Sneak peek: The Chowchilla Kidnapping | Forensic Files

[Music] [Music] at six years old I had never been in darkness like that before it was just pitch black like the dark
was touching me engulfing me like I was actually inhaling the darkness [Music] ciao Chula in 1976 was a Cowtown
you could drive through the heart of town in about 30 seconds very close-knit community everybody looked out for each
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
grasping the way that my life changed on July 15th just another average summer day very hot
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
driver was Ed ray we all called him Edward he was just you know a really nice man the buses had the windows down
the hot summer breeze the kids were laughing and singing we dropped a few kids off at their normal stops and then
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
just assumed that that van was broke down until Edward opened the bus door and masked men jumped on with guns
[Music] the first man came on the bus and he had a gun ed Rea said what's going on and he said
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
stink on skunk you know I wasn't afraid of anything I didn't know I needed to be
and then another man came on the bus and he had a sawed-off double-barreled shotgun the shotgun filled me with
terror [Music] the masked man had pantyhose pulled over their face it was a very distorted look
I remember scrunching back down in my seat and thinking I really don't want to see this where their eyes were it almost
looked Hollow it was like looking at death one of the kidnappers got into the driver's seat
and the bus started moving again I started to think I wonder where they're taking it 26 schoolchildren and
their bus driver have vanished anguish parents President Ford hundreds of searching police are asking the question
where are the children

"48 Hours: Live to Tell": Twenty-six school children abducted and buried alive in a truck trailer by three young men. An incredible survival story. CBS News' David Begnaud reports Saturday, July 11 at 10/9c on CBS.

Get the latest news and best in original reporting from CBS News delivered to your inbox. Subscribe to newsletters HERE: http://cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T

Get your news on the go! Download CBS News mobile apps HERE: http://cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8

Get new episodes of shows you love across devices the next day, stream local news live, and watch full seasons of CBS fan favorites anytime, anywhere with CBS All Access. Try it free! http://bit.ly/1OQA29B

--- "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. For 27 seasons, "48 Hours" has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives. Check local listings for "48 Hours" broadcast times.

Brief Summary

The episode recounts the 1976 Chowchilla bus kidnapping and the children's terrifying experience during the abduction.

Key points

A Day Like Any Other. A summer day turns into a nightmare when masked men hijack a school bus.
The Vanishing. 26 schoolchildren and their bus driver disappear, sparking a nationwide search.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I remember telling him that if he didn't get me home on time...

A child's innocent bravado in the face of danger.

2:29WatchJul 9, 2020

More from 48 Hours

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.