A New York man aged 46, identified as Craig Nelson Ross Jr., is facing charges of kidnapping a 9-year-old girl from Moreau Lake State Park. Ross, who has a modest criminal past, resided in a camper behind his mother’s trailer in Milton, New York.
In 1999, Ross admitted to DUI charges, resulting in fingerprint records. These fingerprints played a crucial role in his arrest for the abduction of Charlotte Sena this week.
Governor Kathy Hochul revealed that the girl’s parents received a ransom note early Monday morning, even as state troopers were monitoring the area. Ross emerged as the primary suspect by the afternoon when officials matched his fingerprints to the ones on the ransom note.
Ross’s prior run-ins with the law were relatively minor. In 1999, he was fined $325 and had his license suspended for 90 days due to a DWI charge. In 2017, he was arrested for criminal obstruction and in 2016 for aggravated harassment. Another 2016 police encounter did not result in charges.
A neighbor, identifying himself as “Michael,” recollected past interactions with Ross. Michael remembered an incident from their childhood when Ross, denied entry into his home by his allegedly inebriated mother, responded aggressively. As per Michael, Ross became increasingly withdrawn over the years, making sporadic appearances.
The extent of Ross’s criminal background appears to be limited to the recent kidnapping charges, with no additional significant offenses. He has been involved in two divorce proceedings and a car crash lawsuit, which was mutually discontinued.
Earlier this week, investigation teams collected evidence from Ross’s camper in Ballston Spa, roughly 23 miles from the abduction site. On Monday, an intense operation to capture Ross saw tactical teams deploying flashbangs and encountering resistance. Governor Hochul stated that the kidnapped girl was discovered concealed inside a cabinet in the camper.
An Amber Alert had been initiated after Charlotte’s disappearance, only to be revoked after her safe recovery and reunion with her family. It remains uncertain whether Ross had any prior relationship with the Sena family.
“The accused kidnapped [the victim] and penned a ransom note aiming to secure a payment for her release,” according to a felony complaint sourced by Fox News Digital.
Ross currently faces charges of first-degree kidnapping with an intent to collect ransom, as per court documents.
