Charlotte Sena, the nine-year-old girl who went missing while on a camping trip at New York's Moreau Lake State Park over the weekend, has been found safe and well.
New York state authorities said Monday evening (October 2) that they have also arrested a man who allegedly abducted the girl from the park Saturday (September 30) while her family was camping in the state park, which was located roughly 35 miles (60 km) north of Albany.
It was alleged that Sena was last seen at around 18:15 local time (22:15 UTC) riding her bike alone with close friends at dusk but never returned. New York State Police received her mother's report that she was missing around 30 minutes later and eventually found her bike without her in it.
Authorities have also lifted the Amber Alert they issued regarding her disappearance.
The Corinth Central School District also said it had extra counselors at Sena's elementary school for any students or staff who need support.
Suspect Leaves Ransom Note, NY State Authorities Say
New York Governor Kathy Hochul told CNN that, prior to finding Sena, her parents received a ransom note at their home. She also outlined the meticulous work by authorities after finding the note, which eventually became crucial to breaking the case.
The suspect believed Sena's parents were still at the campground searching for her when he left the note in the family's mailbox.
The Sena family home was being monitored by state police, but the officers had been sent to another call in the area when the suspect dropped off the note.
Police tested the document for fingerprints, and they eventually identified it to be that of 47-year-old man Craig Nelson Ross, Jr., Hochul added.
Ross was eventually arrested by SWAT teams at his camper behind his mother's home. Sena was found hidden in a cabinet inside the camper.
"She knew she was being rescued," the governor added. "She knew she was in safe hands."
Hochul: Suspect Detained, Yet to be Charged
Ross was undergoing interrogation upon his arrest Monday night, with Hochul saying that charges against him are expected.
The governor also thanked the people in the area during the abduction for their cooperation with authorities, who were checking their cell phone pings. Authorities also had information from those who came to the park as campers because they had to register and people there for the day paid an entrance fee.
"So, you could start circling around possible suspects based on the cell phone data, who is in the park and also then ultimately, the ransom note," Hochul explained.
It was revealed that Ross was involved in a previous drunk driving case back in 1999, as per the Associated Press.
Due to the incident, Moreau Lake State Park announced in a Facebook post it is closed until further notice.
