Charlotte Sena, child missing from Moreau Lake State Park: Updates

The park remains closed to the public as searchers search the forest for the fourth-grader at Corinth schools who lives in Greenfield. She was last seen early Saturday evening after riding a bike with friends.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday said Charlotte vanished after asking to go for a bike ride on her own. 

When about 10 minutes passed and Charlotte didn’t return from her ride, her parents started looking for her, Trooper Stephanie O’Neil said Sunday.

Police say investigation classified as ‘missing child’ 

4:34 p.m.:  State Police put out a lengthy statement Monday late afternoon, saying the search for Charlotte continues and is being led by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. “At this time, approximately 400 certified search and rescue personnel are actively searching. The searchers originate from law enforcement agencies, 34 volunteer fire departments, along with private search and rescue groups,” the State Police statement read.

Confusion for the public about the nature of the investigation into her disappearance, however, continues. An Amber Alert says Charlotte has been abducted. The State Police release Monday afternoon said:  “The investigation remains classified as a missing child. State Police are pursuing all investigative avenues to locate Charlotte and, in doing so, have requested the assistance of local and federal law enforcement agencies and our partners.” 

Police said the search is a 24-hour operation, and all tips are being followed up on. “When a child disappears, members of the community often have information they do not realize is valuable. This information is crucial in establishing a timeline of what happened,” State Police said. 

They said if you or someone you know visited Moreau Lake State Park on Saturday, email [email protected]. “No detail is too small when searching for a missing child,” they said. 

Also any search and rescue trained personnel who wish to volunteer can email [email protected]. Include your name, contact information, and credentials in the email.  Someone will contact you if assistance is need.

Police said Moreau Lake State Park is closed indefinitely

‘Any information would help’

1:23 p.m.: Charlotte’s aunt, Jené Sena, spoke in a post on TikTok late Sunday night asking people if they know anything to contact State Police.

“I know there’s so much information out there about my niece, Charlotte. I appreciate all the videos and all the outreach,” Sena said. “It’s a little bit overwhelming. I’m obviously handling the media stuff for the family given that I work in the media.” Sena’s social media profile says she’s a beauty writer who has had a podcast and appears on-air on various programs.

“There isn’t any information we can tell at this time,” she said in the post she made at about 11 p.m. Sunday. “But if you can keep sharing her photo and praying really — that is really the best that the family, our family, can ask of anyone at this time.

“The police are doing their job, they know what they’re doing,” she said. “I’m getting so many messages I can’t keep up obviously. But if you know anything at all please contact the New York State Police. If you know anyone who lives around the area. I feel like any information would help with their investigations at this time. I’ll try to keep you guys updated if I hear of anything,” she said.

Prayer gathering planned for Monday night

1:11 p.m.: The Mount Zion Church said it is holding a prayer gathering for Charlotte’s safe return from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church, 207 Redmond Road, Gansevoort. 

Police presence beyond Moreau State Park

12:52 p.m.:  A few State Police troopers were seen Monday roaming the perimeter around Charlotte’s family’s home in the hamlet of Porter Corners, which is about 16 miles southwest of Moreau Lake State Park. The park is where the girl’s family and friends were camping at the time of her disappearance Saturday.

Meanwhile, in the village of Corinth just to the north of the family’s home — and where Charlotte goes to school — residents said police had closed boat launches on the Hudson River while the search continues for the fourth grader. 

Emotional vigil in Corinth

12:38 p.m.: A vigil for Charlotte was held on the sandy shore of the Hudson River behind the Corinth Free Library Sunday night. Clergy members spoke and children attended — including classmates of Charlotte’s older sister. 

“We love you Charlotte” was written in the sand, with candles forming a heart with a “C” in the middle.

Charlotte attends Corinth Elementary School, which is in the village not far from the library.

‘Leave all searching to the professionals’

10:50 a.m.: Officials urged the public to stay away from Moreau State Park while search-and-rescue crews comb the 6,250-acre park for Charlotte Sena.

“Be respectful of our current situation. Please do not come to the park,” the statement said. “For everyone asking what they can do to help: Please stay off the rails and away from Moreau. Leave all searching to the professionals.” 

Family friend: ‘This family is hurting’

9:45 a.m.: Patrick Kane, who runs a home remodeling business in Saratoga Springs and has worked with Charlotte’s father David and is close with the family was outside the park Monday morning. He said the last two days had been harrowing for the family.

“This family is hurting,” Kane said. “You can’t imagine what the last 36 hours have been like for them. It’s devastating.”

Kane said the family is very tight-knit and David Sena is one of the nicest people you’d ever meet. He has two other daughters and coaches girls’ sports. 

He says that the family does feel like they’re being kept in the loop by law enforcement and state officials as the media and public wait for any official updates. 

Troopers and other searchers pour into the park

9:35 a.m.: Columns of State Police cruisers and official vehicles have been driving down Old Saratoga Road all morning, coming and going from the park. A South Glens Falls school bus was seen entering around 9 a.m. A few minutes later, a group of searchers lined up on Old Saratoga Road and began making their way into the woods.

Corinth schools have counselors on-site

8:15 a.m.: The Corinth Central School District, where Charlotte Sena attends fourth grade, acknowledged the Amber Alert on Monday in a statement on its website, noting that extra counselors would be on-site to support students.

“The Sena family has the full support of the entire Corinth district and community,” school officials wrote. “The district has mobilized its crisis team which has training and protocol to follow for such situations. Our staff will be ready to respond to student concerns and questions. We will also have extra counselors on site for any students or staff who should need their support. The district maintains its focus on the safety and the well-being of our students and staff. Our hearts go out to the Sena family.”

Charlotte, a ‘trusting’ child

8 a.m.: “I just want my daughter back,” Charlotte’s mother, Trisha Sena, said Sunday.

She described her daughter as “a good kid” who is “trusting.” Trisha Sena works for Stewart’s Shops.

Police received the call about Charlotte’s disappearance around 6:45 p.m. Saturday, which was when her bike was found. The governor described a “chaotic scene” Saturday night in which people from nearby campsites joined the parents’ search, screaming the girl’s name.

The disappearance prompted an intense search of the 6,250-acre park on the northern edge of Saratoga County. It continued into Sunday evening with State Police relying on the work of more than 100 searchers, bloodhounds, drones, and a helicopter.

An Amber Alert issued Sunday described the situation as a possible abduction. State Police Lt. Col. Richard Mazzone said, “We felt after that exhausted search, if we couldn’t find her here, it was possible an abduction had taken place.”

Charlotte stands 4-foot-6 tall and weighs about 90 pounds. She has blond hair, green eyes and was wearing a Pokemon shirt, blue pants and black Crocs on Saturday.