MOREAU, NEW YORK: David and Trisha Sena, the 'distraught" parents of missing Charlotte Sena, have been making frantic pleas for the safe return of their nine-year-old daughter who went missing while riding her bike around Moreau Lake State Park in upstate New York.
Sena, a student at Corinth Central Elementary School, was last seen on Loop A at around 6.15 pm on Saturday, wearing an orange tie-dye Pokemon t-shirt, dark blue pants, black Crocs, and a gray bike helmet, as per Daily Mail.
On Sunday morning, authorities issued an amber alert for Sena, stating that she "was taken under circumstances that led police to believe that (she is) in imminent danger of serious harm and/or death."
In a press conference, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul noted that she had met with the Sena's parents, who are praying for their little girl's safe return.
"I just want my daughter back," Trisha told the Albany Times Union, adding that Charlotte is "a good kid" who is "trusting".
Not much is known about Trisha but David is said to be a member of Local Union 773 Plumbers, Pipefitters, Steamfitters, and Service Technicians out of Queensbury.
The union has asked for help in the search for Sena, stating “Please share and help find Charlotte Sena. She is the daughter of one of our members.”
“We just want her returned safely as any parent would. No tip is too small, please call if you know anything at all,” the Sena family told NBC News.
When did Charlotte Sena go missing?
Charlotte Sena went missing on Saturday, September 30, 2023, after she and two of her close friends went on a bike ride around Loop A of Moreau Lake State Park, where she was camping with her family.
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.
When 15 minutes passed and she hadn't returned to the campsite, her parents David and Trisha sensed that something was wrong.
They called her name, and when there was no response, people—including strangers from nearby campgrounds—left their food to look for the nine-year-old.
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.
What’s the status of the search for Charlotte Sena?
For more than 24 hours, state authorities have been searching for the child and have deployed aviation and underwater rescue teams, bloodhounds, and drones in the search.
Lt Col Richard Mazzone told reporters that after their “exhaustive search” of the park police had determined it was "quite possible" Charlotte was abducted.
In a press conference, Governor Hochul promised "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.
"We will leave no stone, no branch, no table, no cabin unturned, untouched, unexamined in our search for Charlotte Sena,” the governor continued.
Anyone with information about this reported abduction is asked to contact State Police Wilton BCI at 518-477-9333 or 518-457-6811.
