logo
Drowning in debt: Canadian dad charged with killing daughter in US struggled with child support; deleted company bio hints 'affected will-being'

Drowning in debt: Canadian dad charged with killing daughter in US struggled with child support; deleted company bio hints 'affected will-being'

Time of India6 days ago
A Canadian father charged with murdering his 9-year-old daughter faces substantial financial difficulties and had trouble meeting child support obligations, whilst making unsettling posts about his daughter's impact on his daily routine.
During his Monday court appearance for allegedly killing his daughter Melina in upstate New York, Luciano Frattolin, 45, who portrayed himself as a successful coffee company proprietor, declared his inability to afford legal representation and even offor child support, reported the NY Post.
Frattolin, Ethiopia-born, praised Melina on his Montreal-based Gabella Coffee company's website, describing her as "beautiful" and "the light of his life.''
However, the corporate biography revealed concerning insights into his mental state.
He acknowledged adjusting to his daughter's "messy art projects" and "chaotic" toys despite his fixation with maintaining "perfect order" in his residence.
His biography, now removed from the internet, referenced personal hardships, including experiences with "incidences of racism," "feelings of isolation" and losing his father during his teenage years.
He referenced an "unfortunate event" in 2019 that "severely affected his well-being" requiring a "long and arduous" recovery period. Police confirmed his estrangement from his former wife that year.
Beyond personal struggles and marital discord, Frattolin accumulated over $200,000 in business-related debt in Montreal. Since 2020, he rented property in Montreal's Mile End district, operating it as an
Airbnb
. He employed two property managers to handle operations and rent payments, using the proceeds for child support payments, according to court documents.
His landlord terminated the lease in August 2024 following $26,000 in unpaid rent. He lost access to the property containing his daughter's winter clothing and toys. He initiated legal action against the two managers for $115,000, alleging unauthorised property exploitation and failure to make promised rent payments, as reported by Le Devoir.
The managers countered that Frattolin intended to empty his accounts and leave the country, which he denied.
A Dépanneur Café employee reported Frattolin, who still owes Bank of Nova Scotia $83,000, had been dividing his time between Italy and Canada for 18 months.
The bank cited additional unpaid credit card debts of $97,000 from Café Gambella, another establishment sharing his online coffee business name.
As he drowned in debt, his
Instagram
presence portrayed affluence, featuring exotic travels and luxury vehicles, including statements like "I am truly addicted to Porsche."
Prior to his daughter's death, they were holidaying near Lake George, approximately 30 miles from where her body was discovered.
Before authorities found the child's remains, Frattolin falsely reported her kidnapping by two men in a white van near I-87's Exit 22, shortly after she contacted her mother before their scheduled return to Quebec.
He entered a not-guilty plea to charges of second-degree murder, potentially carrying a life sentence in New York, and concealment of a human corpse.
His next court appearance is scheduled for July 25.
Case background:
The Canadian father and his nine-year-old daughter arrived in the US for a vacation on July 11, touring parts of Connecticut and New York, including New York City. On Saturday evening, around 5:30 pm (local time), surveillance footage showed them at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs. It was the final day of their trip, with plans to be in Montreal the following day.
At approximately 6:30 pm, Melina contacted her mother and assured her that she was safe. Police believe she was killed sometime between that phone call and a 911 call made by her father at 9:58 pm. During the call, Luciano Frattolin claimed he had stopped his vehicle to relieve himself in the woods, and upon returning, found Melina missing. He told police that two men had abducted her in a white van.
An Amber Alert was issued, sparking an urgent search for the missing girl.
But investigators soon began to question the abduction story. By 10:50 am on Sunday, Melina's body was found in the shallow end of a pond in Ticonderoga, concealed under a log. An autopsy will determine the cause of death.
So far, no motive has been established. Despite being under her mother's custody, Melina was permitted to travel with her father. Luciano Frattolin had no prior criminal record in Canada, and his estranged wife reportedly did not consider him a danger to their daughter. The couple had separated in 2019, with the mother receiving full custody and the father retaining visitation rights, including travel privileges.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Punjab DGP: Five of ISI-backed smuggling network arrested
Punjab DGP: Five of ISI-backed smuggling network arrested

Hindustan Times

time9 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Punjab DGP: Five of ISI-backed smuggling network arrested

A trans-border smuggling network of sophisticated arms and drug money, operated by Pakistan's ISI backed handlers, has been dismantled with the arrest of five members, police said on Sunday. The Amritsar Rural police, in coordination with central agencies, has also seized a consignment of firearms and ₹7.50 lakh drug money, said director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. The seized items with Amritsar police on Sunday. (ANI) Those arrested have been identified as Jobanjit Singh and Gora Singh of Rangarh village, Jaspreet Singh alias Motu of Mughal Majri village in Ropar, Sunny Singh and Shahenshah Singh alias Shalu of Rasulpur Kallar village . The seizure includes an AK Saiga 308 assault rifle with two magazines, two Glock pistols (9 mm) with four magazines, 90 live cartridges of AK rifle, 10 live cartridges (9mm), ₹7.50 lakh drug money, a car and three mobile phones. Sharing further detail, SSP (Amritsar rural) Maninder Singh said, 'A preliminary investigation revealed the accused had direct links with Pakistan-based ISI operatives. The intercepted consignment was intended to be delivered to Navdeep Singh alias Nav Pandori, a known associate of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, indicating a broader terror-gangster nexus.' 'The special cell received a tip-off that Jobanjit, Gora, Motu, Sunny and Shalu were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers backed by the ISI. The accused had already received a consignment of arms and were preparing to deliver it, as per the directions of ISI handlers, to Nav Pandori, a close associate of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria. The accused had previously delivered several consignments to Nav Pandori,' he said, adding that the accused were caught at a special checkpoint near a newly constructed bridge in Kaler village. A case has been registered at Lopoke police station under Sections 21-C, 25, 27-A, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act, Sections 25, 25(7), 54 and 59 of the Arms Act, and Sections 111, 113 of the BNS. The forward and backward linkages of the arrested persons are being looked into, officials said. A verification is being conducted to ascertain if the accused acquired any property through illicit means. If any such property is found, the same will be frozen, officials added.

Police constable's wife dies by suicide in UP, alleges harassment by in-laws in Instagram video
Police constable's wife dies by suicide in UP, alleges harassment by in-laws in Instagram video

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Police constable's wife dies by suicide in UP, alleges harassment by in-laws in Instagram video

NEW DELHI: The wife of a police constable in Uttar Pradesh died by suicide after posting a video on Instagram in which she accused her in-laws of harassment, police said on Sunday. According to PTI, Saumya Kashyap, married to constable Anurag Singh who is posted with Eagle Mobile at Bakshi Ka Talab police station, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her home. Her death came to light after authorities were alerted to the social media post. In the video, Saumya alleged that her in-laws were pressuring her husband to remarry and that her brother-in-law had threatened to kill her. Police have informed Saumya's family, who are travelling from Mainpuri to Lucknow. A case will be registered upon receiving their complaint, officials said. An investigation is underway.

Police officers' association condemns YSRCP leaders' remarks
Police officers' association condemns YSRCP leaders' remarks

The Hindu

time3 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Police officers' association condemns YSRCP leaders' remarks

The Chittoor District Police Officers' Association, in a statement on Sunday, cautioned political leaders against making allegations against the police personnel. Referring to the comments made by YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and former Minister Ambati Rambabu during a programme at Bangarupalem recently that 'a rowdy sheet will be opened against an IPS officer if our party comes to power,' the association said such statements were unacceptable in a democratic set-up. The association said that permissions had been granted for an interaction with 500 mango farmers as per his request, yet senior officers' directions were ignored. The association also condemned Chittoor-based YSRCP leader M.C. Vijayananda Reddy's alleged abusive and indecent remarks against Two-Town Circle Inspector Nettikantayya and Sub-Inspector Ramesh Babu while they were trying to control clashes between two groups in Chittoor recently. The association said both the officers had acted lawfully under the orders of senior officials. The allegations that Mr. Nettikantayya had ordered a power-cut in the area during the clashes were false, it said. On suspension of the Personal Security Officer assigned to YSRCP Punganur MLA Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, the association said action had been taken for negligence in VIP security and not for political reasons as was alleged by former Tirupati MLA Bhumana Karunakara Reddy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store