Chowchilla
Released in 2023 , theChowchillamovie is a documentary about the kidnapping of 26 children in Chowchilla , California . This was one of several tragical result in California in the seventies , but unlike others , this one had a " happy " conclusion . However , it left several children with harm and PTSD coming out of their near - death experience . The event see three homo commandeer a shoal bus with the 26 children and one driver and then take them in two vans to an desolate quarry , where they were operate in an hugger-mugger chamber , awaiting ransom money demand for their safe restoration .
The Max documentarytakes an interesting way when re - telling these horrific events . It look at the effects of trauma on these children who had their puerility taken forth from them in one horrifying second . It face at the crime and punishment involved , include the controversy fence in how the three men won their appeal establish on a technicality . However , at the same time , Chowchillaalso looks at the bravery of Michael Marshall , the untried boy who helped save his classmatesbut never received the credit he deserved .
The Chowchilla Kidnapping: What Happened?
Three Men Hijacked A School Bus With Ransom Demands
TheChowchillamovie tells the tale of a snatch in Chowchilla , California , on July 15 , 1976 . On this daylight , bus number one wood Ed Ray , 55 , was driving a bus of students from Dairyland Elementary School home . This was during the summer when the kidskin had a fun daytime at the Chowchilla Fairgrounds swimming kitty , but something horrifying happened . A van reportedly pulled in front of the bus and block up the route . Then , three masked men come up with gun and hijacked the bus(viaThe New York Times ) .
According to authorities , 19 girls and seven boys , aged six to 14 , were on the bus . They were then driven to the California Rock & Gravel quarry in Livermore , 110 miles from the fairground where they had been swimming . Everyone was forced to climb down into an underground bunker , which the kidnappers created out of a motortruck lagger they immerse and equipped with external respiration and a pit toilet ( viaCBS News ) . The kidnapper then get rid of the ladder , brood the hatch with a piece of sheet metallic element , librate it down with 200 pounds of batteries , and left them there .
As the authorization were urgently look for the lose children , one child saved them all .
The three kidnappers planned to ask for ransom and result with the names of all the children . One of the kidnappers , James Schoenfeld , allege , " We need multiple victims to get multiple millions , and we pluck children because children are precious . The state would be unforced to pay ransom money for them . And they do n’t fight back . " ( viaCBS News ) . However , as the authorities were desperately searching for the missing tyke , one child saved them all .
How Michael Marshall Helped His Classmates Escape
Marshall Dug His Way Out To Free Everyone
To take to the woods , Michael Marshall , 14 , wedged his body through a wisecrack when his motorbus number one wood campaign at the hatch . Michael then began moil for his life . Finally , 16 hours after their abduction , Michael and the rest period of the kids mount out of the sand trap and walked to the quarry guard ’s shack ( viaCity of Chowchilla ) .
TheChoochillamovie has audience with several of the children about the incident , and everyone says that Michael saved them , even though only the jalopy number one wood was praise at the time . The Max documentary movie also has fictional reenactments of the kidnapping .
When asked about the moment when he saved his friends and schoolfellow , Marshall say they all thought they were exit to die ( viaPEOPLE ):
Custom image by Ana Nieves
" I thought to myself : If we ’re move to die , we ’re going to die getting the Inferno out of here … “ It was my luck to severalise the world what find — getting out and everything . And I did n’t do it ; I let the grown - ups do it . "
Marsahall take that when the reporters were there ask what had happened , his Principal ( LeRoy Tatum ) stepped in and evidence them to leave the kids alone , and the bus topology equipment driver received all the credit for the leakage .
How The Chowchilla Kidnappers Were Finally Caught
The Police Learned Their Identities & The Manhunt Began
When the constabulary dug out the truck drone and set about inquire , they realized the quarry was own by Frederick Nickerson Woods. After searching Woods ' 100 - acre estate , they discovered his Logos , Fred Newhall Woods IV , 24 , was missing . The constabulary put out an all - point bulletin for Woods and his two friend , James Schoenfeld , 24 , and his brother , Richard Schoenfeld , 22 , sons of a wealthy podiatrist . Police also found a draft of the $ 5 million ransom bank bill in Woods ' home ( viaCity of Chowchilla ) .
Less than a workweek afterwards , Richard Schoenfeld voluntarily surrendered to police , accompanied by his attorney and father . He was held on a $ 1 million bail bond . Six days afterwards , the RCMP trance Woods , who had flee to Vancouver in Canada . James Schoenfeld was also preparing to surrender when he was arrested in Menlo Park . The three young humans plead guilty to all 27 counts of kidnapping for ransom money , and the prosecution dropped 18 counts of looting . They were sentenced to life without possibility of parole in December 1977 .
What The Chowchilla Movie Leaves Out From The Real Story
The Documentary Actually Adds More To The Story
As a documentary , theChowchillamovie did n’t really impart anything out of the real account . As a matter of fact , it was the opposite . It contribute in affair that no one knew before . This is specifically true about Michael Marshall , the boy who saved everyone but got none of the credit for it . The Ithiel Town celebrated autobus machine driver Ed Ray for keep launch the kids . They hosted a parade on " Ed Ray Day " and even advert a city park after him . Marshall seek not to think about it , but he acquire depressed , and it cost him his genial health .
However , this picture did something extra . It picture Michael Marshall as the hero he should have always been remembered as . When Marshall reunited with fellow survivor Larry Park , he finally understood . “ I did n’t realize how much it would help me to understand and to actually hear one of the tyke tell me that I saved their life and that they were grateful , ” Marshall said in the documentary . “ Not very many people can refer . ”
Where The Chowchilla Kidnappers Are Now
All Three Men Have Been Paroled From Prison
There was one trouble concerning the conviction of Fred Woods , James Schoenfeld , and Richard Schoenfeld . A Superior Court judge found them shamefaced of three counts of kidnap with somatic impairment , which is why they got life sentences with no parole . Their attorney appealed the sentencing and won . While the three Man were guilty of snatch , the motor hotel rule that the " bodily harm " was false . Despite traumatic mental and psychological scars , there was no strong-arm impairment , so the " without parole " was negate .
Richard Schoenfeld was granted parole , 36 years after the kidnapping .
The three cease up re - sentenced to spirit in prison with the opening of word . One of the children , Jodi Heffington , become to every word of honor hearing , fear the bad . Those fears came true in June 2012 when Richard Schoenfeld was granted word , 36 old age after the kidnappings . Three yr by and by , his brother , James Schoenfeld , was also paroled . The two brothers were reportedly ideal captive and caused no problems in prison house . They were 57 and 63 when released .
Fred Woods , regard by many to be the ringleader of the snatch , was n’t so favorable . He reportedly kept violate prison house rules and caused a lot of difficulty while serving his conviction . He was allegedly found to be running three unlike businesses from behind bars , which is against the law . Jodi Heffington would not live on to see Woods released . She died in 2021 at 55 . Just 14 months after her decease , Woods was finally grant parole at the old age of 70 .
What Happened To The Chowchilla Victims
Some Forgave The Kidnappers & Others Could Never Get Past The Trauma
Michael Marshall wasthe hero who catch all the youngster out of the hole , but his story was never told until theChowchillamovie . This gave his classmates a chance to say what really occur and how Marshall was the one who save them . However , after the incident , Marshall construe his life hang aside at the young age of 14 ( viaPEOPLE ):
" Before the snatch , I could see so much ignitor ahead of me — see my future . But then after the kidnapping , I could n’t see anything … [ I was ] blackout drunk every undivided night { when he was 19 or 20 ] . “ I just did n’t want to remember any more about the snatch . I was drinking and using and all of that to the head where … I was be in insanity . "
Everyone thought the tyke got a well-chosen ending , and a Los Angeles organization even treated them to a Disneyland misstep . However , the kids did n’t provide their traumatic experience well . Marshall was n’t the only person whose life became a nightmare . According to Joan Brown , her daughter Jennifer ( maturate 9 ) had nightmares . " She had horrible nightmares . … she would run screaming into our bedroom , and she was n’t even awake … And she would tell us later that she dreamt that they were lined up and shot . "
When the victim and their families learned about the charm , it brought the nightmares back to the genuine humanity . Jodi Heffington , who was 10 when they were snatch , attended every single parole hearing until she died in 2021 . Her boy Matthew said that the two word of honor negatively affect his female parent , and she was n’t capable to get out of seam anymore due to depression way out . Before her death , she admitted that the full trial by ordeal made her think she was the trouble and that she was never beneficial enough ( viaThe Cinemaholic ):
“ I think it made me not a good girl , not a good sister , not a honest auntie , and specially not a good mother … I seek to be those thing . But it seems like it just took something from me that I ca n’t ever get back . And I ca n’t shoot down … no matter how severely I try and no matter what I do . ”
Larry Park was only six when he was abducted . Despite his young age , it still attain him firmly , and he struggle to have a normal life . He allege he spent his 20s and thirty abusing drugs . However , he finally " cure . " He owns a handyman business and works as a volunteer pastor at a local church . He say his nightmares stopped , and he is a ten solemn . Park also bring out he met the kidnappers and forgave them ( viaCBS News ):
" It changed my life . … Something washed over me . … And there was peace like I had never known . And I eff that day that I would be all right . "
Jennifer Brown Hyde was nine when she was kidnapped . She is also someone else who was able to find peace years after the event . " I ’ve had family and church building family … and co - workers that have piece by objet d’art helped put me back together . … And I need people to know that that short girl that was kidnapped and buried alive has managed to live a wondrous living . "
Each small fry from the incident uncover in theChowchillamovie had their own taradiddle and struggles . However , the one who save them all , Michael Marshall , struggled and enounce he could never forgive those men . He is now sober , a father and a long - distance truck driver . " What they put my mum and dad through is something I can not forgive , " he say .
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