Frederick Newhall Woods, one of many three males who hijacked a faculty bus and kidnapped 26 youngsters in Chowchilla, California in 1976, was really useful for parole on Friday. The advice got here throughout Woods' 18th try to earn parole for what has been known as the biggest kidnapping in U.S. historical past, after he had been rejected 17 occasions.
On July 15, 1976, Woods and two different gunmen stopped a faculty bus with 26 youngsters who have been heading dwelling from Dairyland Elementary College. The kids and their bus driver have been transferred to vans, and have been pushed in the dead of night for 12 hours earlier than they have been buried alive in an underground truck trailer.
The abductors wished $5 million in ransom — however once they tried to name to make their request, the telephone strains have been jammed and so they could not get by means of. The kids and the driving force managed to flee the trailer after about 16 hours, after bus driver Ed Ray and a number of the older youngsters dug their approach out.
Not one of the victims sustained life-threatening accidents — however many detailed the psychological hurt they endured in a 2019 "48 Hours" particular.
The three males have been arrested roughly two weeks after the kidnapping. They have been initially sentenced to life in jail with out parole, however an appeals court docket overturned the choice and gave them the potential for parole.
Friday's parole listening to was held solely on video on account of COVID-19 protections, CBS Information' George Osterkamp reported. The 70-year-old Woods and his legal professional, Dominique Banos, informed the court docket that he has not confronted any disciplinary motion since his final parole listening to in 2019. Beforehand, he had been disciplined for working an unauthorized gold mine and Christmas tree farm from jail.
On Friday, Woods learn an apology for what he had performed.
"I've had empathy for the victims which I did not have then," he stated, in keeping with Osterkamp. "I've had a personality change since then."
"I used to be 24 years previous," he added. "Now I absolutely perceive the fear and trauma I triggered. I absolutely take accountability for this heinous act."
Two survivors of the kidnapping spoke in favor of parole, whereas a number of others opposed it. The opposite two males concerned within the crime — James and Richard Schoenfeld — have been beforehand granted parole.
A panel of two commissioners really useful the parole. Now, the total parole board, the board's authorized division and California Governor Gavin Newsom might want to approve the choice.