Emotional moment it was announced missing girl, 9, found alive in camper van
This was the emotional moment it was announced missing nine-year-old Charlotte Sena had been found alive in her abductor's camper van.
Governor Kathy Hochul revealed two SWAT teams swooped in o n Craig Ross Jr.'s trailer in Milton, New York, and found the young girl who knew immediately she was being rescued. Charlotte was discovered two days after she disappeared from Moreau Lake State Park in Gansevoort.
The 47-year-old suspect was arrested and is currently under questioning. According to cops, Ross Jr. drove up to Sena's parents' home at 4.20am Monday and left a ransom note inside their mailbox, which was covered in his DNA and fingerprints. The parents weren't home at the time.
READ MORE:Abducted girl, 9, tracked down after suspect leaves ransom note demanding cash
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Charlotte had been found safeHours later at 2,30pm, investigators found a match in the database and were able to link the fingerprints to a DWI arrest made in Saratoga County in 1999. This led investigators to find Ross Jr.'s camper van, arrest him, and find missing Charlotte stuffed away in a cupboard.
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She was found around 13 miles south of her family home. New York State Police said just after 7pm: "Charlotte has been found safe and in good health". She was taken to Albany Medical Centre Hospital to be checked over following the traumatic ordeal.
The governor admitted the motive behind the kidnapping is unclear, as Ms Hochul confirmed the suspect is not a registered sex offender. New York State Police were confident of finding the missing girl after she was abducted from Morea Lake State Park while riding her bike at 6.15pm on Saturday.
She was last seen wearing a tie-dye Pokémon shirt, dark blue pants, black crocs, and a grey bike helmet and had been cycling with friends when she decided to go on one last loop by herself before the sun went down.
Charlotte was abducted from her family camping trip on Saturday evening (NY State Police)
The suspect's camper is next to his mother's house (Google Maps)The loop would have taken a few minutes but she started to concern her parents after she hadn't returned, and by 6.47pm, they discovered Charlotte's bike and called 911. Officials issued an Amber Alert on Sunday morning after an exhaustive search because “it was quite possible that an abduction had taken place,” state police Lt. Colonel Richard Mazzone said. The alert described her as a white girl with blonde hair and green eyes who is about 4 feet 6 inches tall,
The girl’s family pleaded with the public for help in finding Charlotte, including providing any tips to the state police. “We just want her returned safely like any parent would,” the family said in a statement earlier Monday. “No tip is too small, please call if you know anything at all.”
Police had set up several checkpoints on the winding, rural roads around the park. They stopped drivers and asked if they knew the family, had seen the girl’s photo, or had any other information that could help the search. They also had some drivers open their trunks.
Over 100 people searched for missing Charlotte (WRGB)The park remained closed because of the search, and officials asked members of the public who showed up hoping to help to stay away and leave the search to professionals. Federal authorities also issued a temporary flight restriction over the park for the safety of law enforcement air operations.
The Corinth Central School District said it had extra counsellors at Charlotte’s elementary school for any students or staff who need support. “Our hearts go out to the Sena family,” the district said in a statement.
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