MENU
SEARCHFrederick Woods, 70, got parole from the California state board despite concerns raised by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Frederick Woods and two brothers, James and Richard Schoenfeld, were convicted for a 1976 kidnapping in which they hijacked a school bus carrying children ages 5 to 14.
Photo: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The last man in prison for a 1976 kidnapping of a school bus full of California students and their driver has won parole.
Frederick Woods, 70, was one of three men convicted after hijacking the bus near Chowchilla. Woods and brothers Richard and James Schoenfeld put the driver, Frank Edward Ray, and 26 children, ages 5 to 14, in a moving van and buried the vehicle. The kidnappers demanded $5 million in ransom. More than a day later, the victims dug their way to freedom.
In March, two members of the state’s parole board recommended Woods’ release after he had been denied parole 17 times before. According to The Associated Press, Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the state board to reconsider the decision to parole Woods now.
The news report indicated that Newsom accused Woods of continued financial-related misconduct while in prison. It’s alleged that Woods used a contraband cellphone to give advice about running a tree farm, a gold mining operation, and a car dealership.
William Newsom, the governor’s late father, served on an appellate panel in 1980 that reduced the kidnappers’ life sentences to provide opportunities for parole. Richard Schoenfeld was released in 2012. Gov. Jerry Brown paroled James Schoenfeld in 2015.
Child Safety Network appointed psychology researcher Michael C. Hout, Ph.D., to lead a study examining why drivers illegally pass stopped school buses.
Read More →
Investigators reported a remote assistance error allowed a Waymo driverless vehicle to illegally pass a stopped school bus in Austin.
Read More →
See how a new 50-state roadmap outlines 69 strategies for districts, law enforcement, and policymakers to reduce the 39 million illegal school bus passings reported each year.
Read More →
Recently, an Iowa student died after falling under a school bus, while 14 Oklahoma students were injured days later when a semi-truck rear-ended their bus.
Read More →
Download this white paper for clear guidance on evaluating your organization’s needs and selecting a partner who delivers long-term value.
Read More →
When school bus communication systems fail, the consequences extend far beyond equipment repairs. Downtime can increase safety risks, strain dispatch operations, and erode driver confidence. Explore how proactive radio lifecycle management and managed services are reducing disruptions, supporting driver retention, and delivering predictable budgeting for school transportation fleets.
Read More →
EverDriven has launched a new safety council aimed at standardizing and strengthening student transportation practices across all states it operates in.
Read More →
The OEM's three-week campaign during National School Bus Safety Week has awarded nearly $6,000 to Bryan County Schools to support increasing student safety around the bus.
Read More →
Driverless cars may feel the future, but student transportation requires more than navigation. Here’s why it demands human judgment, empathy, and oversight.
Read More →
An 11-year-old in Brooklyn was killed crossing the street. Meanwhile, the school bus driver faces misdemeanor charges after he left the scene.
Read More →
