In a New York courtroom, the family of a abducted girl stared down “the most sinister human” and declared that he was getting “what he deserved.”
Craig Ross Jr., who confessed to kidnapping a 9-year-old girl and holding her captive for two days, was sentenced to 47 years to life in prison on Wednesday as part of his plea deal. He pled guilty to several felonies, including first-degree kidnapping.
“When we are in this courtroom today, the lawyers will refer to my daughter as the victim,” the girl’s mother, Trisha Sena, told LA News Center in a text message. “I understand that this is standard courtroom terminology, but I ask that as you leave today and choose to report on this case as you see fit, but please do not call her a victim.”
“She is a survivor. She endured unimaginable horror, but she will prevail. She works tirelessly every day to continue being a survivor. This horrific event does not and will not define her.”
A Chilling Kidnapping and a Hero’s Bravery
On September 30, 2023, Ross Jr. abducted the girl from an upstate New York park. He held her captive for 47 terrifying hours.
Law enforcement agencies, from local police to the FBI, flooded Saratoga County. The community was on edge for days as officers worked tirelessly to identify the suspect and find the missing girl – if she was even still alive.
The Rescue
Miraculously, officers and federal agents discovered the girl alive and announced they had the kidnapper in custody before the end of October 2. Such an outcome is rare in such cases.
The girl’s bravery astounded investigators. She provided detailed information about her ordeal, essentially providing the final nail in her captor’s coffin, according to her aunt, Jene Sena.
She “astonished family members and investigators with her ability to calmly and precisely recount every last detail, no matter how small, of what happened to her during those 47 hours,” Jene Sena wrote in an article posted on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website.
Sena praised the first responders and law enforcement, but called her niece “the real hero.”
“She not only kept herself alive during those harrowing hours, but also had the remarkable fortitude to send him away for life, guaranteeing he will never harm another child again. SHE accomplished that,” she wrote. “The petite little angel barely reaches 5 feet tall, yet she went toe-to-toe with a huge, terrifying monster – the ultimate boogeyman – and she emerged victorious.”
“No one can ever take that away from her. Not all heroes have capes. Mine wears a Pokémon T-shirt.”
Justice Prevails
As the survivor’s mother and uncle read their victim impact statements in Saratoga County Court, the girl’s family told LA News Center that Ross Jr. remained silent.
His silence continued as the judge reprimanded the confessed child kidnapper and imposed a sentence that will likely keep Ross Jr. behind bars for the rest of his life.
“As we emerge from the darkness, my family can find some solace in knowing that the man who stole my precious, sweet 9-year-old niece from under her parents’ noses and held her captive for two days while hundreds searched for her and an entire nation prayed for her, will rot in a 6×8 cell for the remainder of his life,” Sena wrote.
A Flash-Bang Rescue
Federal agents and police officers surrounded Ross Jr.’s neighbor’s front yard before detonating flash-bangs into the camper door on the side of his mother’s house andを発見 rescued the missing girl alive in a cabinet.
“There was a succession of at least five flash-bangs,” according to the neighbor, Michael, who requested anonymity to protect his family. “It was like a scene from a movie.”
Jubilation and Relief
Micheal and his wife caught a glimpse of the rescued girl. His wife stated, “I just wanted to embrace her and cradle her until her mother arrived and reassured her.”
The couple witnessed the physical relief and jubilation of law enforcement officers, who hugged and congratulated each other.
A Son’s Anger
Ross Jr.’s son engaged in a tense conversation with LA News Center from his home in Porter Corners, New York.
“Yes, he’s my father, but why do I have to deal with this crap?” he exclaimed, declining to provide his name. “Everyone bombards me with these inquiries. I am clueless. I despise him and hope he perishes in prison.”
Closure and a New Beginning
The case is now concluded. Ross Jr. may not pass away in prison, but the 47-year-old convicted child kidnapper will be in his 90s before being considered for parole.
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
