The School Bus That Vanished: America’s Most Shocking Kidnapping | True Story of the Chowchilla Kidnapping

It’s July 1976, all month long America has been partying hard for her 200th birthday. But on July 15th in the little town of Chowchilla, California all these celebrations come to a screeching halt when a school bus transporting 26 children vanishes.. poof.. just gone without a trace! People are speculating all kinds of wild things, was it the bus driver, did aliens somehow beem up the bus with the kids still inside.. I mean HOW in the world does a bus full of children just vanish into thin air? If you have never heard of this case, buckle up.. because this has got to be one of the most chilling and unbelievable crimes in American history 

TIMESTAMPS: 

0:00 - Intro

00:47 - Chatty Cathy

1:26 - Chowchilla

4:27 - Parents start to worry

5:52 - Bus is Hijacked

14:36 - Police Call for Backup 

16:44 - The Van Stops

18:22 - Police Search Continues

21:07 - The Hole

26:39 - Police & The Media

28:16 - Escape Attempt 

38:01 -  The Rescue 

40:56 - Immediate Aftermath

49:11 - Man Hunt 

52:57 - Police Interrogations & The Plan

57:06 - The Plan For Ransom

58:25 - After Effects

1:00:00 - Childhood Trauma Study

1:02:41 - The Trial 

1:06:19 - Parole

1:08:50 - Legacy

SOURCES:

HBO MAX Documentary - Chowchilla

https://www.cityofchowchilla.org/300/1976-Bus-Kidnapping 

https://www.cityofchowchilla.org/301/Edward-Ray---A-Local-Hero 

https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/chowchilla-bus-kidnapping-frederick-woods-rare-photos-from-one-of-the-largest-kidnappings-in-u-s-history/2/ 

https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/chowchilla-bus-kidnapping-frederick-woods-rare-photos-from-one-of-the-largest-kidnappings-in-u-s-history/33/ 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-kidnapped-bus-full-children-buried-alive-approved-parole-rcna22056

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