A fingerprint left on a ransom note aided in the successful conclusion of the search for an upstate New York girl who disappeared while on a bicycle ride. Charlotte Sena, 9, vanished Saturday at Moreau Lake State Park, which is north of Albany.
The Missing 9-year-old Girl Found
On Monday, state police watching the Sena family’s home saw someone drop a note in their mailbox at 4:20 a.m., Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a press conference. The police pulled the fingerprint off the note and put it into a database. The print matched Craig Ross Jr, 47, who was in the database from a 1999 DWI case, Hochul said.
Investigators were able to track down Ross’ residence. They learned he was living in a camper trailer behind his mother’s home and raided it. Ross was questioned by law enforcement and arrested Monday night.
He was charged with first-degree kidnapping. The FBI joined the search for the missing girl and was able to identify a clear suspect. The investigation was moving quickly as the police carried out an extensive search.
Volunteers and members of the public also participated in the search. Troopers set up checkpoints on local roads and stopped drivers to ask if they knew the girl or had seen her photo. Authorities feared that the girl faced a kidnapper.
She had been on a bike loop with friends when she disappeared. The parents reported her missing after she didn’t return. She had been camping with her parents at the state park and went for a bike ride alone because she didn’t want to wait for her siblings to finish.
It was the only time she ever went without her siblings, her parents said. When she didn’t come back, her family became alarmed and called 911. Police searched the area and issued an Amber Alert. The search took place on Sunday and Monday.
More than 100 people, including forest rangers and police officers, participated in the search. They combed the heavily wooded park, which is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Albany. Hochul praised the searchers on social media and thanked everyone who had offered help.
