Prosecutors say the driver blocked bus cameras and parked on a Grafton cul-de-sac during two December trips.
GRAFTON, Mass. — A 54-year-old school bus driver from Worcester, identified by authorities as Redi Gace, was arrested Jan. 14 and charged with two counts of kidnapping and related offenses after police said he deviated from his route with children aboard, made unauthorized stops and interfered with the bus’s recording systems.
Investigators and school officials say the case centers on two trips in December involving different students riding to or from Grafton Public Schools. In each instance, the driver allegedly left the assigned route and stopped for several minutes on a residential street, prompting a parent complaint and a review of GPS data and onboard video. Police arrested Gace following that review. He was arraigned in Westborough District Court and held on $50,000 bail. The district and the private bus company that employed him say they are cooperating with investigators, calling student safety their priority as the probe continues.
According to court documents summarized by authorities, a Dec. 22 trip drew scrutiny when a 5-year-old boy, who is nonverbal, arrived home about 30 minutes late. Audio captured the child crying for roughly 11 minutes before the bus powered down and the video feed went dark. GPS logs showed the vehicle had stopped on Abby Road, a cul-de-sac in Grafton with few houses. Video resumed later as the bus traveled away. Investigators later connected an earlier December trip in which a 3-year-old girl was also aboard when the bus stopped in the same area for several minutes. Police said the bus’s camera view had been blocked at points and the system was turned off when the engine was cut.
Prosecutors charged Gace with two counts of kidnapping, reckless endangerment of a child, misleading a police investigation and tampering with evidence. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. Authorities said no physical injuries were reported and did not describe any interaction inside the bus beyond the audio of a child crying. Investigators have not publicly detailed a motive. Officials said GPS data and video records from the bus, along with company route sheets and driver assignments, form the backbone of the case. Police noted that a parent complaint to AA Transportation, the bus contractor, triggered the review that led to the charges.
Grafton Public Schools Superintendent Jay Cummings said the driver “deviated from his route” and made “unauthorized stops,” calling the behavior unacceptable and emphasizing cooperation with police. AA Transportation said it examined GPS and video after the parent complaint and immediately notified authorities. The company said the driver is no longer transporting students. Records show police arrested Gace in Worcester on Jan. 14 following interviews and retrieval of digital records. The district attorney’s office said the investigation remains active and additional findings could be filed in court as the case proceeds.
At a brief hearing, a judge set $50,000 cash bail and imposed conditions including house arrest with GPS monitoring if bail is posted. The court ordered Gace to have no contact with the children or their families. Prosecutors said discovery will include GPS logs, bus video files and company records. A follow-up court date was not immediately available on the public docket Wednesday, but prosecutors said they expect to present further evidence as police complete interviews with families and school personnel.
On Abby Road Wednesday afternoon, tire ruts cut into sandy edges near empty lots and partially built homes. Neighbors said school buses sometimes roll past but do not typically linger. “It’s a quiet street,” said Patrick Nolan, who lives nearby. “Seeing a bus stopped that long would get your attention.” Outside Millbury Street Elementary, parents traded updates near dismissal. “We want answers but also facts,” said Alina Romero, whose first-grader rides a different route. “My kid keeps asking why the bus was late for someone else.” None of the families named in court records spoke to reporters directly.
As of late Wednesday, Gace remained in custody at the county jail. Police said the case status could change if he posts bail and accepts GPS monitoring. Officials said they will release additional records when the court schedules the next hearing and more filings are processed by the clerk.
Author note: Last updated January 21, 2026.