One Day Before Kidnapper's Parole Hearing Chowchilla Victims Spe - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

One Day Before Kidnapper's Parole Hearing Chowchilla Victims Speak Out

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- After 36 years the victims of the nation's biggest mass kidnapping for ransom speak out against the justice system.

Convicted kidnapper Fred Woods was supposed to serve 26 life sentences for the kidnapping of 26 school children and their bus driver in Chowchilla, California.

Now, Woods gets his first chance to be released from prison.

"I remember being the last one out of that van and it was terrifying to me. They said to go into the hole and I said 'no' and they said 'go in or you'll never see your mom and dad again,'" says kidnapping victim Jodi Medrano.

For 36 years that memory haunts her and fellow kidnapping victim Lynda Labandeira.

That day three men kidnapped her and 24 other students along with their bus driver Ed Ray.

Now one of the kidnappers, Fred Woods get his chance at parole.

"They still are a threat to me. I relive those moments and they are heightened. I feel more scared now. I feel scared all over again," says Labandeira.

In 1976, Woods and two others kidnapped a school bus full of children for a $5 million dollar ransom. They buried them alive in Livermore. But as the kidnappers slept. The bus driver and children were able to dig their way to safety.

"Giving consequences to crimes that are committed--there's  a reason...so they don't be repeated. There are some things in life that never need to be repeated again," says Labandeira. " And should never have a chance to be repeated."

The two will speak at Woods' parole hearing Wednesday.