26 California children and their bus driver vanish into thin air – their miraculous appearance 16 hours later costs three people $5M

A kidnapping that happened all the way back in 1976 created not only villains but heroes as well. These days, when you Google the city of Chowchilla, California, the first suggestion that appears is “Chowchilla kidnapping.” Let’s revisit what makes this abduction so memorable — and the reason it ultimately led to a parade for Ed Ray.

Today, if someone goes missing, a single phone call can help authorities quickly narrow down the suspects. But in 1976, things were far more complicated. When kidnappings occurred, they were often followed by a hefty $5 million ransom demand. On the morning of July 15, 1976, the last thing parents in Chowchilla expected was a letter threatening the lives of their children if they didn’t pay up.

That afternoon, three gunmen parked a white van by a road frequented by a summer school bus, pretending to have engine trouble. Unaware of the danger, driver Ed Ray stopped to offer help — even though he had a bus full of 26 children. It was a small gesture that would soon define his courage.

According to the LA Times, Ed Ray was a farmer by profession, but on that fateful day, when three gunmen took control of the bus filled with children aged five to fourteen, he knew he had to be something more. Kidnappers are rarely selective, but this particular case was shocking in its cruelty. One of the abducted children, Monica Ardery, was so young she thought one of the gunmen wearing pantyhose over his face was the Easter Bunny.

The kidnappers — James and Richard Schoenfeld and Fred N. Woods — came from some of the wealthiest families in the region. Their surnames were well-known among locals, tied to prominent business owners. In fact, Woods’ family owned a 100-acre quarry called Portola Valley Estate, which may have inspired the kidnappers’ plan. They decided to take the bus to another quarry roughly 100 miles from Chowchilla as they prepared to negotiate with the children’s parents.

From that point, the story becomes something close to legend, something worthy of its own kidnapping film — a tale every resident of Chowchilla grows up hearing. The trip reportedly took about eleven hours from the moment of abduction to when the children were finally taken to the Livermore quarry. Throughout the ordeal, the children sang to keep their spirits up, changing the lyrics of If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands to If You’re Sad and You Know It…

When they arrived at the Livermore quarry at 3:30 a.m., the kidnappers forced them into a bus buried underground, outfitted with a poor ventilation system. Then, the gunmen abandoned them — essentially leaving them buried alive. Panic broke out, but Ed Ray rallied the children, leading them in an effort to dig their way out. After sixteen grueling hours, they finally emerged to safety.

All three kidnappers were eventually arrested and sentenced to life in prison. Ed Ray and the children later received a parade in their honor in downtown Chowchilla. To this day, the story lives on as a kind of folklore — a testament to courage, community, and survival in a small Californian city.