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Sneak peek: The Chowchilla Kidnapping

July 09, 2020 / 03:48

This episode covers the 1976 Chowchilla bus kidnapping, featuring the harrowing experience of the children involved, the actions of the kidnappers, and the community's response.

The narrative begins with a description of Chowchilla as a close-knit town before the traumatic events of July 15, 1976. The bus driver, Ed Ray, is introduced as a beloved figure in the community.

Listeners hear firsthand accounts from survivors detailing the moment masked men boarded the bus and the ensuing chaos. The fear and confusion among the children are palpable as they realize the gravity of their situation.

The episode highlights the community's anguish and the nationwide search for the missing children, emphasizing the emotional toll on families and the broader impact on society.

Overall, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the innocence lost that day and the resilience of those who survived.

TLDR

The episode recounts the 1976 Chowchilla bus kidnapping and its impact on the community and survivors.

Episode

3:48

00:00:06

[Music] [Music] at six years old I had never been in darkness like that before it was just pitch black like the dark

00:00:26

was touching me engulfing me like I was actually inhaling the darkness [Music] ciao Chula in 1976 was a Cowtown

00:00:48

you could drive through the heart of town in about 30 seconds very close-knit community everybody looked out for each

00:01:01

other people didn't lock their doors there was nothing to fear I didn't know what fear was I still have a hard time

00:01:14

grasping the way that my life changed on July 15th just another average summer day very hot

00:01:24

going to summer school and that day we got to go to the town swimming pool got back on the bus ready to go home our bus

00:01:34

driver was Ed ray we all called him Edward he was just you know a really nice man the buses had the windows down

00:01:47

the hot summer breeze the kids were laughing and singing we dropped a few kids off at their normal stops and then

00:01:55

I can remember the bus stopping at a stop sign Edward went to go around a white van that was parked in the road we

00:02:05

just assumed that that van was broke down until Edward opened the bus door and masked men jumped on with guns

00:02:14

[Music] the first man came on the bus and he had a gun ed Rea said what's going on and he said

00:02:24

shut up and moved to the back I remember telling him that if he didn't get me home on time my dad would be on him like

00:02:31

stink on skunk you know I wasn't afraid of anything I didn't know I needed to be

00:02:37

and then another man came on the bus and he had a sawed-off double-barreled shotgun the shotgun filled me with

00:02:49

terror [Music] the masked man had pantyhose pulled over their face it was a very distorted look

00:02:58

I remember scrunching back down in my seat and thinking I really don't want to see this where their eyes were it almost

00:03:06

looked Hollow it was like looking at death one of the kidnappers got into the driver's seat

00:03:16

and the bus started moving again I started to think I wonder where they're taking it 26 schoolchildren and

00:03:28

their bus driver have vanished anguish parents President Ford hundreds of searching police are asking the question

00:03:35

where are the children

Badges

This episode stands out for the following:

90
Most intense
85
Most heartbreaking
80
Most shocking
80
Most chaotic

Episode Highlights

A Close-Knit Community
In 1976, Ciao Chula was a safe, tight-knit town where doors were never locked.
“There was nothing to fear; I didn't know what fear was.”
@ 01m 03s
July 09, 2020
The Day Everything Changed
On July 15th, a normal summer day turned into a nightmare when masked men hijacked a school bus.
“I didn't know I needed to be afraid.”
@ 02m 37s
July 09, 2020

Episode Quotes

I remember telling him that if he didn't get me home on time...
Sneak peek: The Chowchilla Kidnapping
It was like looking at death.
Sneak peek: The Chowchilla Kidnapping

Key Moments

Childhood Innocence00:17
Sudden Terror02:14
Vanished Children03:28

Words per Minute Over Time

Vibes Breakdown