A Bedford man, identified as 42-year-old Jose Vose, has been indicted on three counts of kidnapping. The charges follow suspicious activity reported in late May concerning his conduct while employed as a bus driver for the Newton Early Education Childhood Program and contracted through JSC Transportation, servicing the Newton Public Schools. He is set to be arraigned on October 25, 2024, as announced by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office in a statement reported by WHDH.
According to details shared by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the bus company's examination of Vose's GPS data raised alarm. On one occasion noted by the authorities, instead of promptly dropping off a child, the driver took the school bus to a secluded area near the tree line of the parking lot. This incident, along with additional instances, was highlighted during the subsequent investigation. NBC Boston reported that on multiple occasions, Vose transported three children to secluded areas, intentionally disabling the audio and video recording devices on his bus for extended periods.
All of the children involved in these incidents are described as semi-nonverbal or having communication difficulties. A search of the defendants phone also laid bare additional concerning evidence; it was discovered that he had taken photos with the victims, as stated by the DA's office and cited by WHDH.
As families in the Newton community react to the news, the case against Vose moves forward, with his arraignment scheduled for later this month in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn. The defendant allegedly took actions that undermined the trust placed in those responsible for ensuring children's safe transportation to school, without the presence of any school official, parent, or bus company representative. The DA's statement highlights that the changes in route and the defendant's one-on-one time with the victims were unauthorized, stressing the seriousness of the charges against Vose.
