Crime Junkie
SURVIVED: The Chowchilla Kidnapping
May 20, 2024
In 1976, 26 children were kidnapped in Chowchilla, California, leading to a bizarre case. Survivors recount being buried alive, while suspects had no clear motive. Legal proceedings and sentencing follow, with discussion on support for victims and ongoing trauma.
38:11
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Quick takeaways
- The Chowchilla Kidnapping survivors demonstrated remarkable resilience post-trauma.
- Despite financial compensation, survivors faced lasting challenges from the traumatic experience.
Deep dives
The Chauchilla Kidnappings: A Bizarre Crime Plan
Three young men from wealthy families in California plan a kidnapping as a way to obtain ransom money, aiming to secure their financial freedom and respect. The kidnappers target a school bus full of children in Chauchilla to ransom the state's surplus funds. The meticulously planned crime involved burying the victims in an underground trailer once they were transferred from the bus to two vans, leading to the traumatizing ordeal for 26 children and their driver Ed. Despite no physical harm, the mental trauma inflicted on the victims was undeniable.
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