Craig N. Ross Jr. is due back in court on Wednesday to be sentenced. He faces 47 years to life in prison after being convicted of kidnapping a Greenfield girl from Moreau Lake State Park last fall in a case that drew national attention.
WHO IS CRAIG ROSS JR.?
Ross was 46 years old at the time of the kidnapping. He resided in Ballston Spa. Ross was born on March 17, 1977. A 2012 Saratogian birth announcement said he had fathered multiple children.
Property records indicate that he’s at least lived in northern Saratoga County the last 20 years, including areas surrounding Ballston Spa and Providence. He bought a home on Circle Drive in Corinth for $50,000 four years ago.
That Corinth property is about two minutes from the Greenfield girl's family home, but it’s unclear if Ross knew the girl or surveilled her.
WHAT DID ROSS DO?
The top charge was one count of first-degree kidnapping, a Class A-1 felony.
The other charges include; four counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, class A-II felonies; first-degree sexual abuse, a class-D felony; first-degree sexual abuse, class D felony; second-degree assault, a class D violent felony; and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.
In November 2023, Ross pleaded not guilty and an April trial date was set. However, in February, he accepted a plea deal and changed his plea to guilty.
Ross admitted in court to counts of kidnapping and predatory sexual assault of a child. Ross, who was represented by county Conflict Defender Matthew Maiello, also pleaded guilty to raping the child.
HOW LONG DID THE SEARCH TAKE?
The Greenfield girl first went missing Saturday evening after a bike ride with friends. After about 15 minutes of unsuccessful searching, her parents called the police.
- On Sunday morning, an Amber Alert was issued. Multiple agencies joined the search that continued throughout Sunday.
- The main break in the case was Monday morning. A ransom note was left at the victim’s family’s residence. Fingerprints were lifted from the note.
- Later that afternoon, police matched the print to a 1999 intoxicated driving arrest.
- That evening, police located Ross at a Ballston Spa residence belonging to his mother. Also at the residence was the Greenfield girl, who was hidden in a cupboard before being rescued.
- Ross was arrested and questioned later Monday. On Tuesday morning, authorities announced he had been formally charged with kidnapping.
HOW LONG WILL ROSS BE IN PRISON?
The sentence connected to the plea deal will likely keep Ross in prison for the rest of his life. The sentence means Ross wouldn't have any chance of parole until he was in his early 90s.