Found Alive NY - CS, 9, last seen 6:15pm at Moreau Lake State Park, Gansevoort, 30 Sep 2023 *arrest* #3

[Howl]

Well, so much for victim privacy. How horrible for this innocent child and her family that this is being publicized by Daily News.
Also, I hope this evil perp lives out the rest of his days in prison.

 

[Seattle1]

Aunt of girl abducted while camping says she's been 'on rollercoaster'

The aunt of a nine-year-old girl, who was abducted during a camping trip to Moreau Lake State Park in New York on September 30, has spoken about the 'pure torture' of waiting for her to be found.

www.dailymail.co.uk

12/21/23

[..]

'We will hold him accountable and responsible.'

Speaking to ABC News this week, her aunt added: 'Unfortunately, the world we live in there are predators out there and so justice will be not only him being safely away to not do this to anyone else.

'But also her having great support system and tools and whatever she needs around her to move forward.'

She added: 'This isn't just a headline, this isn't just something to get clicks, this is a real person, a real child, a real family.'

Ross Jr, who appeared disheveled in an earlier mugshot released by New York State Police, was described as a 'recluse' who would care for his 11-year-old daughter for half of the week at his $180,000 three-bedroom home.

He had a limited criminal history before being charged with kidnapping; he was first arrested in 1999 on a DWI case, which helped lead to his arrest.

Ross Jr also suffers from multiple sclerosis and had just moved to the trailer that officers raided four weeks prior.

 

[Seattle1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1737818318407413862

 

[PommyMommy]

DEC 20, 2023

Craig Ross Jr. needs new lawyer in child abduction case at state park

Craig Ross Jr.'s attorney, George Conway, is leaving the Saratoga County conflict defender's office to lead the county's legal office

www.timesunion.com

Craig Ross Jr., the alleged kidnapper of a 9-year-old girl who was taken from a state park on Sept. 30, needs a new attorney after his lawyer took a new post with Saratoga County’s government.

The selection of a new attorney will delay Ross' case.

Accused kidnapper needs new attorney, next appearance moved

Accused kidnapper, Craig Ross Jr., will need a new attorney after his previous council was appointed Saratoga County Attorney Tuesday night.

www.dailygazette.com

According to the Saratoga County and Supreme Court Clerk's office, Ross has not yet been assigned a new council, as of Wednesday morning.

Ross was originally scheduled to appear in court Thursday before Judge James A. Murphy III. According to the Clerk’s Office, he is now scheduled to appear in court next on Jan 11.

 

[dotr]

ETA, threads for possibly associated crimes.

NY - NY - Jennifer Hammond, 19, Ballston Spa, Aug 2003

Does anyone want to start looking into this case again with me along with that of Christina White who is possibly linked to this case? I know it’s a long shot trying to solve or contribute to the solving of this case as someone not in the police force but it’s been so long and these girls and...

www.websleuths.com

NY - NY - Christina White, 19, Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, 30 June 2005 *remains found in Greenfield*

Basic Information Race: White Gender: Female DOB: July 4, 1985 Age: 19 years old Height: 5' 3" Weight: 95 pounds Eyes: Blue Additional Information Christina White was last seen by family members on the evening of June 30, 2005, in Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, NY. Her skeletal remains were...

www.websleuths.com

By Brendan J. Lyons Dec 28, 2023 rbbm.

Police seek link between alleged kidnapper and teen murders

Investigators examining whether Craig Ross Jr. was involved in unsolved homicides of young women who were abducted in town where he has lived for decades.

www.timesunion.com

''MILTON — Saratoga County prosecutors have explored the potential of a plea agreement with the man charged with kidnapping a 9-year-old girl at Moreau Lake State Park — if he has any connection to the abduction and murders of two teenage women who vanished in 2003 and 2005 and is willing to admit it, according to a person briefed on the matter but not authorized to comment publicly.''

''A plea deal for the 46-year-old would likely not include an offer of any sentence of less than 25 years to life, even if Ross were to admit to the two unsolved homicides. He has never been identified as a suspect in those other cases, but police confirmed they have been examining his potential role in unsolved abduction and homicide cases in this area, including in those investigations''.

''The skeletal remains of the victims, 18-year-old Jennifer “Moonbeam” Hammond and 19-year-old Christina N. White, were later found a few miles apart in a rugged region of the isolated Lake Desolation State Forest, roughly 10 miles north of where both young women were last seen on summer days in Milton.''

''Ross has had marital problems and was previously investigated for allegations that he had sexually abused a female family acquaintance when she was about 12 years old. He also apparently has had few friends or social connections in recent years and had been living in a camper trailer behind his mother’s residence. The person briefed on the matter said several of those characteristics matched a suspect profile developed by an FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico, Va., for the investigations involving White and Hammond.''

Jennifer Hammond, left, and Christina White, right.Provided by Saratoga County Sheriff's Office

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Saratoga County prosecutors have explored the potential of a plea agreement

IMO their remains were already found, so a plea deal would only allow LE to say, Look, we solved the cases! without any actual justice taking place.

This is someone who should never be back in society.

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 4, 2024

Man charged in park kidnapping assigned new attorney

Craig Ross Jr., the man charged with kidnapping a 9-year-old from Moreau Lake State Park, has a new attorney after officials appointed a new conflict defender.

www.timesunion.com

... Conway stepped down to serve as county attorney in December, delaying Ross' case until a new attorney was assigned. The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors appointed Matthew Maiello as conflict defender Wednesday, county spokeswoman Christine Rush confirmed.

Maiello has an extensive legal background and previously served as a public defender, Rush said. He couldn't be immediately reached for comment on the new appointment.

FIRST ON 13: Man accused of kidnapping 9-year-old girl in Moreau gets new attorney

Craig Ross Jr., the man accused of kidnapping a little girl from Moreau Lake State Park, has a new attorney.

wnyt.com

Matthew Maiello will be representing Ross going forward. The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors appointed Maiello as the new county conflict defender early Wednesday evening.

A long-time attorney from Mechanicville, Maiello replaces George Conway.

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 10, 2024
Judge: Craig Ross must be in court for next appearance in kidnap case (timesunion.com)
A judge on Wednesday rejected Craig N. Ross Jr.'s request to skip his next in-person court appearances, a request the Milton man charged with the notorious kidnapping of a 9-year-old girl made because appearing in court exacerbates a medical condition.

[...]

Murphy told Ross he must appear at a Feb. 1 court appearance, where prosecutors are expected to announce they are ready for trial.

Ross, whose charges include kidnapping and multiple counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, appeared Wednesday on a screen via Teams while Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Buckley noted that she handed over an “exceptionally voluminous” amount of evidence to Maiello. She said that included 2,900 photographs, more than 600 body-camera videos, a 364-page police report, hundreds of pages of cellphone tower data, 400 pages of emails, 569 radio transmissions and 100 clips of surveillance video. She said that Maiello has been given the names of potential witnesses.

“I would note for the record that scientific testing in this case is ongoing. There are still a number of items waiting to be tested that will be forthcoming,” Buckley said.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 10, 2024

FIRST ON 13: Man charged in Moreau kidnapping asks to stay out of court

Accused kidnapper Craig Ross Jr. is asking to stay out of court.Ross appeared via Teams video conferencing from the Saratoga County Jail today to ask County Judge Jim Murphy to be allowed to stay at the jail and appear virtually for any future appearances. Ross claims appearing in court...

wnyt.com

Ross appeared via Teams video conferencing from the Saratoga County Jail today to ask County Judge Jim Murphy to be allowed to stay at the jail and appear virtually for any future appearances. Ross claims appearing in court increases his anxiety, which exacerbates an illness he has.

Craig Ross Jr. virtually appears in court Wednesday

The man accused of kidnapping a young girl in late September virtually appeared in Saratoga County Court Wednesday morning. Craig Ross Jr., 46, faces several charges which include kidnapping.

www.news10.com

Judge James Murphy said regarding the discovery, “Discoverable materials are exceptionally voluminous in this case.” Judge Murphy ruled Ross must be present in court to determine a readiness for trial. That will be determined at a hearing on February 1.

 

[Knox]

JAN 10, 2024

FIRST ON 13: Man charged in Moreau kidnapping asks to stay out of court

Accused kidnapper Craig Ross Jr. is asking to stay out of court.Ross appeared via Teams video conferencing from the Saratoga County Jail today to ask County Judge Jim Murphy to be allowed to stay at the jail and appear virtually for any future appearances. Ross claims appearing in court...

wnyt.com

Ross appeared via Teams video conferencing from the Saratoga County Jail today to ask County Judge Jim Murphy to be allowed to stay at the jail and appear virtually for any future appearances. Ross claims appearing in court increases his anxiety, which exacerbates an illness he has.

Craig Ross Jr. virtually appears in court Wednesday

The man accused of kidnapping a young girl in late September virtually appeared in Saratoga County Court Wednesday morning. Craig Ross Jr., 46, faces several charges which include kidnapping.

www.news10.com

Judge James Murphy said regarding the discovery, “Discoverable materials are exceptionally voluminous in this case.” Judge Murphy ruled Ross must be present in court to determine a readiness for trial. That will be determined at a hearing on February 1.

Anxiety that exacerbates an illess ... I always find it laughable when an accused killer expects to receive "special" treatment. Happy to hear the Judge says he has to appear. Hope Ross suffers greatly - thinking about this one on Feb 1 and each appearance thereafter. Maybe he'll make a plea deal and save the victim and her family a lot of pain.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Maybe he'll make a plea deal and save the victim and her family a lot of pain.

But only if the plea deal keeps him locked up indefinitely.

 

[Knox]

But only if the plea deal keeps him locked up indefinitely.

Goes without saying - and the victim doesn't have to testify in open court. Win-Win ...

 

[iusedtofloat]

Ross, who appeared disheveled in an earlier mugshot released by New York State Police, was described as a 'recluse' who would care for his 11-year-old daughter for half of the week at his $180,000 three-bedroom home.
Craig Ross pleads not guilty to kidnapping and sexual assault

I think we all knew this was never about ransom. I suspect CR was simply trying to deflect LE away from his actual intention when snatching poor CS with that stupid ransom note. Not bright but super dangerous. The above snip has me hoping his own 11 year old daughter is okay and has been thoroughly interviewed to ensure she too hasn't suffered some of the same treatment as CS did at his hands.

omg, he made her write her own ransom note? sweet jesus...

 

[Megnut]

omg, he made her write her own ransom note? sweet jesus...

Honest question, do we know if he can write?

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 29, 2024
DA: More evidence being tested as Craig Ross heads to court (timesunion.com)
The man accused of kidnapping a 9-year-old girl from Moreau Lake State Park will return to court on Thursday where prosecutors are expected to announce they are ready for trial.

Craig N. Ross Jr. wanted to appear remotely from the Saratoga County jail but a judge ruled earlier this month that Ross must be in court for this week’s appearance.

[...]

Heggen said that on top of the “exceptionally voluminous” amount of evidence prosecutors already have, more is being tested.

[...]

Heggen would not say if those tests involve DNA evidence.

Last month, prosecutor Jennifer Buckley said evidence against Ross, who is charged with kidnapping and multiple counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, included 2,900 photographs, more than 600 body-camera videos, a 364-page police report, hundreds of pages of cellphone tower data, 400 pages of emails, 569 radio transmissions and 100 clips of surveillance video.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

FEB 1, 2024
Craig Ross Jr.'s child abduction trial will start April 8 (timesunion.com)
Saratoga County Judge James A. Murphy III set the trial date during Craig N. Ross Jr.'s brief appearance in court Thursday. The judge also said Ross must be in court for his trial. His attorney had earlier asked that Ross be allowed to participate remotely because court appearances aggravated a medical problem officials identified as multiple sclerosis.

“I did require Mr. Ross here to be today because it is anticipated that the People will ask for readiness for the record,” Murphy said. “My understanding of the statute is the defendant must be in-person for the People to assert readiness. … I am going to require Mr. Ross to be present, in-person for all future appearances.”

April trial date set in Moreau Lake State Park abduction case

Craig Ross Jr., 46, of Milton, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the nine-count indictment related to the Sept. 30 abduction of a child riding her bike in Moreau Lake State Park that gained national headlines as more than 400 people scoured the area for 48 hours in early October.

www.dailygazette.com

Ross appeared in court for a compliance conference Thursday wearing what appeared to be a protective bulletproof vest.

FEB 2, 2024

Trial date set for man accused of upstate NY kidnapping

According to court documents, the case of Craig Ross Jr. will go to trial in April.

www.mynbc5.com

According to documents filed with the New York State Unified Court System, there will be a jury trial beginning on April 8, 2024.

 

[charminglane]

If you're well enough to kidnap and abuse, you're well enough to face the music in court.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“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,” Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said in a statement Wednesday.

“His admission of guilt ends the question of who was responsible for the kidnapping that rallied our entire community together to assist in locating her,” Heggern said.

Creep admits to abusing 9-year-old girl after kidnapping her from NY campground

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

Woah, so he finally admitted guilt. That’s shocking.

 

[BrownRice]

Craig Ross Jr. pleads guilty to abducting girl, 9, from state park


Craig Ross Jr. pleads guilty to abducting girl, 9, from state park

Such an unusual case. One that she was found (relatively) unharmed and two that he plead guilty. We don’t see that too often, if ever.