Amber Alert: Abducted 9-Year-Old Girl in 'Imminent Danger'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
An Amber Alert has been issued for a 9-year-old girl, Melina Frattolin, who police believe was abducted in Lake George, NY, on Saturday evening.
Newsweek has contacted the local police department for comment via email on Sunday outside of usual working hours.
The Context
Frattolin was last seen around 9:40 p.m. near the Lake George Village area of New York, according to New York State Police. This time was corrected from a previously reported time of 7:40 p.m. Authorities state she was taken under circumstances that lead them to believe she is in imminent danger.
What To Know
A Facebook post by New York State Police states that the department's Investigative Support Unit "is activating an AMBER Alert on behalf of the Warren County Sheriffs Office and is investigating a child abduction that occurred in LAKE GEORGE NY at approximately 09:40 PM on July 19, 2025."
An Amber Alert is a system used to rapidly disseminate information about an abducted child to the public in an attempt to aid in their safe recovery. It is a partnership between law enforcement, broadcasters, and transportation agencies to quickly engage the community to help in the search.
Frattolin is described as an Indian female, around 9 years old, with brown hair and brown eyes. She is approximately 5 feet tall and weighs about 100 pounds. Frattolin was wearing a blue and white striped shirt, shorts, and white Adidas sneakers at the time of her disappearance, according to the police post.
She was last seen in a white van heading southbound on the Northway near exit 22. The Northway, also known as Interstate 87 (I-87), runs through the popular Lake George vacation region of New York and is accessible from Exits 18 through 26.
The child was taken under circumstances that lead the police to believe that they are in "imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death."
The suspect is listed as "unknown," and no description of a potential suspect or vehicle has been released at this time, but officials are urging the public to stay alert and report any information immediately.
The Amber Alert remains active, and law enforcement agencies across the state have been mobilised to assist in the search. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or contact the New York State Police directly.
NYPD hybrid patrol car parked alongside a street lined with scaffolding near a Starbucks, New York City, New York, October 20, 2024.
NYPD hybrid patrol car parked alongside a street lined with scaffolding near a Starbucks, New York City, New York, October 20, 2024.
Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/What People Are Saying
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children previously told Newsweek in a statement: "At the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), we know that AMBER Alerts play a vital role in engaging the public when a child goes missing.
"By increasing awareness and generating immediate action, AMBER Alerts have successfully helped to safely recover over 1,200 children as of December 31, 2023," the statement continued. "These alerts mobilize communities, law enforcement, and media in a united effort, significantly boosting the chances of a child's safe recovery."
What Happens Next
More details will be provided as the investigation develops. Anyone with information about the abduction is asked to call the Warren County Sheriff's Office at 518-743-2501 or dial 911.
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