CNN reports that a 46-year-old man named Craig Nelson Ross Jr. has been accused of kidnapping 9-year-old Charlotte Sena in upstate New York. According to an arraignment memorandum released on Tuesday, Ross wrote a ransom note with the intent to receive money. The document states that Ross abducted the girl and wrote the ransom letter to compel the payment of money as a ransom for her. He has been charged with kidnapping in the first degree, and police have stated that further charges are expected. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 6. Ross has been remanded to Saratoga County Correctional Facility without bail, as New York State Police announced in a news release. CNN has reached out to Ross’s defense attorney for comment.
The details from the court document were released a day after Charlotte Sena was reunited with her family, following a frantic two-day search for her. The girl’s family released a statement on Tuesday, expressing their gratitude to law enforcement for safely resolving her disappearance. They acknowledged that not every family gets the same outcome and thanked the FBI, New York State Police, and all the agencies, families, friends, community members, neighbors, and volunteers who supported them tirelessly to bring Charlotte home.
State police have not yet interviewed Charlotte about her kidnapping and time in captivity. Sources briefed on the investigation have stated that after a medical check, Charlotte was returned to her family so they could spend time together. Specially trained forensic interviewers will conduct the interview with Charlotte, as they are skilled in interviewing young victims and witnesses.
The authorities were able to locate Charlotte thanks to the ransom note that was dropped in the mailbox of her family’s home before dawn on Monday. Fingerprints found on the note played a vital role in identifying Ross as a suspect. Authorities tracked him to a residence where he was arrested, and Charlotte was found hidden in a cabinet. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the arrest and stated that the girl appeared physically unharmed.
Ross invoked his right to an attorney and has not been formally interviewed. Charlotte went missing on Saturday during a family camping trip at Moreau Lake State Park in New York. The search involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, and hundreds of personnel. The suspect dropped off the ransom note near the Sena family home early Monday morning while her parents were still searching for her at the campsite. Fingerprints recovered from the note matched Ross’s prints, which were already in the database due to a previous incident in 1999.
The property where Charlotte was found is registered to Ross’s mother and is located almost 17 miles away from Moreau Lake State Park. Records show that the suspect also owns a property that is only 1,400 feet from the Sena family home. Charlotte’s parents reported her missing when her abandoned bike was found in the park loop. The search for her expanded across several counties, and there were concerns that she had been abducted. The search involved an extensive number of search and rescue personnel, including state, federal, and local law enforcement, as well as volunteers.
A significant number of law enforcement resources was brought in to assist in the investigation. The New York State Police Special Operations Response Team, FBI resources specialized in child abduction cases, behavioral analysis unit, crisis response team, and cellular analysis survey team all played critical roles in tracking down Charlotte and resolving the case.
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