On July 15, 1976, a school bus carrying 26 children and their beloved driver, Ed Ray, left Chowchilla, California, after a hot day at summer school and never made it home.

Blocked by a mysterious white van, the bus was hijacked by armed, masked men and driven into a hidden slough, where the victims were transferred into dark, soundproofed vans. Over the next 16 hours, they would endure an ordeal that left lasting scars: being buried alive.

In this episode, we speak to Fox News Senior Correspondent Claudia Cowan, host of Nightmare in Chowchilla, to unpack the chilling ransom plot and its surprising perpetrators.

You can listen to the podcast Nightmare in Chowchilla: The School Bus Kidnapping here. 

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CREDITS 

Guest: Claudia Cowan

Host: Claire Murphy

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy

Audio Engineer: Tina Matalov

GET IN TOUCH

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. 

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

On July 15, 1976, a school bus carrying 26 children and their beloved driver, Ed Ray, left Chowchilla, California, after a hot day at summer school and never made it home.
Blocked by a mysterious white van, the bus was hijacked by armed, masked men and driven into a hidden slough, where the victims were transferred into dark, soundproofed vans. Over the next 16 hours, they would endure an ordeal that left lasting scars: being buried alive.
In this episode, we speak to Fox News Senior Correspondent Claudia Cowan, host of&nbsp;Nightmare in Chowchilla, to unpack the chilling ransom plot and its surprising perpetrators.
You can listen to the podcast Nightmare in Chowchilla: The School Bus Kidnapping <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/nightmare-in-chowchilla-the-school-bus-kidnapping/id1610615480">here</a>.&nbsp;
SURVEY
Want to win a $1,000 gift card in just 3 minutes? <a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8496276/True-Crime-Study-2025">Fill out this short survey</a> to help True Crime Conversations gather more information on what content you want to hear from us!
CREDITS&nbsp;
Guest: Claudia Cowan
Host: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-murphy-52121979/?originalSubdomain=au">Claire Murphy</a>
Senior Producer:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahli-blackman-205a891b7/?originalSubdomain=au">Tahli Blackman</a>
Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy
Audio Engineer: Tina Matalov
GET IN TOUCH
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeconversations/?hl=en">@truecrimeconversations</a>
Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple &amp; Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes.&nbsp;
Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:truecrime@mamamia.com.au">truecrime@mamamia.com.au</a>&nbsp;or <a href="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960">send us a voice note.</a>
If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on <a href="tel:1300 22 4636">1300 22 4636</a>.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

True Crime Conversations explores the world’s most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them. 

Follow us on TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au

True Crime Conversations explores the world&rsquo;s most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them.&nbsp;
Follow us on TikTok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrimeconversations?lang=en">@truecrimeconversations</a>
Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:truecrime@mamamia.com.au">truecrime@mamamia.com.au</a>

True Crime Conversations

Inside The Kidnapping Where 26 Kids Were Buried Alive

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/3ea926be-9be7-482a-8ac3-a44f016e43d1/clips/bf3cd445-c4df-45d3-ac5c-b39a002ff611/transcript

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