After an intense search that lasted nearly 48 hours, law enforcement located 9-year-old Charlotte Sena, who had gone missing while riding her bicycle during a camping trip with friends and family in upstate New York.
The efforts of the police, including the discovery of a ransom note and a fingerprint, led to the joyful reunion of the girl with her family and the apprehension of a suspect. Governor Kathy Hochul (D) informed the press late on Monday night. The suspect, 46-year-old Craig Nelson Ross Jr., has been charged with kidnapping, and additional charges may follow.
“These types of stories often don’t have such a positive outcome,” stated Governor Hochul.
Here is what we know so far from officials regarding the investigation and the lingering questions.
The Disappearance
Last seen on Saturday, Charlotte was riding her bicycle in Moreau Lake State Park, approximately 45 miles north of Albany, during a camping trip with her family. After completing the park’s Loop A with her friends around 6:15 p.m., she decided to take one final loop on her own. When she did not return to the campsite for dinner about 15 minutes later, her family grew concerned and started searching for her.
At around 6:45 p.m., her bicycle was discovered on a trail, prompting her worried mother to contact the authorities a few minutes later.
The park was immediately closed down as law enforcement scoured the area for the missing girl. By 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, the extensive search involving over 100 officers, underwater teams, and drones had proved fruitless. It appeared increasingly likely that the girl had been taken from the campground by an unknown individual. An Amber Alert was issued, indicating that her life was in imminent danger.
Finding Charlotte
As the Amber Alert drew national attention to Charlotte’s disappearance, New York State Police were stationed at her family’s residence in Greenfield.
A breakthrough in the case occurred at 4:20 a.m. on Monday when an individual pulled up to the house and left a ransom note in their mailbox, according to Governor Hochul. Law enforcement intercepted the letter and immediately began searching for any information that could identify a suspect.
By 2:30 p.m., they had a name. The fingerprints on the letter matched those in a police database belonging to Ross, who had previously been booked in 1999 on a charge of driving under the influence in Saratoga, as revealed by Hochul.
Officers went to a potential address for Ross where they were met by his mother. They discovered that he was residing in a camper behind the house, and SWAT officers executed a “dynamic entry” around 6:30 p.m. to apprehend him as he resisted arrest, described Hochul.
Inside the camper, officers found Charlotte bound in a cabinet, announced Hochul.
“She knew she was being rescued. She knew she was in safe hands,” said the governor.
Reunited With Family
Charlotte was transported to a local hospital, and her parents were immediately notified that their daughter had been found unharmed, according to Governor Hochul. The police reported that she appeared to be in good health.
“We are thrilled that she is home, although we recognize that the outcome is not what every family experiences,” expressed Charlotte’s aunt, Jené Sena, in a statement given to NBC News on Tuesday.
“A huge thank you to the FBI, the New York State Police, all the various agencies that mobilized, as well as the families, friends, and hundreds of volunteers for their assistance in bringing her back safely,” she added.
The Ongoing Investigation
According to Governor Hochul, it has not yet been determined whether Charlotte was specifically targeted. Currently, there is no information available regarding any connection between the girl and Ross, although it is worth noting that his car was registered to a residence approximately 2 miles away from the Sena family home.
According to arraignment documents obtained by HuffPost, Ross is formally accused of kidnapping with the “intent to compel the payment of a ransom.” He is currently being held without bail in a county jail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 6th.
The exact charges he may face are still unclear; however, state police have stated that “additional charges are anticipated.” HuffPost has reached out to a public defender for comment but has not yet received a response.
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