“Craig N. Ross Jr. Kidnapping: Plea Deal Explored in Connection to Unsolved Abductions and Murders of Teenagers Jennifer Hammond and Christina White”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Craig N. Ross Jr. appeared in court on November 17 for his arraignment on charges of kidnapping a 9-year-old girl from Moreau Lake State Park. The incident occurred on September 30, during a camping trip with the girl’s family. State Police SWAT teams were able to rescue the girl two days after her abduction from a camper trailer parked behind Ross’ mother’s residence in Milton.

Saratoga County prosecutors have reportedly explored the potential of a plea agreement with Ross, provided he has any connection to the abduction and murders of two teenage women who went missing in 2003 and 2005. However, any potential plea negotiations have been put on hold as Ross is awaiting the assignment of a new attorney. Even if Ross were to admit to the unsolved homicides, a plea deal would likely not include a sentence of less than 25 years to life.

Law enforcement sources have stated that investigators currently have no evidence linking Ross to the earlier abductions. The skeletal remains of the two victims, Jennifer “Moonbeam” Hammond and Christina N. White, were found in a rugged region of Lake Desolation State Forest, a few miles apart from each other.

Ross has had previous marital problems and was investigated for allegations of sexually abusing a female family acquaintance when she was approximately 12 years old. He has also had few social connections and had been living in a camper trailer behind his mother’s residence. These characteristics align with a suspect profile developed by the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico for the investigations involving White and Hammond.

The FBI had also developed a similar profile during the search for the person responsible for abducting the 9-year-old girl from Moreau Lake State Park. This profile listed characteristics similar to Ross’ background.

Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen has declined to comment on the reported information. However, she stated that the case is significant and that her office is working diligently on it.

The breakthrough in the kidnapping case occurred when Ross allegedly drove by the girl’s family residence and placed a ransom note asking for $50,000 in their mailbox. The parents were not at home at the time. A state trooper guarding the house witnessed the vehicle but did not suspect any connection to the kidnapping. Hours later, State Police forensic analysts were able to lift a fingerprint from the ransom note, which matched Ross’ fingerprints from a previous arrest. Ross was subsequently arrested by a SWAT team at his mother’s property.

The 9-year-old girl was found in a compartment in the bedroom of the camper trailer and was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital for treatment. She has since been reunited with her family.

The investigation into Ross’ potential connection to the unsolved homicides from 2003 and 2005 is ongoing. The victims, White and Hammond, were last seen near mobile home parks in Milton, where Ross and his family have resided for decades. Police have not confirmed whether Ross had planned the kidnapping or if it was a random incident.

Overall, this case remains significant, and law enforcement officials are actively working on it to ensure justice is served..