Worcester police seeking video in case of girl strangled, thrown off bridge
The man accused of kidnapping a 7-year-old girl, choking her, and throwing her off a bridge into Lake Quinsigamond on Sunday has been barred from the school where he works while the case is pending. The girl was able to swim to shore and survived.
Joshua Hubert, 35, of Worcester was hired by the private Fay School in Southborough in early July as a systems support analyst in the school’s technology department, the school confirmed Tuesday.
Fay has suspended Hubert “indefinitely’’ Head of School Robert Gustavson Jr. wrote Tuesday in a letter to parents.
Gustavson said Hubert had “verified and positive personnel references’’ and underwent the same criminal background check administered to all prospective employees.
“Mr. Hubert was still in his probationary period of employment, and over the past seven weeks he did not have any unsupervised interactions with students in our summer programs,’’ Gustavson wrote. “As always, Fay will assist authorities who are investigating. The safety of our students continues to be paramount.’’
Police are continuing to investigate the bizarre weekend incident.
Detectives are asking owners of businesses in the area of Lincoln Street in Worcester and businesses in Shrewsbury that have outdoor security cameras to review their video footage, as they are seeking any video or images of a light-colored Saturn Ion that might have entered their parking lots between 2 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. Aug. 27.
The 7-year-old girl was found around 4 a.m. Aug. 27 in Shrewsbury. She told police that she had attended a party at her grandparents’ house in Worcester until 2:30 a.m., when she was taken from the residence by a family friend without the permission of her parents.
“She was put in a car, strangled, and thrown off a bridge into Lake Quinsigamond,’’ Worcester police said Monday in a statement. “She survived the drop and swam to shore, where she was eventually discovered with visible, but not life-threatening injuries.’’
Hubert was arrested Sunday and charged with kidnapping. He pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Thursday in Worcester District Court.
Hubert’s lawyer, Richard M. Welsh Jr., said Tuesday that he had not yet had a chance to discuss the details of the case with his client. He said Hubert denies the charges and will “absolutely’’ seek bail with conditions during Thursday’s hearing.
“There certainly seem to be some oddities to this that I need to sort out, to see what’s going on,’’ Welsh said, adding that he was traveling Tuesday afternoon to the Worcester County House of Correction to meet with Hubert.
Meanwhile, Worcester police are asking anyone who has information about the incident or has video footage to contact Detective Lieutenant John Towns at 508-799-8651.
Those who wish to remain anonymous can send a text to 274637 or send an anonymous message at worcesterma.gov/police. Anonymous calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at 508-799-8651.
