyful future following their harrowing experience, those assumptions were misleading. Survivors like Joan Brown shared stories of their children grappling with severe nightmares long after the incident. One survivor, Jennifer Brown, lamented, “She had horrible nightmares… she would run screaming into our bedroom, and she wasn’t even awake… And she would tell us later that she dreamt that they were lined up and shot.”
The news of the kidnappers’ appeal reignited trauma for many victims. Jodi Heffington, who attended each parole board hearing until her passing, experienced devastating repercussions, leading her family to witness her struggles with depression. She confided before her death, “I think it made me not a good daughter, not a good sister, not a good aunt, and especially not a good mother… I try to be those things, but it seems like it just took something from me that I can’t ever get back.” (source: The Cinemaholic)
Another victim, Larry Park, initially faced significant emotional struggles. Now in recovery, he has turned his life around and offers support to others. He reflected on his experience: “It changed my life… And I knew that day that I would be OK.”Jennifer Brown Hyde, also a survivor, emphasized her journey to healing, crediting her community: “I’ve had family and church family… that little girl that was kidnapped and buried alive has managed to live a wonderful life.”
Each child from that day carries unique scars and stories, though Michael Marshall’s own journey remains complicated. He continues to navigate his own pain and resentment towards the individuals who shattered their childhoods. Now a father, he stated, “What they put my mom and dad through is something I cannot forgive.”