Latest news with #BridgetteCruz
CTV News
23-07-2025
- CTV News
Vigil held in New York state for nine-year-old Montreal girl found in pond
People gather at a vigil for a nine-year-old Montreal girl whose body was found in their community over the weekend, in Ticonderoga, New York on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov TICONDEROGA — Residents of an upstate New York town have held a candlelight vigil for a nine-year-old Montreal girl whose body was found in their community over the weekend. Scores of people in Ticonderoga gathered at a local park in an emotional tribute to nine-year-old Melina Frattolin. The young girl was found dead in a shallow pond on Sunday in an alleged homicide. Her 45-year-old father has been charged with second-degree murder and the concealment of a human corpse. Ticonderoga resident Bridgette Cruz says her heart is shattered for Melina's mother and loved ones. She says the little girl will forever be a part of the community, even if she didn't live there. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025.
CBC
22-07-2025
- CBC
Vigil to be held tonight in N.Y. to honour Montreal girl allegedly killed by father
A community in Upstate New York will gather on Tuesday night to honour the life of nine-year-old Melina Frattolin who was allegedly killed by her father over the weekend. Melina's body was found in the shallow water of a pond on Sunday in Ticonderoga, N.Y., about 50 kilometres east of Lake George, near the New York-Vermont border. Her father, 45-year-old Montrealer Luciano Frattolin, was charged on Monday with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. Bridgette Cruz, a Ticonderoga resident and the organizer of tonight's vigil, says everyone in the small community is shaken. "Not only in America, Canadians as well," she said. Cruz explained that she was holding the vigil to honour a young life lost, highlighting that everyone was grieving as parents, individuals and countries. "These are your people. These might not be our people, but she is going to be one of us now since this is her eternal soul's resting place," she said. Frattolin had first reported his daughter's disappearance to local police at around 10 p.m. on Saturday while they were travelling in the United States. An Amber Alert was triggered. He told police that he'd left his car to urinate in a wooded area and that his daughter was gone when he returned. He reported a white van fleeing the scene southbound. In a subsequent interview, he mentioned two unknown men who forced Melina into the white van. New York State Police confirmed Monday that the father had "fabricated the initial report of the abduction." Frattolin appeared at the Ticonderoga town court on Monday. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf at his arraignment, according to court officials. The vigil for Melina will take place at Percy Thompson Centennial Park in Ticonderoga at 8 p.m. and will include a prayer ceremony, music, a candle lighting and a speech. "We're going to celebrate her. We don't know her, but we're going to celebrate her life tonight," said Cruz.
