9-year-old girl found safe after going missing in upstate N.Y. park while riding her bicycle

UPDATE Oct. 2, 2023:

New York State Police announced Monday, Oct. 2 that Charlotte Sena "has been found safe and in good heath."

Investigators identified a person who was in the same area of Moreau Lake State Park around the time the 9-year-old girl disappeared. Officials searched residences in the area where the person was known to reside and found Charlotte at 6:32 p.m. The suspect was taken into custody and not immediately publicly identified.

New York State Police have a press conference planned for Tuesday, Oct. 3.

MOREAU, N.Y. (TCD) -- New York State Police activated an Amber Alert this week after a 9-year-old girl disappeared Saturday while riding her bike in a state park.

According to State Police, Charlotte Sena was last seen Saturday, Sept. 30, at approximately 6:15 p.m. She was at Moreau Lake State Park wearing a tie-dye Pokémon shirt, blue pants, gray bike helmet, and black Crocs. She is 5-foot-1 and weighs approximately 90 pounds.

New York State Police issued the Amber Alert Sunday, Oct. 1, and said they were classifying the case as a child abduction. The AWARE Foundation tweeted Charlotte was "taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious harm and/or death."

In a speech, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Charlotte and her family went to the park for "a weekend of friendship and food and enjoying one of the last few days of good weather." The park is about 15 minutes from where Charlotte and her family live. The group of family and friends rode bicycles, camped out, cooked, and went to the park to "make memories, the kind that lasts a lifetime."

According to Hochul, on the night Charlotte disappeared, she and her friends rode a few laps around the park before dark. Charlotte apparently wanted to complete one more loop, so she went alone. Her parents became worried when she failed to return after 15 minutes.

A group, including other campers in the area, began searching for Charlotte in what Hochul called a "chaotic" scene. Charlotte’s mother called 911 at 6:47 p.m., about 30 minutes after she went missing.

Hochul said there are more than 100 personnel, 75 law enforcement members, two drones, an airboat team, six underwater rescue teams, and a boat with sonar capabilities involved in the search. Charlotte’s uncle works for the Schenectady Fire Department, so that unit is on location as well.

Moreau Lake Park is closed until further notice.

Hochul said toward the end of her speech, "We are leaving no stone, no branch, no table, no cabin unturned, untouched, unexamined in our search to find Charlotte."

MORE:

• Missing Saratoga County Child Found Safe - New York State Police
• Missing Child - New York State Police
• Amber Alert Activated - New York State Police
• Amber Alert — Updated Description - New York State Police
• Amber Alert - The AWARE Foundation
• Governor Hochul Provides Update on Search for Charlotte Sena - New York Governor's Office
• Moreau Lake State Park is closed until further notice - Moreau Lake State Park