New York Kidnapping: Suspect Who Abducted 9-Year-Old Charlotte Sena Charged

Craig Nelson Ross, Jr., the New York kidnapping suspect, has been charged following the disappearance of 9-year-old Charlotte Sena.

Her family sent a statement expressing their relief and gratitude that she was found unharmed. Sena was discovered hiding in a cabinet in the suspect's camper, per CBS News.

"We are thrilled that she is home, and we understand that the outcome is not what every family gets," the family's statement read.

They also thanked the FBI, the New York State Police, and all other agencies that mobilized, as well as "the families, friends, community, neighbors, and hundreds of volunteers who supported us and worked tirelessly to bring Charlotte home."

New video footage shows New York State Police and other law enforcement officers combing the Milton neighborhood where the girl was found on Monday night.

Fingerprint on Ransom Note Leads Police to New York Kidnapping Suspect

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced in a late-night press conference that their prayers had been answered.

The massive two-day search involved 400 certified search and rescue personnel, including the FBI, and it ended when a break in the case was provided unintentionally by the suspect.

The key piece of evidence was a fingerprint found on a ransom note, leading investigators to the suspect's location, PEOPLE said.

"State police worked diligently to find a fingerprint match. The hit came at 2:30 in the afternoon," Hochul explained. "There had been a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) in 1999 in the city of Saratoga. A fingerprint matched what was found on the ransom note."

Authorities were able to trace the fingerprint to a residence occupied by the suspect's mother. The suspect was apprehended in a camper parked behind the building at 6:32 PM ET.

Hochul continued, "After some resistance, the suspect was taken into custody, and immediately the little girl was found in a cabinet, covered, and she was rescued. She knew that she was being rescued. She knew that she was in safe hands."

Charlotte Sena Kidnapping

The New York kidnapping incident began on Saturday when Charlotte and her family were at campsite 18 in Moreau Lake State Park.

She had been riding her bicycle around a small loop road when she asked for permission to ride alone one last time. It was during this ride that she disappeared, said Times Union.

Her family and friends searched frantically for her before calling 911 around 6:45 PM that evening.

The investigation initially focused on the theory that her abduction might have resulted from someone deliberately targeting the girl or her family.

An AMBER Alert was issued, informing everyone about Charlotte Sena's kidnapping, which indicates imminent danger of serious harm and/or death.

Moreau Lake State Park was indefinitely closed during the investigation, and the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily restricted airspace over the park to aid in the search.

This recent New York kidnapping incident has received national attention, with media outlets covering the case extensively and bringing the Saratoga County community together.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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