Latest news with #Melina
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Shocking statement 'Killer dad' Luciano Frattolin made about daughter as money troubles, infidelity is revealed
The man accused of drowning his nine-year-old daughter and leaving her lifeless body beneath a log in a murky pond once confessed he didn't like being 'tied down' by the little girl. Luciano Frattolin, 45, a Canadian businessman now facing second-degree murder charges, allegedly fabricated a story about his daughter Melina being abducted by men in a white van, but police say the truth was far worse. Melina was found drowned in a remote section of forest in upstate New York on Sunday afternoon, her body partially concealed, after her father himself called 911 the night before to report her missing. Now, a portrait is emerging of a man whose once-polished public image including that of a doting father masked a troubling private life marked by debt, deception, and emotional detachment from the child he claimed to cherish. 'He loved his daughter, but he didn't like the idea of being tied down,' a former associate of Frattolin told the Montreal Gazette, speaking on condition of anonymity. The friend, who knew Frattolin during his time in Ethiopia, where the accused had investments in mining and hotel construction, said that while Frattolin visited his daughter at least once a year, he remained mostly distant from her day-to-day life in Montreal. That emotional distance was laid bare in eerie writings Frattolin posted to his now-deleted coffee business website. There, the accused father reflected on his obsession with maintaining 'perfect order' in his home and how his daughter's 'messy artwork' and 'chaotic toys' disrupted his sense of control. Yet, in a disturbing contradiction, he also wrote that 'she is the light of my life… the inspiration for everything.' Frattolin pleaded not guilty in Ticonderoga Town Court on Monday while shackled in a white prison jumpsuit. At the arraignment, he revealed he was more than $200,000 in debt, citing the collapse of his business empire in Canada, claiming he could not afford a lawyer. His next court appearance is scheduled for Friday. The horror began on Saturday night, when Frattolin called 911 and claimed that two men had forced his daughter into a white van near Lake George while he was urinating in the woods. New York State Police quickly issued an Amber Alert, but soon began to suspect that his account didn't add up. 'There was no evidence of an abduction,' said Captain Robert McConnell of the New York State Police, who confirmed the cause of death was drowning and classified the case as a homicide. Adding to the unraveling lies, a local woman named Rebecca Kulickowski told News10 she spotted a man she believes was Frattolin running frantically up a wooded hill the same night Melina vanished. 'It only caught my eye because as I was driving past the car, I seen a skinny tall guy,' she said. 'He was running up a hill that he was parked next to… I just didn't feel right… our eyes locked when I drove by.' By Sunday afternoon, police found Melina's body in a shallow, muddy pond about 30 miles north of Lake George, partially hidden beneath a log. Surveillance footage from earlier that evening showed Melina with her father in Saratoga Springs, and at 6:30pm, she called her mother in Montreal and said they were on their way home. 'She appeared to be in good health and did not indicate she was under any duress,' said Capt. McConnell. 'The investigation has determined that sometime after Melina's phone call with her mother, and before Mr. Frattolin's 911 call, he allegedly murdered Melina and left her body in a remote area where she was later discovered by law enforcement,' said Capt. McConnell. Authorities believe the murder occurred just hours before Melina was due to be returned to her mother, who has had full custody since 2019, when she split with Frattolin after discovering he was seeing another woman during a visit to Ethiopia. 'She came to visit him while he was recovering from an assault,' said the former friend, referring to a 2019 incident that left Frattolin with permanent eye damage. 'And she found him with someone else. That's why they separated.' Since then, Frattolin maintained sporadic contact with his daughter and struggled to stay afloat financially. He had fallen $26,000 behind in rent on a Montreal property he sublet as an Airbnb, which he used to help pay Melina's child support and is currently suing two property managers for over $115,000, accusing them of mismanaging payments. In a court filing, the Bank of Nova Scotia said Frattolin owed $83,000 on a shuttered café and an additional $97,000 in credit card debt. His company, Café Gambella, which marketed ethically sourced Ethiopian coffee, has collapsed. Despite the unraveling finances and fractured family ties, Frattolin tried to present himself online as a man of vision and virtue. His Instagram was filled with photos of father-daughter trips, Thanksgiving celebrations, and exotic vacations to Ethiopia and Italy. One particularly unsettling YouTube video showed him frolicking in the snow with Melina, set to a lullaby: 'Now hush, little baby, don't you cry. Everything's gonna be alright… Daddy's here to hold you through the night.' But behind the camera, friends say, he was 'image-obsessed,' dressing in designer clothes and refusing to fly coach. 'He was one of the first people to bring a Porsche into Ethiopia,' the former associate said. 'He had a Land Cruiser, too. In Ethiopia, that's wealth.' At the same time, his online biography alluded cryptically to an 'unfortunate event' in 2019 that required a 'long and arduous recovery', hinting at the physical and emotional damage he suffered in the assault.
News18
14 hours ago
- News18
Canada Man Arrested For Killing Daughter Had Affair, Almost Lost One Eye In Ethiopia Attack
Last Updated: Besides his daughter Melina, Luciano had no ties to Montreal, with his primary base of operations located in Ethiopia. Luciano Frattolin, a 45-year-old Canadian man, has been arrested for the alleged murder of his nine-year-old daughter while on vacation in the United States. According to reports, Frattolin—an Ethiopian-born businessman—was said to have loved his daughter deeply but did not want the responsibilities of raising a child. 'He loved his daughter, but he didn't like the idea of being tied down," a former friend of Luciano told the Montreal Gazette. Reportedly, Melina's mother was granted full custody following her divorce from Luciano, with the father permitted to visit his daughter only once a year. Besides his daughter Melina, Luciano had no ties to Montreal, with his primary base of operations located in Ethiopia. Reports also indicate that Luciano had an extramarital affair while living in Ethiopia, which came to light when his wife travelled there to visit him. The revelation reportedly surfaced around the time Luciano discovered a mine in partnership with a Beijing-based company. In 2019, the venture secured a 20-year concession to extract iron ore. However, just days after the deal was finalised, Luciano was assaulted—a violent attack that, according to a friend quoted by the Montreal Gazette, left him with permanent damage to one of his eyes. His wife visited him in Ethiopia after the assault, and got to know about her husband's affair with another woman. The couple got a divorce after this, with the mother getting full custody of the daughter. On Saturday, Luciano called 911 to report the alleged kidnapping of his daughter, claiming she had disappeared after he stopped his car to urinate. However, as the investigation unfolded, authorities determined that Luciano had misled them. The following day, the body of the nine-year-old girl was discovered. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was drowning. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 07:53 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Toronto Sun
18 hours ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Legal battles of Luciano Frattolin, man accused of killing his 9-year-old daughter
Bank suing to recover more than $150,000 in unpaid bills associated with coffee-distribution company, rental property Published Jul 23, 2025 • Last updated 21 minutes ago • 4 minute read Luciano Frattolin is seen in a photo from the Gambella Coffee website. Montreal businessman Luciano Frattolin, who is charged with his daughter's murder in New York state, was facing deep debt and was involved in multiple legal proceedings this year, court documents reveal. 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 Among them is a lawsuit filed by Frattolin in which he alleges a business associate threatened to jeopardize access to his daughter, Melina. Frattolin, 45, reported nine-year-old Melina as kidnapped on Saturday during their vacation to the United States, triggering an Amber Alert and extensive search. She was expected to return that weekend to her mother in Montreal, who has had full custody since a 2019 separation from Frattolin. Melina's body was discovered in a pond Sunday afternoon and her father was arrested. Frattolin is charged with second-degree murder as well as concealing a body in connection with her death. He pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday. Preliminary findings from an autopsy found Melina died from asphyxia due to drowning, New York State Police said Tuesday. Her death was classified as a homicide and the investigation is ongoing. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Police have said Frattolin has no history of reported domestic violence. He doesn't have a criminal record, according to provincial and municipal court records. But court records in Montreal show Frattolin was involved in at least five legal proceedings in 2025. He is listed as the plaintiff in three of them. Prior to his arrest, the businessman's Instagram account documented various trips, photos with his daughter and the appearance of a lavish lifestyle. He was also reportedly prominent in Ethiopia because of his business dealings there — but Frattolin appeared to be in major debt, according to filings. In two of the cases, Scotiabank was suing him to recover more than $150,000 in unpaid bills associated with two of his businesses: Gambella Coffee and a short-term rental property. The filings show the debt was accrued through different financial means, including multiple business credit cards and lines of credit. Some of the contracts date back to 2022. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Documents show Frattolin's lawyer answered the summons in both cases. In a filing from May, there is a notice for a first-case protocol in the case centred on unpaid amounts associated with the rental property. Frattolin also filed a lawsuit against a man hired as the property manager for his short-term rental property in the Mile End neighbourhood. In the filing, his lawyer said Frattolin was informed last August by the building's landlords that rental payments totalling more than $26,000, or about 10 months of rent, had not been paid. The landlords terminated the commercial lease, but Frattolin alleged the property manager was tasked with paying rent as part of his job. Emails included with the filing show the landlords would not reconsider a lease with Frattolin unless the missed rent payments were made in full. The court records also show a letter of demand was sent by Frattolin's lawyer in September 2024 to the property manager, terminating the contract. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Frattolin lived in Canada on a part-time basis and started the Airbnb as a way to provide for his daughter and pay his expenses, according to court documents. Quebec's business registry shows Frattolin recently listed two addresses as his residences: one in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough and the other in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The filing reads Frattolin was 'left with considerable sums to pay the arrears of rent, interests penalties and charges related to the property' and hasn't 'received any business revenue since August 2024.' At the property, Frattolin stored some personal belongings and his daughter's winter clothes and toys before leaving Canada. But he hasn't been able to access the property, the filing states. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. His lawyer also alleged that the property manager had accused Frattolin of emptying the business bank account and 'fleeing the country.' The lawyer wrote the alleged accusations are 'frivolous and completely false.' In the filing, Frattolin alleged the property manager threatened to work with the mother of his child to prevent him from entering Quebec due to the business's unpaid taxes. This has not been tested in court. The property manager is also alleged to have used Frattolin's business permit and 'appears to be running the very same business' under a different name, the filing reads. In April, a judge granted Frattolin's application for a safeguard order. He also ordered the property manager to 'cease all rental and management activities' related to the property, to hand over keys and any other means to access the property, and to provide a list of all homestay websites and applications used for the business's operations. The same ruling notes the defendants — the property manager and three people listed as mises en cause, including the landlords — were absent and not represented by a lawyer. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The court documents consulted by The Gazette did not include a response by the property manager to the filing. Frattolin was also before the courts for other matters this year. In two other cases, he filed motions against three telecommunications giants. He was seeking an order to compel them to disclose the identities of IP addresses that allegedly accessed his email account over several months. In the most recent filing from May, his lawyer said the companies complied with first and complementary orders, but Frattolin was seeking more information about other IP addresses that allegedly accessed a second email account of his. With files from The Gazette's Paul Cherry and The Canadian Press Sports Golf Canada Toronto & GTA Columnists
Montreal Gazette
18 hours ago
- Montreal Gazette
The legal battles of Luciano Frattolin, the man accused of killing his 9-year-old daughter
Montreal Crime Montreal businessman Luciano Frattolin, who is charged with his daughter's murder in New York state, was facing deep debt and was involved in multiple legal proceedings this year, court documents reveal. Among them is a lawsuit filed by Frattolin in which he alleges a business associate threatened to jeopardize access to his daughter, Melina. Frattolin, 45, reported nine-year-old Melina as kidnapped on Saturday during their vacation to the United States, triggering an Amber Alert and extensive search. She was expected to return that weekend to her mother in Montreal, who has had full custody since a 2019 separation from Frattolin. Melina's body was discovered in a pond Sunday afternoon and her father was arrested. Frattolin is charged with second-degree murder as well as concealing a body in connection with her death. He pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday. Preliminary findings from an autopsy found Melina died from asphyxia due to drowning, New York State Police said Tuesday. Her death was classified as a homicide and the investigation is ongoing. Police have said Frattolin has no history of reported domestic violence. He doesn't have a criminal record, according to provincial and municipal court records. But court records in Montreal show Frattolin was involved in at least five legal proceedings in 2025. He is listed as the plaintiff in three of them. Prior to his arrest, the businessman's Instagram account documented various trips, photos with his daughter and the appearance of a lavish lifestyle. He was also reportedly prominent in Ethiopia because of his business dealings there — but Frattolin appeared to be in major debt, according to filings. In two of the cases, Scotiabank was suing him to recover more than $150,000 in unpaid bills associated with two of his businesses: Gambella Coffee and a short-term rental property. The filings show the debt was accrued through different financial means, including multiple business credit cards and lines of credit. Some of the contracts date back to 2022. Documents show Frattolin's lawyer answered the summons in both cases. In a filing from May, there is a notice for a first-case protocol in the case centred on unpaid amounts associated with the rental property. Frattolin also filed a lawsuit against a man hired as the property manager for his short-term rental property in the Mile End neighbourhood. In the filing, his lawyer said Frattolin was informed last August by the building's landlords that rental payments totalling more than $26,000, or about 10 months of rent, had not been paid. The landlords terminated the commercial lease, but Frattolin alleged the property manager was tasked with paying rent as part of his job. Emails included with the filing show the landlords would not reconsider a lease with Frattolin unless the missed rent payments were made in full. The court records also show a letter of demand was sent by Frattolin's lawyer in September 2024 to the property manager, terminating the contract. Frattolin lived in Canada on a part-time basis and started the Airbnb as a way to provide for his daughter and pay his expenses, according to court documents. Quebec's business registry shows Frattolin recently listed two addresses as his residences: one in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough and the other in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The filing reads Frattolin was 'left with considerable sums to pay the arrears of rent, interests penalties and charges related to the property' and hasn't 'received any business revenue since August 2024.' At the property, Frattolin stored some personal belongings and his daughter's winter clothes and toys before leaving Canada. But he hasn't been able to access the property, the filing states. His lawyer also alleged that the property manager had accused Frattolin of emptying the business bank account and 'fleeing the country.' The lawyer wrote the alleged accusations are 'frivolous and completely false.' In the filing, Frattolin alleged the property manager threatened to work with the mother of his child to prevent him from entering Quebec due to the business's unpaid taxes. This has not been tested in court. The property manager is also alleged to have used Frattolin's business permit and 'appears to be running the very same business' under a different name, the filing reads. In April, a judge granted Frattolin's application for a safeguard order. He also ordered the property manager to 'cease all rental and management activities' related to the property, to hand over keys and any other means to access the property, and to provide a list of all homestay websites and applications used for the business's operations. The same ruling notes the defendants — the property manager and three people listed as mises en cause, including the landlords — were absent and not represented by a lawyer. The court documents consulted by The Gazette did not include a response by the property manager to the filing. Frattolin was also before the courts for other matters this year. In two other cases, he filed motions against three telecommunications giants. He was seeking an order to compel them to disclose the identities of IP addresses that allegedly accessed his email account over several months. In the most recent filing from May, his lawyer said the companies complied with first and complementary orders, but Frattolin was seeking more information about other IP addresses that allegedly accessed a second email account of his. This story was originally published
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Alleged killer dad Luciano Frattolin spotted in woods
A New York woman thinks she saw accused killer dad Luciano Frattolin 'running up a hill' close to where his 9-year-old daughter was found drowned. Rebecca Kulickowski, a lifelong resident of Ticonderoga in upstate New York, told News10 that she submitted two police reports after seeing a man she now believes was Frattolin running away from his car on Saturday evening, when Melina Frattolin is thought to have been killed. Kulickowski was driving through Ticonderoga toward Schroon Lake when she saw a Toyota Prius stopped in the road. 6 Police arrested Luciano Frattolin after he claimed his daughter had been abducted. Instagram/Luciano Frattolin 'It only caught my eye because as I was driving past the car, I seen a skinny tall guy,' she told News10. 'And he was running up a hill that he was parked next to and there was a wooded area on the bottom of it,' she said. 'I just didn't feel right, there was something about him, I don't know, our eyes locked when I drove by, he looked at me,' she said. Kulickowski did not see a child with the man at the time — but immediately contacted police when she got an Amber Alert about little Melina on Sunday. 'We got an alert and I was like, 'God no.' I can't even tell you what I felt in that moment, it was horrible,' she said. 6 Frattolin is being held at the Essex County Jail in upstate New York Essex County Sheriff's Office The alert was triggered by the girl's dad claiming she'd been kidnapped, which officials later said appeared to be a hoax. The alert was called off when Melina's body was discovered pinned under a log in Eagle Lake, between Ticonderoga and Schroon Lake, close to where Kulickowski saw the suspicious man. 6 The suspect lied that his daughter had been abducted, police said. Wnyt13 6 Frattolin was arrested and charged with his daughter's murder. Instagram/Luciano Frattolin Frattolin, who had custody of his daughter for the week, was charged on Monday with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. He and Melina entered the US from Canada on July 11 and traveled around New York and Connecticut, visiting New York City before heading back upstate. Follow The Post's coverage on Melina Frattolin On Saturday at 5:30 p.m. the pair were spotted in Frattolin's Prius in Saratoga Springs, around 67 miles south of Ticonderoga. Around an hour later at 6:30 p.m., Melina called her mother back home in Montreal and sounded well. 6 This map shows where Melina was found dead in upstate New York. Merrill Sherman / NY Post Design 6 Melina was found dead near Lake George. New York State Police Frattolin then allegedly stopped answering his estranged partner's messages about when he would be bringing Melina back, as he was scheduled to do on Saturday. He is alleged to have strangled his daughter to death around an hour after she spoke to her mother, and some two and a half hours before he called in a missing persons report at around 10 p.m. Saturday. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! Frattolin was arrested early on Monday morning and appeared in court later that day where he pleaded not guilty. He is due back in court again on Friday.
