Julie Hambleton

Julie Hambleton

May 27, 2024

Man who kidnapped bus full of children and buried them alive approved for parole

In 1976, Frederick Newhall Woods and his two brothers kidnapped a school bus full of kids and their driver and buried them alive. Thankfully, the victims all survived the incident. Recently, however, after more than four decades behind bars, the California State Men’s Colony found him suitable for a parole hearing.

Man Who Kidnapped A School Bus Full Of Kids May Be Set Free

Frederick Newhall Woods is now 70 years old. He has been behind bars since he was 24. The reason why is absolutely horrifying. (1)

In 1976, he and his two brothers Richard and James Schoenfeld kidnapped a school bus full of children and their driver. The kids were between the ages of five and 14. The brothers buried their victims in a ventilated underground bunker about 125 miles southeast of San Francisco. 

The three kidnappers had been planning their crime for a year before they executed it. Despite all coming from wealthy families in the San Francisco Bay Area, their motive was money. They kidnapped their victims, then demanded the school board pay $5 million for their release. After more than a day in the bunker, the children and driver were able to dig themselves out of the underground bunker. Though heavily traumatized, all survived. (2)

Frederick Woods in 2018
Frederick Woods in 2018. Image Credit: AP File

Pending Release

Woods’ brothers have both already been released. An appeals court ordered the release of Richard in 2012. Former Governor Jerry Brown released James on parole in 2015. Woods, however, remained locked up. Until now, the courts have denied him a parole hearing 17 times since he was put away. Finally, however, they granted him a parole hearing. The hearing took place on Friday, March 25.

In the hearing, Woods apologized for his actions. He said that he now has empathy for the victims that he didn’t have before.

“I’ve had a character change since then,” he said in the hearing. “I was 24 years old. Now I fully understand the terror and trauma I caused. I fully take responsibility for this heinous act.”

Read: A 74-year-old Joyce Watkins spent 27 years in prison for a murder she didn’t commit. This week she was exonerated

What Do The Victims Think?

Some of the victims are onboard with the idea of granting Woods parole. They feel that his has served a sufficient amount of time for what he did more than forty years ago. 

“I believe you have served enough time for the crime you committed,” said victim Larry Park at the hearing.

Not all of the survivors share the same sentiment, however. Many of them are appalled that he is even being considered for parole. They believe that he should be locked away forever for what he did. 

Victim Brown Hyde told the panel board that he could have done much more. They reminded the panel just how lucky they all were that each and every one of the victims made it out alive and okay. They also told the panel that the settlement that the victims received was nowhere near enough, meanwhile, Woods is still a “millionaire”.

“Even the settlement paid to some of us survivors was not sufficient. It was enough to pay for some therapy, but not enough to buy a house,” Hyde said.

Other victims talked about the life-long trauma that they sustained from the kidnapping. They said still, over four decades later, they still struggle. For many of them, this incident changed the trajectory of their lives in a negative way.

“This is an individual who’s demonstrated how dangerous he is. He’s ruined the lives of dozens of these kids — they still struggle, a lot of them, with the aftereffects of this,” said Madero County District Attorney Sally Moreno. “He’s not someone who should be released. He’s demonstrated the capacity to do this kind of a crime … to mastermind and carry out something like this.”

Inside Edition special from July 2015 featuring the victims of the kidnapping

What Will Be The Final Decision

The final decision of the panel will be made final within 120 days. From there, the governor will review that decision. If the governor decides to let the panel’s decision stand, then they will schedule Woods for release. We will have to wait and see what the final outcome will be.

Keep Reading: Petition to Free Teens Accused of Beating Stepdad to Death for Molesting Little Sister Hits Over 470k Signatures

Sources

  1. California man who kidnapped bus full of children and buried them alive is approved for parole.” NBC News. Minyvonne Burke and The Associated Press. March 29, 2022.
  2. California man who kidnapped bus full of children and buried them alive is approved for parole.” Today. Minyvonne Burke and Associated Press. March 30, 2022.