Prospect Heights teacher accused of molesting student found dead

A Prospect Heights teacher accused of sexually molesting a former student was found dead early Monday morning at his Buffalo Grove home, police said.

Ronald Vos, 53, hanged himself in the garage of his home in the 500 block of Longwood Drive in Buffalo Grove, police said.

A teacher at MacArthur Middle School, Vos was charged late last week with criminal sexual assault. Authorities said evidence indicated he had improper contact with a student during the time the boy was 13 to 15 years old.

Vos' wife discovered his body and called police at 5:45 a.m. She moved out of the couple's home after Vos' arrest, yet she kept in touch with him, Buffalo Grove Police Cmdr. Steve Husak said.

Vos was alone in the house at the time. His two children are away at college, Husak said.

Prospect Heights Elementary District 23 Superintendent Gregory Guarrine said the district is reeling.

"We are all in shock," Guarrine said. "It's a very sad day for District 23 and MacArthur Middle School. Staff are very upset, as they would rightfully be."

Guarrine said he had known Vos for 20 of the 28 years Vos served with the district.

Vos had been a track coach, an adviser for various school clubs, and later taught computer education.

He was suspended with pay from District 23 and barred from school grounds immediately after allegations first arose in early September. District officials sent out a letter over the weekend to parents notifying them of charges against Vos and offering assistance with counseling or taking reports of misconduct.

"We have our crisis intervention team up and running," Guarrine said. "Now this will be more of a grieving process that students and staff will be going through."

Social workers and psychologists, and counselors from OMNI Youth Services worked with MacArthur staff and students Monday to help cope with news of Vos' death.

School continues today as usual.

"We feel it is extremely important that students be in school because we have all of those supports and services available," Guarrine said. "We're just trying to get through each day as it comes. This is kind of a one-two punch."

Guarrine said he will send a letter home to parents today, and also post it on the district's Web site, d23.org.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct its own investigation into Vos' death, Husak said.

Vos was accused of four separate offenses in his school office and in his car in Wheeling between September 2005 and March 2007, according to a court report. He was accused of giving the victim cigarettes and alcohol and exchanging instant messages and e-mails with him, officials said. Vos was released after posting $10,000 on a $100,000 bond.

Prospect Heights Police Chief Bruce Morris said the investigation into Vos is closed unless more victims surface.

"We don't have any further victims right now," he said. "There's always a possibility there's someone out there. They can call the police station or go through the school."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=268638&src=85">Prospect Heights teacher charged with sexual assault on student <span class="date">[02/01/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>