Latest news with #MelinaFrattolin
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
New York town holds vigil for Montreal girl after death: ‘Truly a tragedy'
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. Scores of people in Ticonderoga gathered at a local park for an emotional tribute to nine-year-old Melina Frattolin. As 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' played softly from a speaker, people lit each other's candles, wiped away tears and bowed their heads as a prayer was read. The young girl was found dead in a shallow pond on Sunday in an alleged homicide. Preliminary autopsy results released Tuesday found she died from asphyxia due to drowning. Her 45-year-old father has been charged with second-degree murder and the concealment of a human corpse. Luciano Frattolin, a Montreal resident, has pleaded not guilty. Story continues below advertisement Ticonderoga resident Bridgette Cruz, who organized the vigil, said her heart is shattered for Melina's mother and loved ones. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy '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.' She says the little girl would forever be a part of the community, even if she didn't live there. 'This little girl was not from here but we're going to love her like she was from Ticonderoga,' Cruz said. Matthew Courtright, president and CEO of the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, said the whole community had been affected by the death. 'In the face of tragedy, in the face of issues, we always come together,' he said. 'People step up and we support each other.' 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.' 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. Story continues below advertisement '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.' She said many residents of the town received an Amber Alert when Melina went missing, and had hoped for her safe return. 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.
Vancouver Sun
2 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
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. Scores of people in Ticonderoga gathered at a local park for an emotional tribute to nine-year-old Melina Frattolin. As 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' played softly from a speaker, people lit each other's candles, wiped away tears and bowed their heads as a prayer was read. The young girl was found dead in a shallow pond on Sunday in an alleged homicide. Preliminary autopsy results released Tuesday found she died from asphyxia due to drowning. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Her 45-year-old father has been charged with second-degree murder and the concealment of a human corpse. Luciano Frattolin, a Montreal resident, has pleaded not guilty. Ticonderoga resident Bridgette Cruz, who organized the vigil, said her heart is shattered for Melina's mother and loved ones. '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.' She says the little girl would forever be a part of the community, even if she didn't live there. 'This little girl was not from here but we're going to love her like she was from Ticonderoga,' Cruz said. Matthew Courtright, president and CEO of the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, said the whole community had been affected by the death. 'In the face of tragedy, in the face of issues, we always come together,' he said. 'People step up and we support each other.' 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.' 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. '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.' She said many residents of the town received an Amber Alert when Melina went missing, and had hoped for her safe return. 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. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
2 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Americans hold vigil for Canadian girl, 9, found dead in a pond
Article content 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. Article content Scores of people in Ticonderoga gathered at a local park for an emotional tribute to nine-year-old Melina Frattolin. Article content Article content Article content Ticonderoga resident Bridgette Cruz, who organized the vigil, said her heart is shattered for Melina's mother and loved ones. Article content '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.' Article content She says the little girl would forever be a part of the community, even if she didn't live there. Article content 'This little girl was not from here but we're going to love her like she was from Ticonderoga,' Cruz said. Article content Article content Matthew Courtright, president and CEO of the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, said the whole community had been affected by the death. Article content Article content 'In the face of tragedy, in the face of issues, we always come together,' he said. 'People step up and we support each other.' Article content 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.' Article content 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. Article content Article content '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.' Article content She said many residents of the town received an Amber Alert when Melina went missing, and had hoped for her safe return. Article content 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.
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
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. Article content Scores of people in Ticonderoga gathered at a local park for an emotional tribute to nine-year-old Melina Frattolin. Article content As 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' played softly from a speaker, people lit each other's candles, wiped away tears and bowed their heads as a prayer was read. Article content Article content Her 45-year-old father has been charged with second-degree murder and the concealment of a human corpse. Luciano Frattolin, a Montreal resident, has pleaded not guilty. Article content Article content Ticonderoga resident Bridgette Cruz, who organized the vigil, said her heart is shattered for Melina's mother and loved ones. Article content '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.' Article content She says the little girl would forever be a part of the community, even if she didn't live there. Article content 'This little girl was not from here but we're going to love her like she was from Ticonderoga,' Cruz said. Article content Matthew Courtright, president and CEO of the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, said the whole community had been affected by the death. Article content Article content 'In the face of tragedy, in the face of issues, we always come together,' he said. 'People step up and we support each other.' Article content Article content 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.' Article content 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. Article content Article content '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.' Article content She said many residents of the town received an Amber Alert when Melina went missing, and had hoped for her safe return. Article content 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. Article content
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Cause of death revealed for Melina Frattolin, 9-year-old killed in NY
Melina Frattolin, the 9-year-old girl from Canada who police allege was killed by her father in Upstate New York, died in a drowning, an autopsy revealed. New York State Police announced on July 22 that Frattolin died from asphyxia due to drowning. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. The results of the autopsy, which was conducted at Glens Falls Hospital, are preliminary. A final determination and report are pending further laboratory testing, NYSP said. Frattolin was found dead in Ticonderoga on July 20, hours after her father, Luciano Frattolin, reported her abducted. He has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in her death. It's unclear if he has an attorney. Melina Frattolin death: Missing girl found dead in NY; father charged What happened to Melina Frattolin? Luciano and Melina Frattolin, of Montreal, entered the United States on July 11 for a vacation and planned to return to Canada on July 20, police said at a press conference on July 21. On July 19 at around 5:30 p.m. local time, Luciano and Melina Frattolin were seen on video surveillance in Saratoga Springs. An hour later, the girl spoke to her mother on the phone and said she and her father were on route back to Canada, police said. Luciano Frattolin reported his daughter missing around 10 p.m. local time that night; he told authorities they were driving on I-87 in Lake George when he pulled over to urinate in a wooded area. When he returned to the vehicle, his daughter was missing, he said. The following morning, police activated an Amber Alert for the missing girl. Police later said, "there is no indication that an abduction occurred." At around 5 p.m. ET on Jul 20, police announced Melina Frattolin was found dead in Ticonderoga, New York, which is about 100 miles north of Albany by the Vermont border. Her body was found in the shallow portion of a pond in a wooded area, police said. Who is Luciano Frattolin? Luciano Frattolin has been estranged from his daughter's mother since 2019. Melina Frattolin lived full-time with her mother in Canada, police said. According to his LinkedIn, Luciano Frattolin is an entrepreneur. Before his arrest, he owned a coffee company, according to an archived website. He also owned a mining company, according to an Ethiopian newspaper. He is Ethiopian and Italian, according to his website bio. On his since-archived website, Luciano Frattolin called his daughter "the light of his life." "Melina has also taught Luciano to let go of his rigid tendencies to keep everything in 'perfect order'—his love for Melina's messy art projects and chaotic ensemble of toys supersedes his love for a meticulously spotless home," the website said. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
