Charlotte Sena update: Craig Ross Jr court appearance postponed

Charlotte Sena was found hidden in a cabinet in Craig Ross Jr’s campervan on Monday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said

How New York police found missing Charlotte Sena

The man accused of abducting nine-year-old Charlott Sena from a campsite in upstate New York is expected to appear in court to face charges on Friday.

Craig Ross Jr 46, was charged with first-degree kidnapping after Charlotte was found hidden in a cabinet in a campervan at the back of his mother’s house – almost 48 hours after she was snatched while riding her bike in Moreau Lake State Park in Saratoga County.

More charges are expected to be brought against him.

Mr Ross Jr’s arrest came after he drove to the home of Charlotte’s parents and left a ransom note in their mailbox. Fingerprints pulled from the note matched those of Mr Ross who was in the state’s database from a 1999 DUI arrest.

New York State Police has defended its handling of the case after it emerged that the trooper tasked with surveilling the Senas’ home didn’t arrest Mr Ross when he saw him drop off the note. He was arrested 14 hours later.

A spokesperson for NYSP told Fox News Digital that the suspect’s presence did not seem unusual amid the visits from members of the community showing their support.

Key points

• Charlotte Sena found alive after 9-year-old went missing on camping trip
• Police name suspect after missing girl found
• Suspect ‘drove to Charlotte’s home and put ransom note in mailbox'
• Suspect Craig Ross Jr, 47, charged with kidnap of girl, 9, found hidden in campervan

[4 October 2023 22:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Charlotte Sena is home safe and her alleged kidnapper is in jail. But several questions remain

New York State Police announced on Monday night that Craig Ross, 46, of Ballston Spa, was arrested in connection with the kidnapping. Charlotte was found in a cabinet inside the suspect’s camper, which was parked behind his mother’s property.

“She’ll be going home. That’s the story,” Governor Kathy Hochul said during a press conference following Charlotte’s rescue. “Charlotte will be going home.”

As the investigation into the case that captured the country’s attention continues to unfold, many questions remain regarding the circumstances surrounding the terrifying apparent abduction.

[5 October 2023 01:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Will Craig Ross face more charges?

Mr Ross is currently facing charges of kidnapping in the first degree.

The suspect was arraigned overnight in town court in Milton. He is being held without bail at the Saratoga County Correctional Facility.

Authorities said that more charges are expected pending the ongoing investigation.

He is expected to appear in court on Friday morning.

[5 October 2023 02:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Charlotte Sena abductor may have made her write own $50k ransom note

New details have now emerged about the contents of the ransom note and who may have written it.

According to court documents obtained by CNN, the note allegedly demanded $50,000 from the nine-year-old’s family in exchange for her safe return.

Sources close to the investigation have now also told local paper Times Union that Mr Ross Jr may have forced the nine-year-old to write the note herself.

The Independent’s Martha McHardy reports:

[5 October 2023 03:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Authorities ask the public to submit surveillance video from around the time of Charlotte Sena’s abduction

Police have asked members of the public to come forward with surveillance video from around the time of the abduction of nine-year-old Charlotte Sena.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police asked the public to come forward with video footage during the hours of 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm on Saturday from the following roads:

• Old Saratoga Road in the Town of Moreau
• Route 9 South of Old Saratoga Round in the Towns of Moreau and Wilton
• Ballard Road near Corinth Mountain Rd in the Town of Wilton
• Corinth Mountain Rd in the Towns of Wilton and Corinth
• Spier Falls Road in the Towns of Corinth and Greenfield
• North Greenfield Road in the Town of Greenfield
• Middle Grove Road in the Town of Greenfield
• Route 29 in the Town of Milton
• Barret Road in the Town of Milton

Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact mrobinson@saratogacountyny.gov.

[5 October 2023 04:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Kidnap suspect used to live just two minutes from Charlotte Sena’s home, records show

The man accused of snatching nine-year-old Charlotte Sena once lived just two minutes away by car from her current family home, according to records.

Craig N Ross Jr, 46, was charged on Tuesday with kidnapping in the first degree in connection with Charlotte’s abduction on 1 October. New York State Police raided a property owned by Mr Ross’s mother in the Town of Milton, Saratoga County, on Tuesday evening and found the little girl inside a campervan parked behind the home.

Mr Ross was taken into custody following some resistance and is currently being held at the Saratoga Correctional Facility, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said during a press conference following Charlotte’s rescue. The child, who was found “unharmed” and hiding inside a cabinet, has since been reunited with her family.

Andrea Blanco reports:

[5 October 2023 05:00 · Andrea Blanco]

WATCH: Charlotte Sena reunited with family in New York

[5 October 2023 07:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Does Craig Ross have a criminal history?

Officials initially only revealed Mr Ross’s arrest in 1999.

NYSP has since confirmed to The Independent that Mr Ross was arrested five years ago over a domestic dispute. According to the law enforcement agency, the unnamed victim accused Mr Ross, who then lived in Corinth, of applying pressure on their throat during an altercation on 21 April 2017.

“Ross Jr. was arrested at the scene and transported to SP Wilton for processing,” a spokesperson for NYSP said in a statement. “He was arraigned at the Moreau Town Court and released on his own recognizance.”

It is unclear whether the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office followed through with the case or dropped the charges, but public court records do not show a pending case against Mr Ross over the 2017 incident. The Independent has reached out to the DA’s office for comment.

The NYSP said it could not only comment on reports of pending investigations involving Mr Ross.

“New York State Police will not confirm, deny, or provide any information concerning investigations that did not result in criminal prosecution,” the agency said.

[5 October 2023 08:00 · Andrea Blanco]

What do we know about the ransom note?

According to police, officers saw someone drop a note in the mailbox at 4.20am Monday, the governor said. At the time, Charlotte’s family was at the campground while police watched their home in Greenfield.

State police pulled fingerprints off the note and the second one matched Mr Ross, who was in a database from a 1999 DWI case.

Law enforcement agents linked Ross to the property owned by his mother, where they found him in the camper.

“After some resistance, the suspect was taken into custody and immediately the little girl was found in a cabinet,” Gov Hochul said. “She knew she was being rescued. She knew that she was in safe hands.”

The governor said that Charlotte was found unharmed and was transported to a hospital for a standard checkup. She was reunited with her family.

It remains unclear what exactly was written on the ransom note allegedly delivered by Mr Ross, but according to records obtained by CNN, the note allegedly demanded $50,000 from the nine-year-old’s family in exchange for her safe return.

Sources close to the investigation have now also told the AlbanyTimes Union that Mr Ross Jr may have forced the nine-year-old to write the note herself.

[5 October 2023 09:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Why didn’t police arrest Craig Ross after he allegedly delivered the note?

The fingerprint match came hours after the ransom note was left inside the Senas’ mailbox.

It is unclear why the trooper tasked with surveilling the Senas’ home did not approach Mr Ross immediately after he allegedly delivered the note — or why at least the suspect was not followed.

The Times Union reports that the office’s actions are being reviewed by New York State Police, but allegations of mishandling the investigation have not been raised within the agency.

[5 October 2023 10:00 · Andrea Blanco]

WATCH: NY kidnapping suspect could face more charges