Kidnapped 7-Year-Old Survives Being Strangled, Thrown Off Bridge Into Lake Quinsigamond: PD

WORCESTER, MA — A 7-year-old girl is alive after being taken from a family cookout in Worcester, strangled and tossed off a bridge into Lake Quinsigamond early Sunday morning, said police.

A Worcester man was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing. He is accused of kidnapping the girl, choking her around the neck in his car, then throwing her into Lake Quinsigamond, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

Joshua J. Hubert, 35, of Bernice Street, was arrested at the Worcester Police station and initially charged with kidnapping the girl early Sunday morning.

The girl survived the fall, swimming to a shore in Shrewsbury to seek help at a nearby home.

The girl was at that family party at her grandparents’ house on Forestdale Road in Worcester, said police. Around 2:30 a.m., she was taken from that home by a "family friend" without permission, police said in a release. Hubert was reportedly a guest at the party, but took the girl without the parents' permission.

Around 3 a.m. Sunday, the girl was discovered in Shrewsbury. She talked to Shrewsbury police, sparking a collaboration with Worcester officers and detectives as well as the Massachusetts State Police.

“Fortunately, a greater tragedy was averted,” Early said in a statement. “The young victim had the strength to make it to shore and get help. I want to thank the resident who answered the door and helped the girl. I also want to acknowledge the Worcester and Shrewsbury police and the State Police Detectives assigned to my office. They did a terrific job working together in investigating this case.”

Judge Janet J. McGuiggan scheduled the dangerousness hearing for Thursday. Assistant district attorneys Cheryl Riddle and Lina Pashou are prosecuting the case.

The case is still under investigation.

Photo credit: MassDOT