A man accused of kidnapping a 9-year-old girl from an upstate New York park has been deemed competent and fit to stand trial.
Craig Ross Jr., 46, wore a vest over a collared shirt for Thursday’s appearance. He was handcuffed the entire time.
The victim’s aunt, Jane Sena, sat in a courtroom in Saratoga County, New York, during the brief appearance.
“What I met with him today was a being of pure evil, and justice must prevail now, so he must never do something like this to another person again,” Cena told Fox News Digital. No, because he absolutely will.”
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Craig Nelson Ross Jr. (left) speaks with defense attorney Matthew Maiello before Judge James Murphy in the Saratoga County Courthouse on Thursday, February 1, 2024 in Ballston Spa, New York. Ross has been charged with kidnapping for nine years. -Girl from Moreau Lake State Park. (Hans Pennink, FOX News Digital)
Ross has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of kidnapping and sexual abuse.
The suspect allegedly captured the girl at a New York state park on September 30 and held her in a camper behind her mother’s double-wide trailer.
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Craig Nelson Ross Jr. is escorted by sheriff’s deputies after his appearance before Judge James Murphy at the Saratoga County Courthouse in Ballston Spa, New York, on Thursday, February 1, 2024. Ross is charged with kidnapping a 9-year-old boy. She’s a girl from Moreau Lake State Park. (Hans Pennink, FOX News Digital)
By October 2, multiple law enforcement agencies had tracked down the girl and successfully rescued her.
They swarm around Ross’s mother’s house, break down the camper door with flash bangs, and find the missing girl alive in a cupboard.
“We went through something that no family should ever go through and we take it one day at a time,” Sena said.
Craig Nelson Ross Jr. (left) and defense attorney Matthew Maiello appear before Judge James Murphy in Saratoga County Court on Thursday, February 1, 2024 in Ballston Spa, New York. Ross is charged with kidnapping a 9-year-old boy. Her 1-year-old girl lives at Moreau Lake State Park. (Hans Pennink, FOX News Digital)
Ross’s case was temporarily suspended when his lawyer withdrew from the case to pursue a political career.
Matthew Maiello took over as attorney for an alleged child abductor, and Thursday was his first appearance in court next to his new client.
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He did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment or questions about this story.
Ross is scheduled to return to court on February 21st.
