The suspect who police say admitted to killing a 13-year-old Ashtabula girl recently taught classes at a local library, where staffers were unaware of his sex offender status.
John Bove, 46, was arrested and charged with kidnapping in the disappearance of Kara Zdanczewski on Thursday.
Zdanczewski was last seen with Bove on May 9. A body believed to be the teen's was discovered in the same field as Bove’s abandoned car.
Director & Deputy Fiscal Officer Penny Neubauer confirmed that Bove taught two classes at the Ashtabula County District Library in recent months.
He taught bodybuilding during an event advertised for families in February. He also taught an airbrush class advertised for adults.
“We are horrified, in hindsight,” Neubauer said in phone call with News 5 Tuesday. “We often invite people from the community to share their talents with their friends.”
Neubauer said that staff did not know that Bove was a registered sex offender and there is currently no policy that requires outside teachers to undergo a background check.
“We are now examining that policy,” she said.
Neubauer stressed that there was always a staff member present in his classes.
Several library patrons reached out to News 5, concerned that background checks were not already standard procedure.
“How could they not have known?” said resident Kathryn Loveland, “It blows my mind.”
The library also confirmed that Debbie Bove, John Bove’s wife, was a part-time employee at the library.
Debbie Love was arrested and charged with obstructing justice the same day that her husband was arrested. Neubauer said Bove has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
“She did not have any interaction with children,” she said.
Bove is currently being held in Mercer County Jail in Pennsylvania where he was taken into custody. His charges there include attempting to elude an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia and receiving stolen property.
Bove appeared in Mercer county District Court Friday and his bond was set at $500,000.
His next court date is set for May 24 at 10 a.m.
Ashtabula police said Bove will be extradited to Ohio to face charges in Ashtabula County.
