9-year-old girl who went missing on family camping trip was found in cabinet inside camper van
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Google Maps
Charlotte Sena was found in the cabinet of her alleged abductor's camper van by police.
The nine-year-old was abducted on Saturday (September 30), from New York's Moreau Lake State Park where she was on a trip with her family.
The youngster was out riding her bike when she failed to return, leading her parents to call the police.
An amber alert was activated by New York State Police and 'over 100 personnel [were] deployed and 75 law enforcement on the ground' in a bid to find the young girl.
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And their efforts weren't in vain as Charlotte was found alive and well on Monday (October 2), by authorities.
Her discovery came after her suspected abductor, who has since been named as 47-year-old Craig Nelson Ross Jr, allegedly dropped a ransom note as Charlotte's parent's home.
According to Governor Kathy Hochul, Ross 'literally drove up to the family's mailbox assuming they were not home' to deliver a ransom note at around 4.20am on Sunday (October 1).
But the note ended up being Ross' downfall as his fingerprints were on it, which led police straight to him as his prints were already logged on the police system from a 1999 drink-drive incident.
Now it's been revealed exactly where Charlotte was found, with the nine-year-old having been covered up and put in a cabinet.
Two SWAT teams are said to have descended on Ross' property, which is located behind his mother's home in Milton, New York.
"Within the camper they located the suspect," Hochul said at a press conference.
"After some resistance, the suspect was taken into custody, and immediately the little girl was found in a cabinet, covered. She was rescued."
Charlotte was taken to hospital after being rescued, where she was found to be in 'good health'.
Hochul has since praised the force's work as 'extraordinary'.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, she penned in her latest post: "Now, because of the extraordinary work of law enforcement, Charlotte will be reunited with her family.
"Law enforcement teams were relentless in finding this little girl — putting the pieces together and leaving no cabin unturned — to bring Charlotte home to her parents.
"Charlotte is safe and her abductor is behind bars tonight."
Hochul added: "I promised Charlotte's parents we'd leave no stone unturned in our search."
As it stands, no charges have been brought against Ross, but Hochul said that they are 'fully expected'.