Authorities stated Monday evening that 9-year-old girl Charlotte Sena, who went missing while camping at a New York state park two days earlier, was recovered safe and a suspect was arrested.
Moreau Lake State Park was where Charlotte’s bicycle was discovered after a search by the authorities, who also looked in the nearby waterways. (Source: Reddit)
A 9-year-old Girl’s Parents Received a Ransom Note
New York Governor Kathy Hochul told CNN Monday evening that Charlotte’s parents received a ransom note at home before she was rescued. Hochul told CNN’s Anderson Cooper the note’s fingerprints helped detectives discover Charlotte and a suspect. Hochul said the suspect’s fingerprints were in a law enforcement database but did not specify a previous instance. “I have to caution that this is still very much a live investigation,” she said. As confirmed information becomes available, we’ll share it.
The governor also mentioned that authorities were able to find Charlotte thanks to phone pings from her last known location. She said they looked through every cell phone in the area of this park. The authorities had information from park campers since they were required to register. Based on information from the ransom note, park attendance, and mobile phone data, she said they might begin circling potential possibilities. She also told CNN that these components helped investigators identify Charlotte as a suspect.
When Charlotte vanished, state police looked into three residences connected to a suspect they think was in the neighborhood. On Monday, at 6:32 p.m. ET, they found Charlotte and took the suspect into custody. Hochul thought it was amazing how they were able to track it back to a specific person’s house. She was saved when law officers and helicopters surrounded the house. She was taken to a hospital by her parents shortly after. The governor stated that Charlotte was doing well. The New York State Police withheld information regarding the perpetrator and Charlotte’s location.
READ ALSO: Three Men Are Accused Of Killing And Robbing A Driver On Angeles Crest Highway
A 9-year-old Girl Went Missing at Moreau Lake State Park
Officials said that the family was camping in Moreau Lake State Park when Charlotte went on a bike ride with close friends about dinnertime and never returned. Charlotte was last seen biking around a park loop at 6:15 p.m. Saturday. At a Sunday news conference, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed she had done several circuits with friends and intended to do one more alone. Lt. Colonel Richard Mazzone of the New York State Police said Charlotte’s mother reported missing at 6:45 p.m. when her bike was in the loop without her.
Mazzone claimed investigators suspected Charlotte was abducted after failing to find her nearby. They spotted her bike during that search and determined she wasn’t on it, hadn’t gone far, and wasn’t lost. CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller already stated something was wrong. An Amber Alert issued Sunday morning was rescinded Monday by police. State police claimed 400 people were hunting for Charlotte by Monday morning. 34 volunteer fire departments, private entities, and federal, state, and local law enforcement assisted.
Authorities say the search area grew to almost 46 linear miles before she was recovered. The popular state park, 45 miles north of Albany, is over 6,200 acres and “lies amid hardwood forests, pine stands, and rocky ridges,” according to the DEC. On Facebook, Moreau Lake State Park announced its closure till further notice.
READ ALSO: Fugitive Killer Escaped in Pennsylvania Jail
