New York State Police said Monday night that they have captured a suspect in connection with the weekend disappearance of a 9-year-old kid from Moreau Lake State Park.
Fingerprints recovered on a ransom note left at the girl’s residence helped identify the offender, according to Governor Kathy Hochul.
The suspect “literally drove up to the family’s mailbox, assuming they were not home, at 4:20 in the morning, opens the mailbox, and inserts the ransom note,” Hochul said late at night at a news conference. “The bomb went off about 2:30 in the afternoon. A drunk driving incident happened in Saratoga in 1999. The fingerprint found on the message matched the one found at the site.
According to state police, Craig Nelson Ross Jr., 47, was in the park area on the day the girl went missing.
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After searching numerous residences where Ross Jr. was known to frequent, police discovered the girl “in good health” on Monday about 6:30 p.m.
Charlotte Sena was discovered following a 48-hour search. We owe a tremendous debt of appreciation to the @nyspolice, the @NYStateParks police, and all of our other partners who assisted us in locating Charlotte and returning her to her family as promptly and securely as possible.
Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) on October 2, 2023
“In most cases, ransom kidnappings do not involve the kidnapping of a child by a stranger.” According to forensics expert John Miller, this is quite unusual.
Everyone may rest easy tonight now that the young girl has returned to her family. Slow progress toward recovery. According to Callahan Walsh of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the suffering she endured was unbearable.
The youngster went for a bike ride with four friends on Saturday, when her family was camping 45 miles north of Albany, and hasn’t been seen since. She went on one more solo excursion before disappearing without a trace.
Her loved ones spotted her abandoned bicycle while searching for her. Police looked for her constantly after her mother reported her missing.
Authorities issued an Amber alert on Sunday morning in response to mounting fears that she had been kidnapped.
The FBI entered the inquiry on Monday. Crews used drones and bloodhounds to scour the 6,000-acre park.
Hochul predicted that additional questioning of Ross Jr. would result in charges being brought. According to police, they are “continuing to investigate” the event.
