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Everyone feared it was too late when the police got the crucial piece of the puzzle.
But when the task force attacked the 47-year-old, Charlotte, 9, was found alive hidden in a cupboard.
– I just wanted to hug her, says a witness to the drama.
A massive police operation swooped down on Craig Ross, 47, on Monday evening local time.
The acquittal was the resolution of a two-day long drama that captivated the United States.
Charlotte Sena, 9, was abducted shortly after 6pm on Saturday night while riding her bike alone during the family’s camping weekend in a national park in upstate New York.
The kidnapper’s crucial mistake
The girl’s picture was spread in newspapers and on television and a public notice was issued that she was considered to be “in immediate danger”.
But it was the kidnapper himself who solved the case.
During the hunt, he is believed to have made his way to the family home and left a letter demanding a ransom to release her.
Police were able to match fingerprints on the letter to a match in the database.
Immediately, the hunt focused on Craig Ross.
The witnesses tells the New York Post that at least 15 police vehicles, patrol cars and SWAT cars, and a task force in helicopters suddenly struck the quiet residential street.
Was hidden in a cupboard
At least five loud bangs from distraction grenades were heard before police stormed the address.
The 47-year-old has a mobile home on his mother’s plot.
There, Charlotte Sena was found – alive, hidden in a cupboard.
Craig Ross could be arrested “after some resistance”.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul was visibly moved during a press conference about the exemption.
– It is quite overwhelming. We all feared the worst, she said.
– She was saved and she knew it was the rescue. She knew she was in safe hands.
Charlotte, 9, went missing during the family’s camping weekend. Photo: New York State Police “It’s her”
The girl’s parents immediately received the news that their daughter had been found alive. Then Charlotte was taken to the hospital for examination.
For stunned neighbors, the sudden action came as a shock.
Neighbor Erica tells Fox News it all happened in seconds.
– During the strike, I saw a glimpse of her face. And I said “it’s her, she’s there”. And then I saw her being wheeled on a stretcher into the ambulance, says Erica.
– I just wanted to hug her and hold her until her mother could come and say that everything is fine now.
She says the police reacted the same way.
– You could see and hear them exhale. They high-fived each other and cheered. It was an incredible ending, says Erica.
Investigating motive
Craig Ross is under arrest on suspicion of kidnapping the girl. Now they have begun to investigate the motive, including whether the 47-year-old is a pedophile or whether he saw an opportunity to pressure the family for money.
His DNA will also be compared to a database of unsolved cases of missing children.
For Charlotte Sena’s family, the nightmare ended happily.
But also for other families with children in the area north of the state capital, Albany, the arrest of Craig Ross means they can sleep more soundly at night.
Many parents have banned their children from going out and watched over them more than usual since the nine-year-old disappeared.
Eleven-year-old Brianna, who unknowingly lived next door to the suspected kidnapper, is happy that Charlotte was found alive after watching the news coverage.
– I could only think of Charlotte. At school that’s all I thought about, I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything else. I have prayed and hoped that she would be well. She’s just a little girl.