Charlotte Sena, the 9-year-old girl who went missing while riding her bike in Moreau Lake State Park on Saturday evening, was found alive on Monday night, the New York state police reported. A suspect in her disappearance is now in custody, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press conference.
National Center of Missing and Exploited Children
“Charlotte Sena has been located and in good health," the New York State Police said in a statement Monday.
The state authorities added that a suspect is in custody and that this is still an active investigation.
After Sena was located, Hochul thanked authorities and investigators on X (formerly known as Twitter) for their attempts and the resolution.
“After a 48-hour-long search, Charlotte Sena has been found. Extremely grateful to @nyspolice, @NYStateParks police, and all of our partners who worked tirelessly to locate Charlotte and ensure she could return home safely to her family,“wrote Hochul.
Hochul later toldCNN’s Anderson Cooperthat Charlotte’s parents received a ransom note at their home. The note had fingerprints on it, and investigators used them to track down a suspect, the governor said. The suspect’s fingerprints were in a law enforcement database, but Huchul did not explain why.
Once the suspect was identified, police searched homes associated with them. Charlotte was found at 6:32 p.m. ET, they said, reports CNN. Investigators also used cell phone pings from people who were in the area where Charlotte was last seen, the governor told CNN.
In apress conference later Monday, Hochul said Charlotte was rescued at the suspect’s camper. She was found in a cabinet. The suspect was identified as Craig Nelson Ross Jr., 47, and was being questioned at the time of the press conference, the governor said. She added that Charlotte was taken to a hospital and her family did not wish to release further information at this time.
Hochul confirmed the disappearance of the nine-year-old from Moreau Lake State Park, located about 45 miles north of Albany, in a press conference Sunday.
But after 15 minutes, Hochul said Charlotte was nowhere to be found. Her bike was reportedly found, but it is unclear who located it, reportedFox News.
NYSP K-9s and bloodhounds, Moreau Lake State Park forest rangers, six underwater rescue teams, two drones, an airboat, a Sonar boat and technology experts assisted in the 48-hour-long search. Before Charlotte was found, police said it was possible she was abducted, perThe Associated Press.
After the missing child report was issued Saturday evening, Lt. Colonial Mazzone said at the conference that anAMBER alertwas issued for “child abduction” on Sunday morning.
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A spokesperson for New York State Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for additional information on Monday.
source: people.com
