SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Last Chowchilla school bus kidnapper denied parole

A state panel denied Frederick Woods parole for the 14th time due to disciplinary infractions that demonstrate continued criminal thinking, authorities say. He will be able to seek parole again in three years.

November 20, 2015
2 min to read


SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — On Thursday, the last of three convicted kidnappers who was involved in the notorious Chowchilla school bus kidnapping nearly 40 years ago was denied parole again, the Associated Press reports.

A state Board of Parole Hearings panel denied parole to Frederick Woods for the 14th time, according to The Daily Journal. Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Jill Klinge told the newspaper that the board rejected Woods’ request because of his continued criminal thinking, which she said was demonstrated by his disciplinary infractions at the California Men’s Colony prison in San Luis Obispo. (Woods received three infractions for possession of pornography in 2002 and 2003, and two infractions for possessing contraband phones in 2013 and 2014, Klinge told The Daily Journal.)

Madera County District Attorney David Linn told the Associated Press that several victims of the kidnapping spoke against granting Woods parole at the hearing, though several other victims testified that, after 39 years in prison, he should be released. Parole for Woods was backed by prominent supporters such as state Rep. Anna Eshoo of Palo Alto, the news source reports.

Woods, along with brothers Richard Schoenfeld, hijacked a school bus in Chowchilla and imprisoned the 26 children and bus driver aboard in a buried moving van on July 15, 1976. The three planned to demand a $5 million ransom from the state board of education. However, after 16 hours, the bus driver, Ed Ray, and some of the students were able to break through a covered opening in the van's ceiling and get everyone to safety.

Woods will be able to seek parole again in three years.

More Management

Tod Eskra stands on an award stage to accept recognition
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 12, 2026

ASTP's Tod Eskra Named an Entrepreneur of the Year

The award from Ernst & Young honors visionary leadership behind one of America's fastest-growing student transportation contracting companies.

Read More →
A black and white image of a school bus technician checking diagnostics as part of a graphic with text reading "How Do Today's School Bus Manufacturers Measure Up?"
Managementby StaffJune 10, 2026

Drivers and Technicians: Help Benchmark Today's School Bus Manufacturers

If you've spent time behind the wheel or under the hood, we want to hear your perspective on the buses you know best.

Read More →
Thumbnail graphic for a School Bus Fleet video compilation. A yellow electric school bus serves as the background, with speech bubbles containing words such as “Dynamic,” “Green,” “Critical,” “Complex,” “Family,” and “Underfunded.” A red banner reads, “12 Suppliers. 1 Question. Many Answers.” The video explores how industry suppliers describe the current state of the school bus market.
Managementby Amanda HuggettJune 5, 2026

13 Industry Leaders Describe School Transportation in One Word

What word best describes the school bus industry today? We posed that question to over a dozen manufacturers, resulting in a revealing mix of perspectives on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Leadership update graphic announcing executive appointments at Tyler Technologies. Headshots of Ryan O’Connor, named chief transactions officer, and Franklin Williams, named chief AI officer, appear alongside the Tyler Technologies logo and School Bus Fleet branding.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 5, 2026

Tyler Technologies Adds New AI, Transactions Leadership Roles

Two company executives are promoted to newly created C-suite positions to accelerate the company's long-term growth in both artificial intelligence and payments.

Read More →
An orange and white graphic with Pro-Vision and Convoy Technologies logos, and text reading "Pro-Vision Acquires Convoy Technologies."
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 4, 2026

Pro-Vision Acquires Convoy Technologies

The deal aims to broaden customer relationships and adds specialized vehicle video capabilities for commercial fleets.

Read More →
A Durham School Services bus with two people posing in front of it.

Durham School Services Maintenance Teams Earn Missouri Fleet Excellence Awards

Eight of the contractor’s school bus fleets achieved a distinction few maintenance teams earn during the state’s rigorous annual inspection program.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Joe Annotti of TRC Companies speaks at ACT Expo. A text overlay reads, “School Buses as Money Makers?” highlighting discussion about electrification, vehicle-to-grid technology, and new revenue opportunities for school bus fleets.
Managementby Amanda HuggettJune 3, 2026

How Incentives, AI, and Energy Markets Are Reshaping School Transportation

Sit down with Joe Annotti of TRC Companies to talk district grant funding, utility challenges, AI, and why school buses are evolving from transportation assets into energy assets.

Read More →
A lineup of Beacon Mobility school buses with text reading "Behind the Contracting Shift."
Managementby Elora HaynesJune 3, 2026

Inside the Contracting Shift: What School Transportation Operators Are Seeing Now

School transportation contractors weigh in on recent trends, costs, driver shortages, and the rise of multimodal student transportation.

Read More →
Jeff Weiss of ExoAir Systems stands beside a roof-mounted electric air conditioning unit at ACT Expo. Text overlay reads “ExoAir: Cool Bus. No Idling.”
Managementby Amanda HuggettJune 2, 2026

The No-Idling School Bus AC System

Take a peek at ExoAir Systems’ battery-powered cooling solution designed to run for up to 10 hours without the engine on, reducing fuel use and improving comfort for drivers and students.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Charlotte Argue of Geotab speaks at ACT Expo, gesturing toward a display of telematics and camera technology. Text overlay reads “Geotab: Data Drives Safety.”
Managementby Amanda HuggettJune 2, 2026

Geotab on Three Major Trends in School Transportation

School bus fleets are becoming more proactive than ever. From AI driver alerts to vehicle-to-grid opportunities, Geotab outlines the biggest technology trends transforming school bus operations.

Read More →