Child Abduction Suspected After Family Camping Trip in NY
Cops are deeply concerned that a nine-year-old girl might have been abducted while riding her bike at Moreau Lake State Park in upstate New York. Their relentless search for Charlotte Sena, who vanished during a family camping trip, has sparked an Amber Alert. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children states that Charlotte is believed to be in immediate danger.
Charlotte’s distraught mother, Trisha Sena, expressed her grief, saying, ‘I just want my daughter back.’ She described Charlotte as a trusting, good kid. The last time she was seen, Charlotte was wearing an orange tie-dye Pokémon shirt, dark blue pants, black Crocs, and a gray bike helmet. She is described as a White girl with blonde hair, standing 4-foot-6, and weighing 90 pounds.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, while providing updates on the search, expressed her sympathy for the family. ‘They were here to make memories – the kind that last a lifetime,’ she said, ‘But instead, the day turned into every parent’s nightmare.’ Hochul met with the girl’s parents and shared their description of Charlotte as a joyful child.
Charlotte, who was visiting the state park just 15 minutes away from her home in Greenfield, went on a bike ride with two close friends. As night fell, her friends returned to the campsite, but Charlotte wanted one last ride alone. When she didn’t return after 15 minutes, her parents, David and Trisha, began to worry. They called for her, and when she didn’t answer, everyone at the campsite, including strangers, joined the search.
At 6:37 pm, Trisha called 911, and by 7 pm, state police were on the scene. Although they found Charlotte’s bike, there was no sign of the nine-year-old. An Amber Alert was activated the next morning, and a large-scale search began, involving over 100 people, including forest rangers and law enforcement personnel. The park has been closed until further notice, and the public has been asked to leave the search to the professionals.
Charlotte is a student at Corinth Central Elementary School and recently elected a class officer for the student council. She is described as ‘the kind of girl that people wanted to be friends with’ by the Governor, who also mentioned her caring nature.
Law enforcement deployed various resources, including drones, an airboat, underwater rescue teams, and K-9 units, to aid in the search. They have also called upon tech experts to analyze park communications. The Schenectady Fire Department has joined the effort, given that Charlotte is the niece of one of its members.
While law enforcement initially described the case as a search, the extensive efforts suggest the possibility of an abduction. Charlotte is described as highly intelligent and adventurous, making her sudden disappearance out of character.
The entire state is hoping for a safe reunion, but for now, the search for Charlotte continues.