Americans hold vigil for Canadian girl, 9, found dead in a pond
Residents of an upstate New York town gathered Tuesday night to shed tears and light candles for a nine-year-old Montreal girl whose body was found in their community over the weekend.
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Scores of people in Ticonderoga gathered at a local park for an emotional tribute to nine-year-old Melina Frattolin.
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Ticonderoga resident Bridgette Cruz, who organized the vigil, said her heart is shattered for Melina's mother and loved ones.
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'She was supposed to be taken care of, and I can't fathom as a mother the pain that she's enduring in her heart, and the suffering,' she said ahead of the vigil. 'It truly is a tragedy, not just for this town but two nations.'
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She says the little girl would forever be a part of the community, even if she didn't live there.
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'This little girl was not from here but we're going to love her like she was from Ticonderoga,' Cruz said.
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Matthew Courtright, president and CEO of the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, said the whole community had been affected by the death.
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'In the face of tragedy, in the face of issues, we always come together,' he said. 'People step up and we support each other.'
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At the vigil, a bouquet of flowers and a small stuffed animal were set on a table. Next to it sat two pieces of artwork, with a message in a child's handwriting that read, 'RIP Melina. You were loved by a lot of people.'
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As the sun set across the park, illuminating the open spaces and a bubbling waterfall, many of the vigil attendees expressed incomprehension at how a father could allegedly have killed his child.
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'Hearing about the father, it's devastating,' said Annette Hurlburt. 'I have a nine-year old nephew and I can't imagine this happening to him.'
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She said many residents of the town received an Amber Alert when Melina went missing, and had hoped for her safe return.
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Hurlburt said her message was to encourage anyone who is struggling to seek help before it's too late. 'If you are in a situation and you need to seek help, so tragedies like this don't happen, I would recommend getting help,' she said.
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Toronto Sun
7 days ago
- Toronto Sun
U.S. judge denies bail for Montreal man charged with murder in daughter's death
Luciano Frattolin pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in the death of Melina Frattolin in New York state. Published Jul 30, 2025 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 2 minute read Luciano Frattolin is charged with murder and concealing a corpse in the death of his nine-year-old daughter, Melina Frattolin. New York State Police via AP Luciano Frattolin, the man accused of killing his nine-year-old daughter Melina Frattolin while on holiday in upstate New York, has been denied bail and will remain in custody until his next court appearance. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Frattolin, 45, pleaded not guilty in New York state to charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in the death of Melina. Following Wednesday's proceedings, which a court clerk confirmed to The Gazette, Frattolin is due back in court on Aug. 19. Melina, who lived in Montreal with her mother, was found dead in a shallow pond on July 20. An autopsy determined she died from asphyxia due to drowning. Frattolin initially told police his daughter had been abducted while he stopped to urinate near a highway exit in Lake George, N.Y., but investigators said his story changed multiple times. By the following afternoon, police discovered the girl's body beneath a log near a wooded area. Investigators believe the killing occurred the night of July 19 between 7:35 and 9:05, near Route 74. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Frattolin and Melina entered the U.S. from Canada on July 11 for a vacation. She was scheduled to return to her mother — who had full custody — the day before her body was found. The parents had separated in 2019. Prosecutors argued against bail, citing Frattolin's dual citizenship, foreign assets and international business ties as evidence he posed a flight risk, local media reported. Frattolin holds Italian and Ethiopian passports and has business interests overseas, including a mining deal and a planned hotel project in Ethiopia, according to a former friend. 'He never flew coach,' the friend told The Gazette. 'He was one of the first people to bring a Porsche into Ethiopia.' The man, who knew Frattolin during his time in Ethiopia, described him as 'image conscious,' frequently dressed in expensive clothing and known for his wealth and status in local circles. He added that Frattolin's connection to Montreal was limited. If convicted, Frattolin faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The charge of concealing a human corpse carries up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. With files from The Gazette's Paul Cherry MLB Celebrity Wrestling Toronto & GTA Ontario
CTV News
30-07-2025
- CTV News
Montreal father accused of murdering daughter, 9, in New York State denied bail
Luciano Frattolin, 45, is escorted into the Ticonderoga courthouse on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Montreal man accused of killing his nine-year-old daughter in upstate New York earlier this month has been denied bail. The District Attorney's Office for Essex County confirmed that Luciano Frattolin, 45, entered a plea of not guilty after being arraigned on charges of second-degree murder and the concealment of a human corpse following the death of his daughter, Melina Frattolin. Wearing a grey suit, Frattolin was escorted out of a police SUV and into the courthouse in Ticonderoga, N.Y., with his hands handcuffed in front of him. Luciano Frattolin Luciano Frattolin, 45, is escorted from the Ticonderoga courthouse on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. He was remanded into custody without bail and is due back in court on Aug. 19. The accused was scheduled to appear in court last Friday, but the appearance was cancelled after the court said the case was moved to a grand jury, which wrapped up the same day. The grand jury formally ruled there was enough evidence to issue an indictment and allow the case to move to trial. Melina Frattolin Melina Frattolin, 9, was found dead in Ticonderoga, NY. (Photo courtesy NYSP) Melina was found dead on July 20 in a shallow pond in Ticonderoga after her father reported her missing. Police alleged he fabricated the abduction story to mislead investigators. Frattlolin allegedly concealed his daughter's body by placing it in a wooded area in water near a fallen tree with a rock on top of the corpse 'with the intent to prevent its production, use or discovery,' according to the indictment. The court documents alleged he killed his daughter sometime on July 19 between 7:35 p.m. and 9:05 p.m. near Route 74 in Ticonderoga. A preliminary autopsy ruled that Melina died of asphyxia due to drowning and ruled her death a homicide. The two had entered the U.S. on July 11 for a vacation and were supposed to return the day the child's body was found. In New York State, murder in the second degree carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Concealing a human body, a class E felony, carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison and $5,000 fine. The prosecution argued that Frattolin, who holds Italian and Ethiopian passports, was a flight risk, also referencing his considerable assets. The defence argued that he has never had a warrant and had planned to stay in New York City with a friend, claiming that he had no reason to flee and was willing to give up his Italian passport. With files from CTV News' Genevieve Beauchemin.
National Post
30-07-2025
- National Post
Bail denied for Luciano Frattolin, charged with murder in nine-year-old daughter's death
Luciano Frattolin, the man accused of killing his nine-year-old daughter Melina Frattolin while on holiday in upstate New York, has been denied bail and will remain in custody until his next court appearance. Article content Frattolin, 45, pleaded not guilty in New York state to charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in the death of Melina. Following Wednesday's proceedings, which a court clerk confirmed to The Gazette, Frattolin is due back in court on Aug. 19. Article content Article content Article content Melina, who lived in Montreal with her mother, was found dead in a shallow pond on July 20. An autopsy determined she died from asphyxia due to drowning. Article content Article content Frattolin initially told police his daughter had been abducted while he stopped to urinate near a highway exit in Lake George, N.Y., but investigators said his story changed multiple times. By the following afternoon, police discovered the girl's body beneath a log near a wooded area. Investigators believe the killing occurred the night of July 19 between 7:35 and 9:05, near Route 74. Article content Frattolin and Melina entered the U.S. from Canada on July 11 for a vacation. She was scheduled to return to her mother — who had full custody — the day before her body was found. The parents had separated in 2019. Article content Prosecutors argued against bail, citing Frattolin's dual citizenship, foreign assets and international business ties as evidence he posed a flight risk, local media reported. Article content Frattolin holds Italian and Ethiopian passports and has business interests overseas, including a mining deal and a planned hotel project in Ethiopia, according to a former friend. Article content 'He never flew coach,' the friend told The Gazette. 'He was one of the first people to bring a Porsche into Ethiopia.' Article content The man, who knew Frattolin during his time in Ethiopia, described him as 'image conscious,' frequently dressed in expensive clothing and known for his wealth and status in local circles. He added that Frattolin's connection to Montreal was limited. Article content If convicted, Frattolin faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The charge of concealing a human corpse carries up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Article content
