The man accused of kidnapping 9-year-old Charlotte Sena from an upstate New York park and holding her for ransom was reportedly seeking his late grandfather’s fortune, according to his ex-girlfriend.
Craig Ross Jr., 46, was charged earlier this week with kidnapping the young woman, who was found in a closet inside his trailer after she disappeared on a bike ride while camping with his family.
Charlotte’s grandfather, Patrick Sena, had successfully sued the small town of Greenfield, New York, in 1998 over a sledding accident and was awarded $2.2 million, the Daily Mail first reported.
He died in 2015.
Ross’ ex-partner, Amanda Preece, 33, told the outlet that she believes Ross demanded $50,000 from the Senas because he knew about the settlement money, as was common knowledge among many residents living in the Saratoga area.
“I think that’s why he withheld his bailout, he was hoping to get some of the money because he’s struggling financially,” he said.
Craig Ross is accused of kidnapping 9-year-old Charlotte Sena.AP
“That amount of money would allow him to live for four or five years.”
“He never wanted to work. He has always wanted to find people to joke with, whether they are girlfriends or making his mother feel bad because her MS is very serious,” he added, referring to his multiple sclerosis.
Ross had reportedly fallen behind on paying taxes on a property less than two miles from Charlotte’s home, forcing him to return to his mother’s property, where he lived in the trailer.
Preece said Ross was “evil” and believes he followed Charlotte and her family, planning the kidnapping for some time.
Charlotte was found inside Ross’s trailer on her mother’s property on Monday. New York Post
“He had been following his family, he knew where they lived,” she said.
“He put a tarp over the windows a few months before, so I feel like he’d been planning it for a while,” Preece added.
“He has patience for things like that.”
“Go to the camp where they were, find out where they lived and go to the park when they were there. “I definitely had this planned,” he told the newspaper.
Ross demanded $50,000 from the Sena family in a ransom note he left in their mailbox. Facebook/Trisha Sena
“He’s the type of person who makes advance plans and it can take months before he does something.”
Preece was granted a restraining order against Ross in 2017 after he “grabbed her by the throat with both hands” and threw her across a room, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail.
She claimed he “terrorized” her while they were together.
Ross was also the subject of a recently closed investigation for sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl, law enforcement sources told the Times Union.
Charlotte disappeared while biking on a camping trip.Facebook / Jené Sena
The investigation concluded without charges being filed.
Since his arrest Monday, police are searching for any connection between Ross and other major unsolved cases in the surrounding area, including the decades-long kidnappings and murders of Jennifer Hammond, 18, and Christina White, 19, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.
Ross was arrested after his DNA matched fingerprints on a ransom note he left in the Sena family’s mailbox.
He is charged with first-degree kidnapping with intent to collect ransom during an arraignment early Tuesday morning. More charges are expected, authorities said.
Ross is currently being held in the Saratoga County Jail without bond.
His next court date is scheduled for October 17.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn