The Gripping Tale of How New York Police Uncovered a Missing 9-Year-Old girl and Captured the Elusive Suspect

A ransom note discovered in the mailbox of missing 9-year-old Charlotte Sena's home in the early hours of Monday proved to be a pivotal breakthrough in the case. State officials have announced that this crucial development led New York authorities to apprehend a suspect, resulting in the safe reunion of the girl with her family after an intense two-day search. Governor Kathy Hochul revealed that fingerprints left on the note played a crucial role in identifying the suspect as Craig Nelson Ross, Jr., aged 47. Law enforcement swiftly located and arrested him on Monday evening, subsequently uncovering Charlotte concealed within a cabinet.

More than 100 people are searching for nine-year-old Charlotte Sena, who went missing while camping Saturday evening in Upstate New York.

Sena Family

Parents of 9-year-old who went missing on New York camping trip received ransom note before daughter was found, governor says

The girl, who showed no physical signs of harm, was transported to a hospital for examination, according to the governor. Ross has been accused of first-degree kidnapping, as confirmed by a source at the Saratoga County jail.

According to a report from the Albany Times Union, he was arraigned on Tuesday morning and is currently being held without bail. Hochul expressed on Monday night to CNN, "The people of New York are collectively experiencing a sense of relief."

Charlotte disappeared on Saturday while her family was camping at Moreau Lake State Park in New York. This triggered an extensive search involving numerous personnel from various agencies, including the FBI, according to state police.

Hochul detailed the thorough actions performed by investigators after the ransom note was found on Monday. Additionally, she mentioned that cell phone data and other evidence played a crucial role in assisting the investigation. Here is the information we have gathered.

The path to discovering Charlotte

Law enforcement officers are seen at the site of the search for Charlotte Sena.

Spectrum News Albany

Around 4:20 a.m. on Monday, just under 36 hours after Charlotte was reported missing, the suspect drove past the Sena family residence and deposited the ransom note in their mailbox, as stated by Hochul. Despite the early time, Charlotte's parents were still at the campsite, tirelessly searching for their daughter.

Upon discovering the note, the state police managed to extract fingerprints from the document and initiated the process of cross-checking them against law enforcement databases in hopes of finding a potential match, according to the governor.

At 2:30 p.m., a fingerprint match connected Ross to the crime, according to the governor. Ross's fingerprint had previously been added to the database after a 1999 incident involving drunk driving.

Following this discovery, investigators deduced that Ross might have been residing in a property situated behind his mother's house. Subsequently, two SWAT teams from both state and federal agencies arrived at the residence by helicopter and apprehended Ross, granting entry at approximately 6:30 p.m., as declared by Hochul. In addition, Charlotte was promptly discovered inside a cabinet.

"She was aware that she was being rescued," stated the governor. "She had the confidence that she was in capable hands."

Furthermore, cell phone pings in the vicinity of the park during the period when Charlotte went missing were examined by investigators, confirmed Hochul during an interview with CNN on Monday evening. Additionally, park records provided valuable details regarding individuals who either paid to enter or registered for overnight camping, she added.

Charlotte was successfully reunited with her family after a series of thorough investigations, according to Hochul. "She was safely rescued and shortly thereafter, embraced by her parents at a hospital," stated the governor.

Every parents worst nightmare

Charlottes parents were confronted with "every parents worst nightmare" when their daughter took off on her bike Saturday and didnt return, Hochul said.

The girl was last spotted at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Saturday in Moreau Lake State Park, a highly frequented recreational area located around 45 miles north of Albany. She had been cycling with friends on one of the park's loops and expressed her desire to do another round alone, as mentioned by the governor.

Around 6:45 p.m., Charlotte's mother reported her disappearance after her daughter's bike was discovered abandoned in the loop and the 9-year-old girl was nowhere to be seen, as stated by Lt. Colonel Richard Mazzone of the New York State Police.

As the search for Charlotte extended to multiple counties, authorities started to worry that she had been kidnapped, according to Hochul. "With each passing hour, hope dwindled, for we are all aware of such tales," remarked Hochul.

State police stated in a news release that Charlotte is a lively and daring young girl with a deep love for the outdoors. In addition, they mentioned that Charlotte possesses a compassionate nature and aspires to establish a club at her school for children who lack companions. The state police further assured the public that their relentless efforts are focused on locating her.

On Monday morning, the search covered a total of 46 miles in length, involving approximately 400 search and rescue personnel from a combination of state, federal, and local law enforcement agencies. Additionally, various private groups and numerous volunteer fire departments participated in the operation. State police expressed their gratitude towards everyone involved in locating the girl, highlighting the impressive sight of everyone diligently performing their duties.

"There were numerous parents among the group, and everyone shares the sentiment that if it were their own child, they would want the entire community to be actively involved in the search. And that is exactly what this team accomplished," she stated.

Reporters Jennifer Henderson, Jared Formanek, Dave Alsup, and Raja Razek from CNN also contributed to this article.