Newton school bus driver accused of kidnapping disabled children, taking photos with them
NEWTON - A school bus driver in Newton, Massachusetts is accused of kidnapping children with disabilities. Prosecutors say what he did with them is disturbing.
Newton school bus driver charged
Justin Vose, 42 of Bedford, is now charged with three counts of kidnapping. The Middlesex District Attorney's Office said Vose took children with disabilities to isolated areas, instead of dropping them off at the Newton Early Education Childhood Program.
Prosecutors said Vose took three semi-nonverbal children to secluded areas, then turned off the audio and video recording in the bus for up to 20 minutes and took photos with them. The kids were between 3 and 5 years old.
Vose worked as a bus driver through an outside contractor, J.S.C. Transportation in Waltham, according to investigators.
The school became suspicious back in late May, after a student on Vose's bus showed up late to day care. Instead of dropping off the child, investigators said GPS showed Vose drove to a secluded part of the parking lot near the woods.
"That is super concerning, that's scary!" a parent who did not want to be identified told WBZ-TV Wednesday night.
"God only knows what happened in those either few seconds, minutes. These parents have no idea or how are they going to find out what happened to their kids?"
Newton schools statement
Newton Public Schools told WBZ all of their drivers get background checks and Vose passed all required checks and had no history of prior incidents.
They said in a statement that ensuring "the safety and well-being of our students" was the district's top priority.
"Our focus remains on providing caring support to our students and families. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all members of our school community and want to emphasize that situations like this are not a regular occurrence. Our tracking routines allowed us to successfully hold this individual accountable."
WBZ also reached out to J.S.C. Transportation for comment, but there has been no response.
Vose will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on October 25.
