Charlotte Sena kidnap suspect Craig Ross Jr, 47, faces charges after she was found locked in a cupboard in his trailer, 17 miles from the campsite where she was snatched
The suspect accused of kidnapping nine-year-old girl Charlotte Sena from a campground in Upstate New York has been charged with first-degree kidnapping.
Craig Ross Jr., 47, was charged in the early hours of this morning in Wilton Town Court with first-degree kidnapping and is being held without bail.
He was arrested Monday evening at his mother’s home, where Charlotte was found in a closet in the trailer he had been living in in his mother’s backyard.
Police were led to him because he left his fingerprints on a ransom note delivered to Charlotte’s parents’ home earlier on Monday morning.
His DNA had already been registered after a DUI arrest in 1996.
Charlotte, who was snatched while biking in Moreau Lake State Park on Saturday evening, was unharmed. She has since been reunited with her family.
Charlotte Sena was found “alive and safe” on Monday – two days after she was snatched from Moreau Lake State Park in Gansevoort. She was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital after being found
Charlotte was found Monday evening in the white trailer in the backyard of Craig Ross Jr.’s home. in Milton, New York.
Around 4 a.m. on Monday, someone dropped a ransom note in the mailbox of Charlotte’s parents’ house (see image). It contained traces of Ross Jr.’s DNA
Two SWAT teams – one state and one federal – stormed the property via helicopter, with Ross reportedly putting up a fight.
No mugshot has been released and there is no indication that Ross knew his victim’s family.
Ross Jr. drove to Sena’s parents’ house at 4:20 a.m. Monday and left a ransom note in their mailbox, which was covered in his DNA and fingerprints.
At 2:30 PM Monday, investigators finally found a match in the database and linked the fingerprints to a DWI arrest in Saratoga County in 1999. From there, they swooped on Ross Jr.’s RV, arrested him and found the missing girl.
Police confirmed that Ross Jr. is not a registered sex offender, but did not reveal a motive. Previous reports suggested the suspect in custody was a 51-year-old local pedophile who was not named, although that was corrected when the real identity of the alleged kidnapper emerged.
Charlotte (far right) as a younger child with her mother Trisha, father David and sisters
Charlotte Sena was last seen cycling around Loop A in Moreau Lake State Park in upstate New York, near Saratoga Springs
Charlotte was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital after she was found. She is said to be in good physical health.
It is believed that investigators are focusing on the theory that Charlotte was pulled into a vehicle against her will or dragged into the woods.
Police said just after 7pm: ‘Charlotte has been found safe and in good health.’
New York State Police previously believed Charlotte had been kidnapped from Moreau Lake State Park. She was last seen on Saturday evening wearing a tie-dye Pokemon shirt, dark blue trousers, black Crocs and a gray bicycle helmet.
The girl was found about 13 miles south of her parents’ home.
The multi-agency search, which spanned 45 miles and included 400 searchers and dozens of federal, state and local agencies on the ground, ended today.
Charlotte was cycling alone on Loop A of Moreau Lake State Park in New York, near Saratoga Springs, when she disappeared on Saturday at 6:15 p.m.
She had been playing with friends all day, but decided to cycle alone one last time before the sun went down.
It should have only taken a few minutes to complete the small loop. At 6:30 p.m., her parents realized she had not returned and became concerned. By 6:47 p.m., they had found Charlotte’s bike on the loop and called 911.
A frantic search was launched for the child, who was issued an Amber Alert on Sunday morning after rangers searched the 6,250-hectare park and found no trace of her.
Charlotte’s relieved family held an impromptu press conference and thanked people for their help
Police found little Charlotte covered and hidden in a closet on Monday
There are 158 camping spots in the park. Loop A is located in the southwest corner of the park and is directly adjacent to US Highway 9, which runs all the way from Philadelphia to Canada.
New York Governor Hochul said Monday evening: “We are overjoyed to hear that Charlotte Sena has been safely located this evening after an intensive days-long search.
“Our hearts are with her family as they welcome her home.
“Thank you to the New York State Police, New York Park Police and everyone who worked so tirelessly to find Charlotte.
“It is thanks to their efforts that Charlotte can safely return to her family.”