Charlotte Sena update: Craig Ross Jr court appearance postponed

Questions remain over why the suspect in the alleged abduction of Charlotte Sena was not arrested when he delivered a ransom note the the home of the nine-year-old’s parents in the early hours of Monday morning.

Craig Nelson Ross Jr, 47, was arrested 14 hours later when police linked a fingerprint left on the note to the suspect, and charged with first-degree kidnapping.

According to police, officers saw someone drop a note in the mailbox at 4.20am Monday, New York governor Kathy Hochul said.

At the time, Charlotte’s family was at the campground while police watched their home in Greenfield.

The suspect then drove away in his pickup truck without being stopped, Times Union reported.

Sources close to the investigation told Times Union there has been no allegation that the trooper charged with watching the house mishandled the incident but an investigation has been to determine whether the suspect should have been arrested at the time.

It is unclear if the officer was at the house at the time or if the officer saw the suspect deliver the ransom note.

State Police leaders and Gov.Kathy Hochul said they would not comment on the incident due to an “ongoing investigation.”

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.

The Independent’s Andrea Blanco Reports:

Craig Nelson Ross Jr, 47, 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.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul declined to answer questions about a potential motive in the kidnapping. She said that Mr Ross Jr was not a registered sex offender.

Officials have not revealed previous offences, other than Mr Ross’s arrest in 1999 for a DWI offence.

Craig N Ross Jr, 46, was taken into custody following some resistance and is currently being held at the Saratoga Correctional Facility, Gov 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.

Authorities have not determined whether the abduction was targeted or if the suspect previously knew the victim or her family, Gov Hochul said. Records show that an address listed for Mr Ross in Porter Corners is just a two-minute drive from the Senas’ residence in Greenfield.

Mr Ross lived at the residence until last year, according to records. News footage showed heavy police presence at that location as well as at the residence of Mr Ross’ mother in Ballston Spa.

Charlotte vanished while riding her bike on Saturday (30 September) at Moreau Lake State Park, a heavily wooded area some 35 miles north of Albany.

State police issued an Amber Alert the following day because “it was quite possible that an abduction had taken place,” Lt Colonel Richard Mazzone said during an earlier press conference. About 400 people took part in the search for Charlotte, including forest rangers, police officers and firefighters.

The girl’s family pleaded with the public for help in finding Charlotte, including providing any tips to the state police.

“We just want her returned safely like any parent would,” the family said in a statement earlier Monday. “No tip is too small, please call if you know anything at all.”

According to a timeline released by authorities, Charlotte asked to go on a solo bike ride at around 6.15pm. Gov Hochul said Charlotte wanted to “be that big girl, do it by herself,” after spending the day riding her bike with other children.

When she failed to return in the next 15 minutes, the little girl’s parents and other campers at the scene started searching for her in the woods. At around 6.45pm, Charlotte’s bike was found abandoned near loop A, and just two minutes later her mother placed a 911 call to report her missing.

The question remains as to whether the suspect had been observing Charlotte and her family before the abduction unfolded and how he was able to allegedly carry out the kidnapping and leave the park grounds without raising suspicions in less than 30 minutes.

Craig Nelson Ross Jr, 47, was named as the suspect in the disappearance of nine-year-old Charlotte Sena.

He was arrested on Monday at his campervan around the back of his mother’s house.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, he was charged with first-degree kidnapping and appeared for his arraignment in Milton Town Court.

He was then booked into Saratoga County jail at around 3.40am where he is currently being held without bail.

Police are attempting to determine if the Sena family was known to the suspect.

At a press conference on Monday evening, New York Governor Kathy Hochul revealed the address connected to the suspect’s vehicle was two miles from Charlotte’s home in Greenfield, New York.

Police are also questioning Mr Ross Jr to determine if he had the nine-year-old under surveillance, Governor Hochul said.

The governor also said the suspect’s home is being searched by police to make sure he is not connected to any other cases.

Mr Ross Jr was identified by authorities after he drove to the home of Charlotte’s parents and left a ransom note on Monday morning, Governor Hochul said.

“He literally drove up to the family’s mailbox assuming they were not home,” Ms Hochul said, adding that Charlotte’s parents were still at the campground at Moreau Lake State Park at the time, and officers who were monitoring the family home had been sent to another call in the area.

Police later tested the note for fingerprints and searched law enforcement databases for a match.

A match later came back as belonging to the 47-year-old suspect.

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.

Authorities have not established whether the suspect knew Charlotte and her family previous to the abduction. Mr Ross, who was described as a mailman by WNYT, owns a vehicle that was registered to an address in close proximity to the Sena’s home.

Investigators will spend the following days conducting interviews to determine if and how the abduction was targeted, according to Gov Hochul.

“It’s not been determined that the suspect was known to the family. That is what will be revealed after more extensive questioning,” she said.

“The vehicle registered to the suspect, the address in the database was two miles from Charlotte’s home but it is not known at this point whether he knew her or had her under surveillance for a length of time.”