Suspect in kidnapping of 9-year-old Charlotte Sena in upstate New York identified

A 47-year-old guy charged with kidnapping 9-year-old Charlotte Sena at an upstate New York park and allegedly maintaining her in the cupboard of a camper he lived in subsequent to his mom’s house has been identified via government.

Craig N. Ross Jr. is being held with out bail Tuesday morning on the Saratoga County Correctional Facility on a fee of first-degree kidnapping, in keeping with prison officers.

Charlotte used to be kidnapped from the Moreau Lake State Park in Saratoga County, New York, on Saturday night, in keeping with New York State Police. She disappeared round dinnertime on Saturday, whilst out driving her motorbike in the campground on my own, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned.

The woman’s circle of relatives and different campers went searching for her. Charlotte’s mom discovered her motorbike round 6:45 p.m. Saturday and referred to as 911, police mentioned. An Amber Alert used to be issued for the lacking kid Saturday evening and an intense seek involving as much as 400 native, state and federal regulation enforcement officials and firefighters used to be carried out on the sprawling park.

Hochul mentioned at a Monday evening news convention that the large smash in the three-day seek for the lacking woman got here early Monday morning, it seems that from the suspect himself. At 4:20 a.m. a automotive pulled as much as the Sena circle of relatives’s house and what became out to be a ransom be aware used to be left in the mailbox, Hochul mentioned.

“He literally drove up to the family’s mailbox, assuming they were not home, 4:20 in the morning, opens the mailbox and inserts the ransom note, leaving a critical piece of evidence behind – his own fingerprint,” Hochul mentioned.

State police were guarding the house whilst Charlotte’s folks, David and Trisha Sena, have been nonetheless on the campsite, Hochul mentioned.

The governor mentioned the ransom be aware drop off “happened very quickly” and state police soldiers have been not able to forestall the auto. They have been, on the other hand, in a position to make out the kind of automobile, she mentioned.

Using era and detective paintings, investigators discovered a fingerprint at the ransom be aware and related the be aware to a DWI arrest of Ross in 1999 in Saratoga, New York.

Hochal mentioned a automobile registered to Ross led investigators to a double-wide area in Ballston Spa, New York, the place the suspect’s mom lives. Investigators realized Ross used to be staying in a camper in the back of the place of abode.

State Police Col. Richard Allen mentioned individuals of the State Police Special Operations Response Team and an FBI Regional SWAT staff have been assembled close to the Ballston Spa house.

Allen mentioned about 20 SPOR and FBI SWAT staff individuals made what he described as a “dynamic entry” to the camper in the back of the home and took Ross into custody.

“[Ross] did give our SWAT people some resistance in there,” Allen mentioned. “He did suffer some very minor injuries.”

Charlotte used to be straight away found out in a cupboard, the governor mentioned. The fourth-grader used to be discovered in “good health,” in keeping with police.

“She knew that she was being rescued. She knew that she was in safe hands,” Hochul mentioned.

Hochul added, “She’ll be going home. That’s the story. Charlotte will be going home.”

Authorities notified her folks at 6:32 p.m. ET.

Hochul mentioned the house have been Ross used to be arrested is set 2 miles from the Sena place of abode, however it’s not identified at the moment whether or not he knew Charlotte or had her beneath surveillance for any period of time.

“We are thrilled that she is home and we understand that the outcome is not what every family gets. A huge thank you to the FBI, the New York State Police, all of the agencies that were mobilized all of the families, friends, volunteers,” the Sena circle of relatives mentioned in a observation.

Ross has been charged with kidnapping in the primary diploma, an A-1 prison.

Following his arrest, Ross used to be wondered on the New York State Police barracks in Latham, New York, after which arraigned on the Milton Town Court. Details of the suspect’s interrogation weren’t launched.

Ross used to be appointed a public defender. His subsequent court docket look is scheduled for Oct. 17.

Additional fees are expected, officers mentioned.

Hochul mentioned the investigation continues to be energetic and extra seek warrants have been being carried out.

“We want to make sure that [Ross] is not connected to any other cases. So, that’s why its still an ongoing investigation, but at this time there’s no evidence of that,” Hochul mentioned.

ABC News’ Darren Reynolds and Stephanie Ramos contributed to this tale.