Massachusetts school bus driver accused of kidnapping young semi-nonverbal students

NEWTON – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has confirmed that 42-year-old Justin Vose of Bedford has been indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury for three counts of kidnapping.  The charges are based upon allegations of inappropriate conduct by the defendant while he was working as a bus driver for the Newton Early Education Childhood Program and Transportation for Newton Public Schools contracted through JSC Transportation.

On May 28, 2024, Newton Early Education Childhood Program and Transportation for Newton Public Schools notified Newton Police of suspicious activity by Vose, one of their contracted bus drivers, after one of the students was dropped off late at daycare. When the bus company checked the driver’s GPS location it allegedly revealed that Vose entered the parking lot but instead of dropping the child off, he drove to a secluded portion of the parking lot near the tree line. An investigation revealed that, on multiple occasions, Vose had transported three victims, between ages 3 and 5 years old, to secluded areas and turned off the audio and video recording in his bus for up to 20 minutes at a time. At no time did the school district, parent of the students, daycare or bus company official authorize Vose’s change in route or one-on-one time with the victims.   All the children are semi-nonverbal or struggle with communication.  A search of Vose’s phone also revealed that he had taken photos with the victims.

Vose will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on October 25, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.

This case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Newton Police. The prosecutor assigned to this case is Maren Schrader.