The man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl from Moreau Lake State Park in upstate New York has pleaded guilty to two felony counts. Craig N. Ross Jr. now faces a sentence of 47 years to life in prison for his heinous crimes.
FILE — Craig N. Ross, Jr. at his arraignment, facing charges related to the kidnapping.
The case began on September 30, 2023, when the young girl disappeared from the state park, located approximately 35 miles north of Albany. The disappearance sparked a massive search effort involving over 100 individuals, including state police troopers, FBI agents, and volunteers. The search continued for two agonizing days before a breakthrough came in the early morning hours. Police officers stationed at the girl’s family home witnessed someone dropping a ransom note into the mailbox.
This ransom note proved crucial to the investigation. State police forensic analysts were able to lift fingerprints from the note and match them to Craig N. Ross Jr., whose fingerprints were in a law enforcement database due to a prior DWI conviction in 1999. This identification led authorities to a camper where Ross was staying. A SWAT team stormed the camper and rescued the young girl, who had been hidden inside a cabinet.
Ross, 46, was subsequently arrested and charged with a series of offenses, including kidnapping, sexual assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. Under a plea agreement reached on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, Ross pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping and predatory sexual assault of a child. These two charges carry significant prison sentences, with first-degree kidnapping carrying a sentence of 25 years to life and predatory sexual assault against a child carrying a sentence of 22 years to life. The judge has ordered these sentences to be served consecutively, meaning Ross will serve a minimum of 47 years before being eligible for parole.
The guilty plea brings a measure of closure to the victim and her family. Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen stated, “With the guilty plea today of Craig N. Ross Jr., the victim and their family were able to hear the defendant admit his guilt to these heinous and despicable acts. He will serve decades in prison before any parole consideration is available to him.”
The plea deal avoids the need for a trial, which had been scheduled to begin on April 8, 2024. Ross’s sentencing is scheduled for April 17, 2024, where the judge will formally impose the agreed-upon sentence.
The successful resolution of this case highlights the importance of interagency cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The swift action of the police officers stationed at the victim’s home, the meticulous forensic work of the state police, and the decisive action of the SWAT team all contributed to the safe recovery of the child and the apprehension of the perpetrator. This case serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers children can face and underscores the need for continued vigilance and community involvement in protecting our most vulnerable members. The long prison sentence handed down to Ross ensures that he will be held accountable for his actions and will be unable to harm other children. This case will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the community and will hopefully serve as a deterrent to others who may contemplate similar acts. The focus now shifts to providing support and healing to the young victim and her family as they begin the long process of recovery.
