MTSU staffer prominent part of CNN documentary on bizarre 1976 California kids' kidnapping

Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

An MTSU staffer will be a big part of a CNN documentary debuting Sunday about a bizarre 1976 California kidnapping where 26 children were buried alive — because she's one of the survivors.

Jennifer Brown Hyde — an executive assistant at Middle Tennessee State University for more than 10 years — is featured prominently in the trailer for CNN's "Chowchilla," so named for the California town where gunmen abducted her and her brother and two dozen of their classmates on their school bus 47 years ago.

"When I was 9 years old, I boarded my school bus after a long day of summer school. Who was to know that would be the longest bus ride?" Hyde said in a 2021 USA TODAY online Storytellers program on "Growing Up."

Hyde said a white van blocked the bus' path about 30 minutes later.

Jennifer Hyde Brown in a screengrab from a 2021 online USA Today Storytellers event on "Growing Up." Brown shared her story of being a survivor of a 1976 California school bus kidnapping when she was 9 years old
Jennifer Hyde Brown in a screengrab from a 2021 online USA Today Storytellers event on "Growing Up." Brown shared her story of being a survivor of a 1976 California school bus kidnapping when she was 9 years old

"Within seconds before anyone knew what was happening, two masked gunmen jumped on our bus," she said. "The fear had not really set in at that moment until I looked at my brother who was sitting midway in the bus, and he looked back at me and I could see the fear in his eyes."

That was the start of a three-day terror that had the kids and their schoolbus driver buried alive — and the kids led a daring escape.

Check out the video above for her entire story.

Hyde told The Tennessean that CNN did a thorough, detailed job recreating the event. And she said she found the whole experience to be a positive one.

"(It) was a very healing and therapeutic process," Hyde said. "Every time I share my story, I heal a small piece of myself, and I'm very grateful to (CNN) director Paul Solet for that opportunity. My entire family is very much looking forward to the documentary airing."

"Chowchilla" debuts at 8 p.m. Central on Sunday (Dec. 3) on CNN. It will be available on demand beginning Monday to pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN apps and cable platforms.

Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8384.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CNN Chowchilla: Middle Tennessee staffer talks CA bus kidnapping