The 9-year-old girl who vanished from an upstate New York park was found hiding in the cabinet of a camper on Monday after the man accused of kidnapping her left a ransom note bearing his fingerprints at her parents’ home, officials said.
Charlotte Sena is “in good health” after she went missing during a bike ride while camping with her family at Moreau Lake State Park on Saturday, NY State Police said.
The suspect, identified as 47-year-old Craig Ross Jr., allegedly left a note at Charlotte’s family’s home — possibly demanding some type of ransom in connection to her alleged abduction.
Gov. Kathy Hochul told CNN host Anderson Cooper on Monday night that investigators were able to track down the suspect through fingerprints left on the ransom note.
“There was a ransom note and that was instrumental in leading us directly to the suspect,” Hochul said. “His fingerprint was already in the database.”
Volunteers search woodland near Moreau Lake State Park on Monday, October 2, 2023. Angus MordantState police confirmed that during the investigation, they identified an “individual” who was in the park around the time Charlotte went missing.
When investigators searched multiple homes tied to that person, they located Charlotte around 6:30 p.m. Monday and took a suspect into custody, authorities said.
Sources told the Albany Times Union that Charlotte is believed to have been found in a trailer next to a house in Milton, where one of the suspect’s relatives lives.
Nine-year-old Charlotte Sena was reported missing in upstate New York on September 30. New York State Police
Charlotte and her family were camping at the upstate park when she disappeared NY Post illustration
Police search vehicles near Moreau Lake State Park on Monday. Angus Mordant
Police are also searching around the area of the park including Saratoga Springs. Angus Mordant
Charlotte was found safe Monday and a suspect in her disappearance was taken into custody Jene SenaState police had conducted an extensive 18-hour search of the park along with FBI agents and 34 volunteer fire departments using police dogs, drones, boats and underwater teams but found no sign of the young girl, who was last seen around 6:15 p.m. Saturday.
Authorities activated an Amber Alert “for a child abduction” with Charlotte’s photo and information on Sunday morning.
The alert noted that “the child was taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious harm and/or death.”
By Monday afternoon, State Police Lt. Col. Richard Mazzone said investigators did not believe Charlotte, who is from Greenfield, was still in the park.
Volunteers scoured the area for the girl, who was eventually found in the suspect’s camper. Angus Mordant
The search party consisted of over 100 people, including state troopers, special ops, forest rangers, park police and volunteers. Angus MordantGov. Kathy Hochul, who held an earlier press conference about the search for the missing girl, applauded the “tireless” efforts of police on Monday evening.
“We are overjoyed at the news that Charlotte Sena has been located safely this evening after an intense days-long search,” Hochul said in a statement. “Our hearts are with her family as they welcome her home.”
