MOREAU, NEW YORK: Horrified netizens have come together to pray for the safe return of Charlotte Sena, a 9-year-old Saratoga County girl, who mysteriously vanished while camping with her family in Moreau Lake State Park in upstate New York.
Sena has not been seen since 6:15 pm on Saturday, September 30 when she split off from her friends to cycle a lap of the trail loop by herself.
She was last seen wearing an orange tie-dye Pokemon t-shirt, dark blue pants, black Crocs, and a gray bike helmet, as per Daily Mail.
Authorities described her as White with blonde hair, standing 4-foot-6 and weighing 90 pounds. She was a student at Corinth Central Elementary School and had recently been chosen as a class representative on the student council.
When did Charlotte Sena go missing?
The fourth grader was enjoying a family trip in Moreau Lake State Park on Saturday when she and two of her close friends went on a bike ride around Loop A.
As they cycled loops of the route, Charlotte wanted to ride alone one last time even though her buddies had decided to go back to the campsite.
Fifteen minutes later, when she failed to return to the campsite, her parents -- David and Trisha Sena -- became concerned and started calling out to her.
After they received no response, the family started looking for Sena, prompting strangers from other campgrounds to join the hunt.
Nearly thirty minutes later, police were called to the scene. Officers then searched the area and found her bike near Loop A, but there were no signs of the fourth grader.
When was an amber alert for Charlotte Sena issued?
After officers extensively searched the park, an amber alert was issued for Sena at around 9:30 am on Sunday. “Charlotte Sena was taken under circumstances that led police to believe that (she is) in imminent danger of serious harm and/or death,” the alert stated.
Since then, more than 100 personnel, including 75 law enforcement officials, have been deployed in the search, which also includes dogs, two drones, boats, and six underwater rescue teams.
In a press conference, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul promised that "no stone" would be left unturned in the search for the fourth grader.
"Hearts are broken today here in New York. Hopefully, there will be a reunion, hopefully, there will be a family that has been traumatized but reunited,” she said, adding, "We will leave no stone, no branch, no table, no cabin unturned, untouched, unexamined in our search for Charlotte Sena.”
This sentiment was echoed by State Police Troop G Public Information Officer Stephanie O'Neil, who said, “She is a highly intelligent, adventurous nine-year-old – but obviously this is out of character for her.”
Internet terrorized as search for Charlotte Sena continues
The mysterious disappearance of 9-year-old Sena has caused dread on the internet, with one user saying, “I cannot imagine the absolute terror and heartbreak her family is going through right now. Horrible.”
“I know and with each hour passing. It gets worse. Heartbreaking,” a second user said while another wrote, “Charlotte ..escape if you can, fight if you can, run if you can ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Praying for you.”
“Dang, hate to see these things, saddens me,” one user asserted. “Reading that makes me sick. That poor kid. I pray she's found safe,” another user said.
“This is terrible. One child is too many, but thousands are missing. Praying as hard as I can,” one more said.
