The 9-year-old lady who authorities suspected was kidnapped Saturday in an upstate New York state park was discovered alive, state police mentioned Monday evening.
“Charlotte Sena has been positioned and in good well being,” state police mentioned in a press release. A suspect is in custody, state police mentioned.
Talking at a information convention, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned somebody dropped off a ransom be aware on the dwelling of the lady’s dad and mom, and a fingerprint discovered on it led to a close-by residence the place the suspect was discovered.
“He actually drove as much as the household’s mailbox … at 4:20 within the morning,” to drop off the be aware, the governor mentioned.
The suspect was apprehended Monday night with the assistance of two SWAT groups in a “dynamic entry” to his residing quarters, an RV trailer, at a web site the place his mom additionally resides, she mentioned.
The lady was finally discovered protected hiding in a cabinet within the trailer, Hochul mentioned. “She knew she was in protected fingers,” Hochul mentioned.
The suspect was recognized as Craig Nelson Ross Jr., 37. A state police official mentioned he suffered minor accidents when he allegedly resisted arrest.
On Monday evening, state police mentioned, investigators discovered of an individual who was “within the space” of Moreau Lake State Park in regards to the time Charlotte went lacking. A number of residences the place the individual was identified to remain had been searched, state police mentioned.
Charlotte was discovered protected and in good well being at 6:32 p.m., state police mentioned, and the suspect was arrested.
“This investigation is a end result of a number of companies working collectively for the frequent aim of bringing this youngster dwelling to her loving household,” state police mentioned.
The investigation continues, state police mentioned. Officers plan to carry a information convention Tuesday, they mentioned.
NBC Information correspondent Kristen Dahlgren posted video on social media of the lady’s household clapping and cheering Monday evening on the information that Charlotte had been discovered protected. A number of individuals within the video provided thank-yous.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul praised investigators on social media for a swift decision.
“After a 48-hour-long search, Charlotte Sena has been discovered. Extraordinarily grateful to @nyspolice, @NYStateParks police, and all of our companions who labored tirelessly to find Charlotte and guarantee she may return dwelling safely to her household,” Hochul wrote on X, previously generally known as Twitter.
Charlotte was driving a motorcycle by herself on the state park in Saratoga County on Saturday evening when she disappeared.
Shortly earlier than, she had been tenting together with her household when she was final seen round 6:15 p.m., state police mentioned.
She was biking round a park loop with household mates after which did a loop by herself, authorities mentioned. Her bike was discovered on the loop.
State police activated an Amber Alert on Sunday “for a kid abduction” that occurred round 6:45 p.m. Saturday.
Circumstances of the lady’s disappearance led police to suspect she was in “imminent hazard of significant hurt and/or loss of life,” in accordance with the Amber Alert.
State police mentioned earlier Monday that about 400 licensed search-and-rescue personnel had been in search of the lady over 46 linear miles.
The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service had been helping, state police mentioned.
The investigation was labeled as a lacking youngster case, state police mentioned.
Jene Sena, Charlotte’s aunt, informed NBC Information on Monday that her niece vanished in solely minutes.
“She disappeared nearly into skinny air. I imply it was minutes, minutes, between when she was final seen and when she wasn’t there anymore,” Sena mentioned.
The state park the place Charlotte disappeared from is about 50 miles north of Albany.
