New York State Police are searching for a missing 9-year-old girl who may have been abducted Saturday night while camping with her friends and family at Moreau Lake State Park.
Charlotte Sena was last seen in the park around 6:15 p.m. on Saturday after going for a bike ride. She was wearing an orange tie-dye Pokémon shirt, dark blue pants, black Crocs and a gray bicycle helmet, according to a report Amber Alert published on Sunday.
According to the Amber Alert, “The child was abducted under circumstances that lead police to believe he or she is in imminent danger of serious injury and/or death.”
The child’s mother, Trisha Sena, described Charlotte as a “good child” and “trustworthy” to the Albany Times Union.
“I just want my daughter back,” she said.
Speech on a Sunday News updateNew York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) told reporters that Charlotte and her close friends were biking on Loop A in the park before sunset on Saturday.
After completing the loop with her friends, Charlotte decided to do one more loop alone and planned to return to the campground for dinner, Hochul said.
Hochul told reporters that Charlotte’s parents’ “nightmare” began when their daughter did not return as expected after 15 minutes, prompting them to conduct a search with the help of other campers in the area.
Charlotte’s bike was then found around 6:45 p.m., Lt. Col. Richard Mazzone told reporters on Sunday.
After searching for Charlotte for about 30 minutes, her mother called 911 to report her missing around 6:47 p.m., Mazzone said. The park was closed as police expanded the search using dogs, drones and underwater rescue teams, officials said.
Authorities issued an Amber Alert at 9:30 a.m. Sunday after “exhausting” their search and determining it was “quite possible” the nine-year-old had been abducted.
According to Hochul, who described Charlotte’s parents as “distraught,” the girl was in the fourth grade and was recently elected class representative of her student council.
“Hearts are broken here in New York today,” Hochul said. “Hopefully there will be a reunion. Hopefully there will be a family that is traumatized but reunited.”
The New York State Police is asking for the public’s assistance in finding the 9-year-old by contacting 518-457-6811 or emailing crimetip@troopers.ny.gov with any information.
