An upstate New York monster admitted Wednesday that he sexually abused 9-year-old Charlotte Sena after abducting her from a Saratoga County campground last year and is now facing 47 years in prison.
Craig Ross, 46, was charged with first-degree kidnapping and predatory sexual intercourse against a child in a horrific incident in which a girl was snatched while riding her bicycle at Moreau Lake State Park on Sept. 30, sparking a major incident. Pleaded guilty to assault. Search for a missing girl.
The case ended two days later when Ross was found alive in a trailer in the backyard of her mother’s home.
“Today’s guilty plea by Craig N. Ross Jr. allowed the victims and their families to hear the defendant plead guilty to these heinous and despicable acts,” said Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Hagen. said in a statement Wednesday.
“His admission of guilt puts an end to the question of who was responsible for the kidnapping that has rallied our entire community to assist in the search for her,” Hagan said.
“He will likely serve decades in prison before being considered for parole.”
Police said Ross was arrested while driving to Sena’s house late at night, days after taking the girl and placing the ransom note in her mailbox.
A Milton resident demanded $50,000 for the girl’s return, but left a note that was discovered by a state trooper watching the home at the time.
Police took fingerprints on the note and matched it to Ross, who was arrested for drunk driving in Saratoga Springs in 1999.
“There was a ransom note and that helped lead us directly to the suspect,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said at the time.
“His fingerprints were already in the database.”
Charlotte was found in a cupboard in the bedroom of Ross’ motorhome, about 21 miles from the girl’s home.
He has been held in the Saratoga County Jail since his arrest on October 2nd.
Charlotte was returned to her family after the ordeal and was in “good health,” police said at the time.
Ross was sentenced to 25 years in prison for kidnapping and 22 years for sexual assault, with prosecutors claiming he “had sex” with the girl.
According to reports, Ross was also investigated for abusing a 12-year-old family friend, but was not charged in the case.
