A New York man was sentenced to 47 years to life in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl on a bicycle in a state park during a family vacation last year, after the heartbreaking statement was read in court. of the young victim.
Craig N. Ross Jr., 47, kidnapped the nine-year-old girl, whose name is not being released due to the nature of the crime, during their camping trip to Moreau Lake State Park in New York, near Saratoga Springs, September 30th.
The girl, who was not present in court, wrote a heartbreaking statement that was read aloud by Saratoga County Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer L. Buckley on Wednesday.
She wrote: ‘Because of you, I can’t sleep at night. I was imprisoned for two and a half days and now you will be imprisoned for 47 years.’
‘I felt alone. Now you too will be alone. There will always be someone looking at you, as if someone was looking at me. They will treat you badly, like they treated me badly.
‘In time I will forget you, but you will not forget me. You will never be able to affect anyone again… You will fall apart and I will stand tall,” she added, concluding her “fearless” statement.
Craig N. Ross Jr., 47, was sentenced to 47 years to life in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl who was riding her bicycle in a state park during a family vacation last year.
Ross snatched the nine-year-old girl, whose name is not being released, during their camping trip to Moreau Lake State Park in New York, near Saratoga Springs, on September 30.
After the girl went missing, a multi-agency search was launched that spanned 46 miles and included 400 federal, state and local law enforcement personnel and volunteers on the ground.
Ross showed little emotion and kept his gaze downward as the statement was read aloud. He declined to speak, the Associated Press reported.
The 47-year-old pleaded guilty in February to first-degree kidnapping and predatory sexual assault of a child.
Judge James A. Murphy sentenced him to 25 years to life in prison for kidnapping and 22 years to life in prison for predatory sexual assault.
The judge ordered those sentences to be served consecutively and imposed a protective order on the girl.
The girl’s relatives were able to confront Ross during the sentencing Wednesday afternoon.
The girl’s uncle, who shared a statement from her father, said: “What kind of person wakes up in the morning and decides to steal someone’s child?” What kind of monster does that?
At a court hearing in February, Deputy Prosecutor Buckley said they had a huge amount of evidence, including more than 2,000 photographs, surveillance videos, emails and witnesses to present.
Judge James A. Murphy sentenced him to 25 years to life in prison for the kidnapping conviction and 22 years to life in prison for the predatory sexual assault conviction.
The girl was riding her bike alone on Loop A at Moreau Lake State Park when she disappeared in September of last year.
It should have only taken a few minutes to complete the small circuit, but after 15 minutes, when his parents realized he hadn’t returned, they became worried.
Her parents called authorities after discovering her bike on the trail, and officials searched the 6,250-acre park but found no sign of her.
After her disappearance, a multi-agency search was launched that spanned 46 miles and included 400 federal, state and local law enforcement personnel and volunteers on the ground.
The search continued for two days until Ross left a ransom note in the mailbox of the girl’s family home demanding $50,000 in exchange for her return.
Police were able to identify fingerprints that matched a 1999 DUI charge against Ross and swooped on his mother’s trailer in Milton.
Two SWAT teams, one state and one federal, descended on the property in helicopters, and Ross allegedly resisted.
They found the girl hiding in a closet.
The girl’s aunt said it was “pure torture, pure torture really.” You’re thinking what if this doesn’t end soon, what if we can’t find her, all the what ifs.
When she found out she was okay, she “fell on her knees and screamed,” the girl’s aunt said.
The girl was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital after being found, and officials said she was in good physical health after the ordeal.
The 47-year-old pleaded guilty in February to first-degree kidnapping and predatory sexual assault of a child.
Police were able to identify fingerprints that matched a 1999 DUI charge for Ross and swooped on his mother’s trailer (pictured) in Milton.
After the young woman was found, her parents expressed their gratitude to law enforcement authorities and said, “We are delighted.”
“A huge thank you to the FBI, the New York State Police, all the agencies that mobilized, all the families, friends, community, neighbors and hundreds of volunteers who supported us and worked tirelessly to bring her home.”
In announcing Ross’ sentence Wednesday, Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen said the plea agreement shows Ross “was responsible for his heinous and despicable acts last fall.”
“The sentence handed down today by Ross Judge James A. Murphy, III to a total of 47 years to life in prison reflects the Court’s determination that Ross’s actions were so vile and evil that he should face life in prison,” he said. Heggen.
“He will spend decades in prison before he can be considered for parole. This result is due to the tremendous efforts of the New York State Police and its many law enforcement partners…
“…Along with the great support of citizens of the community who came out in many ways to support the boy and his family,” Heggen added.