Canadian father arrested for murder of 9-year-old daughter found dead near Lake George after reporting her missing
murder
of his 9-year-old daughter, just days after he reported her missing while the two were vacationing in New York's Adirondack region.
Luciano Frattolin
, 45, is now in custody following the discovery of his daughter,
Melina Galanis Frattolin's
body in a wooded area near Lake George over the weekend.
The chain of events began late Saturday, July 19, when Frattolin called 911 from a rest area near Exit 22 off the I-87 in the popular upstate New York vacation spot of Lake George. He reported that Melina had been kidnapped by two men in a white van, prompting
New York State Police
to issue an
Amber Alert
.
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The alert described Melina as 5 feet tall, approximately 100 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, last seen wearing a striped shirt and Adidas sneakers. Frattolin claimed the van was heading south on the interstate. Responding to the alert, multiple agencies, including K9 units, aviation support, and forest rangers, launched an intensive search.
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However, within hours, inconsistencies began to emerge in Frattolin's story. Investigators could find no evidence to support the reported abduction. After analyzing surveillance footage, timelines, and physical evidence, police dismissed the kidnapping theory. On Sunday morning, the Amber Alert was canceled, and the case quickly shifted direction.
By Sunday afternoon, authorities had located Melina's body in a wooded area along Route 74 in Ticonderoga, about 15 miles east of Lake George and close to the New York-Vermont border. Her remains were discovered in a shallow, swamp-like pond. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Live Events
Frattolin was arrested early the following morning and booked into the
Essex County Jail
on charges of murder and
concealment of a human corpse
. At his initial court appearance in Ticonderoga Town Court, a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and he remains held without bail.
During a press briefing, New York State Police Captain Robert McConnell confirmed that Frattolin had "fabricated the initial report of the abduction" and was now the sole suspect in Melina's death. McConnell stated that investigators believe the child was killed sometime Saturday evening, shortly after speaking with her mother by phone to say she and her father were heading back to Montreal following a 10-day road trip through New York and Connecticut.
Melina's mother, who had been estranged from Frattolin since 2019, reportedly had no objections to the trip and was in regular phone contact with her daughter. She told officers that the call Saturday night was typical and raised no red flags. Canadian authorities are closely coordinating with their American counterparts as the investigation continues.
Authorities have not released the official cause of death, pending a full autopsy report from the medical examiner. Law enforcement officials emphasized that the incident was isolated and posed no ongoing threat to the public.
'This is a profoundly tragic and disturbing case,' said Captain McConnell. 'Our deepest sympathies are with Melina's family and community. We are committed to ensuring justice is served.'
A scheduled press conference was held in Latham, New York Monday morning, where state officials reiterated that all investigative leads now point to Frattolin acting alone. No other suspects are being sought.
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