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Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Drowning in debt: Canadian dad charged with killing daughter in US struggled with child support; deleted company bio hints 'affected will-being'
A Canadian father charged with murdering his 9-year-old daughter faces substantial financial difficulties and had trouble meeting child support obligations, whilst making unsettling posts about his daughter's impact on his daily routine. During his Monday court appearance for allegedly killing his daughter Melina in upstate New York, Luciano Frattolin, 45, who portrayed himself as a successful coffee company proprietor, declared his inability to afford legal representation and even offor child support, reported the NY Post. Frattolin, Ethiopia-born, praised Melina on his Montreal-based Gabella Coffee company's website, describing her as "beautiful" and "the light of his life.'' However, the corporate biography revealed concerning insights into his mental state. He acknowledged adjusting to his daughter's "messy art projects" and "chaotic" toys despite his fixation with maintaining "perfect order" in his residence. His biography, now removed from the internet, referenced personal hardships, including experiences with "incidences of racism," "feelings of isolation" and losing his father during his teenage years. He referenced an "unfortunate event" in 2019 that "severely affected his well-being" requiring a "long and arduous" recovery period. Police confirmed his estrangement from his former wife that year. Beyond personal struggles and marital discord, Frattolin accumulated over $200,000 in business-related debt in Montreal. Since 2020, he rented property in Montreal's Mile End district, operating it as an Airbnb . He employed two property managers to handle operations and rent payments, using the proceeds for child support payments, according to court documents. His landlord terminated the lease in August 2024 following $26,000 in unpaid rent. He lost access to the property containing his daughter's winter clothing and toys. He initiated legal action against the two managers for $115,000, alleging unauthorised property exploitation and failure to make promised rent payments, as reported by Le Devoir. The managers countered that Frattolin intended to empty his accounts and leave the country, which he denied. A Dépanneur Café employee reported Frattolin, who still owes Bank of Nova Scotia $83,000, had been dividing his time between Italy and Canada for 18 months. The bank cited additional unpaid credit card debts of $97,000 from Café Gambella, another establishment sharing his online coffee business name. As he drowned in debt, his Instagram presence portrayed affluence, featuring exotic travels and luxury vehicles, including statements like "I am truly addicted to Porsche." Prior to his daughter's death, they were holidaying near Lake George, approximately 30 miles from where her body was discovered. Before authorities found the child's remains, Frattolin falsely reported her kidnapping by two men in a white van near I-87's Exit 22, shortly after she contacted her mother before their scheduled return to Quebec. He entered a not-guilty plea to charges of second-degree murder, potentially carrying a life sentence in New York, and concealment of a human corpse. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 25. Case background: The Canadian father and his nine-year-old daughter arrived in the US for a vacation on July 11, touring parts of Connecticut and New York, including New York City. On Saturday evening, around 5:30 pm (local time), surveillance footage showed them at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs. It was the final day of their trip, with plans to be in Montreal the following day. At approximately 6:30 pm, Melina contacted her mother and assured her that she was safe. Police believe she was killed sometime between that phone call and a 911 call made by her father at 9:58 pm. During the call, Luciano Frattolin claimed he had stopped his vehicle to relieve himself in the woods, and upon returning, found Melina missing. He told police that two men had abducted her in a white van. An Amber Alert was issued, sparking an urgent search for the missing girl. But investigators soon began to question the abduction story. By 10:50 am on Sunday, Melina's body was found in the shallow end of a pond in Ticonderoga, concealed under a log. An autopsy will determine the cause of death. So far, no motive has been established. Despite being under her mother's custody, Melina was permitted to travel with her father. Luciano Frattolin had no prior criminal record in Canada, and his estranged wife reportedly did not consider him a danger to their daughter. The couple had separated in 2019, with the mother receiving full custody and the father retaining visitation rights, including travel privileges.
Montreal Gazette
7 hours ago
- General
- Montreal Gazette
Pointe-Claire seniors petition to save Tex Dawson's dining-room wall murals
By Susan Schwartz Nearly all the residents of Le Wellesley, a Pointe-Claire residence for seniors, have signed a petition to save the murals on the dining-room walls depicting scenes of Montreal and Pointe-Claire. The dozen or so large, colourful and finely detailed murals were painted by an illustrious former resident, Frederick (Tex) Dawson. The architect, illustrator and artist lived at Le Wellesley from 2013 until his death at 96 in early 2021. Management of the private residence changed hands recently — Le Wellesley is now being managed by Montreal-based real-estate company Cogir — and residents were notified that 'certain paintings would be reportedly removed as part of renovations,' said Brigitte Pouliot, communications and culture director for Cogir and also director of the Cogir Foundation. 'No decision in this regard has been made by the Cogir team to date,' her email continued. 'We accord great importance to the living environment of our residents and understand that some of them expressed concerns. We are currently evaluating different possible options to modernize the residence and make it even more pleasant for the people who live there.' 'Plans for renovation and updating seem to include demolition and/or painting over some or all of these Dawson murals,' said Le Wellesley resident Hank Sherrarrd, 91. To him, such a move would constitute 'desecration.' He is among the 93 of Le Wellesley's 112 residents who signed the petition to save the murals. It was submitted on Thursday to Le Wellesley's assistant general manager, Pouliot confirmed. Dawson's murals depict scenes including Bonsecours market, Notre Dame Basilica and the Sailors' Church in Old Montreal, the Roddick gates at the entrance to McGill University's downtown campus, St-Joachim Roman Catholic Church in Pointe-Claire and a whimsical scene about 12 feet wide of a group of nuns playing croquet by the historic Pointe-Claire windmill. The Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame, who established a presence in Pointe-Claire in 1787, had a convent nearby. 'They are so very representative of our Montreal,' said Sherrard, a retired engineer, of the murals. 'All these fine lines: The skill of the man just amazes me,' he said, calling the mural art 'a joy to behold.' As an architect, Dawson was involved in Montreal projects including the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland and the award-winning Notre Dame de Pompei Church in St. Michel. He had the distinction of being the only architect to have designed pavilions for two different countries for the Expo 67 World Fair in Montreal: for Trinidad & Tobago and for Mauritius. Longtime readers of The Gazette knew Dawson as the illustrator for the longtime All Our Yesterdays column, focused on the history of Montreal and written by Edgar Andrew Collard from 1938 until his death in 2000. Dawson drew for the column for several years starting in 1982, when he took over from John Collins. 'Being an architect by profession, he had a particular interest in the structural features of the old buildings I asked him to sketch,' Collard observed in a column. Dawson's paintings hang in collections all over the world. He was awarded the Queen's Medal during her jubilee year, 2002. In 2005, he did a series of paintings of Canada's war memorials, in different settings and seasons, as his personal contribution to the Year of the Veteran: Dawson had served overseas during the Second World War and lost a brother to that war. He found and painted old cenotaphs, most dating to the Great War. Today 31 of his paintings of war memorials hang in a permanent exhibition at Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston.
International Business Times
7 hours ago
- International Business Times
Luciano Frattolin: Dad Who Killed His Daughter Was Struggling to Pay Child Support as He Tells Court He's Broke and Can't Hire a Lawyer
The Canadian father charged with murdering his nine-year-old daughter was reportedly drowning in debt, was struggling to keep up with child support payments—and shared bizarre social posts claiming the young girl had turned his life upside down. Luciano Frattolin, 45, who once claimed himself to be a successful coffee business owner living a lavish lifestyle, appeared in court on Monday facing charges of killing his daughter Melina during a trip to upstate New York. He told a judge that he couldn't hire a lawyer. This came as it was revealed that Frattolin hid his daughter's body in a remote pond after telling cops that two men had kidnapped her. Motive Behind Murder Luciano Frattolin's mugshot after his arrest X Frattolin, who was born in Ethiopia, praised Melina on the official website of his Montreal-based coffee business, Gambella Coffee, describing her as "beautiful" and "the light of his life." However, the write-up also revealed unsettling clues about his troubled mental state. He admitted struggling to cope with his daughter's "messy art projects" and "chaotic" toys, because of his obsession with keeping "perfect order" in his home. Luciano Frattolin with his daughter Melina Instagram In the biography — which has since been removed from the web — he also referenced a life marked by deep personal struggles, mentioning experiences with "racism," "feelings of isolation," and the loss of his father as a teenager. Frattolin hints at a "unfortunate event" in 2019 that he claimed had a serious impact on his mental health and forced him onto a "long and arduous" path toward healing. Police revealed during a press conference on Monday that he became estranged from his ex-wife that same year. Alongside emotional turmoil and a strained relationship with his former spouse, Frattolin was also dealing with over $200,000 in debt linked to his business ventures in Montreal. Since 2020, the struggling businessman had been renting a property in Montreal's trendy Mile End neighborhood, which he subleased on Airbnb, according to La Presse. He hired two property managers to run the venture, including handling rent payments—allowing him to use the remaining income to cover child support, according to court records reviewed by the outlet. Struggling to Survive However, his lease was terminated by the landlord in August 2024 after he fell behind by $26,000 in rent. He was subsequently barred from accessing the property, where he claimed he kept his daughter's winter clothes and toys. Melina Frattolin X Frattolin is now suing the property managers for more than $115,000, alleging they misused the rental unit without his consent and failed to pay the rent as agreed, according to Le Devoir. In response, the property managers accused Frattolin planned to empty his bank account and leave the country — a claim he has denied. A former staff member at Dépanneur Café, a coffee shop previously owned by Frattolin, said he had been splitting his time between Italy and Canada over the past year and a half. Frattolin reportedly still owes the Bank of Nova Scotia around $83,000 related to that business. Luciano Frattolin with his daughter Melina Instagram The bank also claims he is responsible for another $97,000 in unpaid credit card debt from Café Gambella, a second coffee venture that shares its name with his online coffee brand. However, Frattolin's Instagram painted a starkly different picture of his finances, filled with images of luxurious travel, high-end sports cars, and captions like "I'm truly addicted to Porsche." He and his daughter were on a vacation in the Lake George area shortly before she was killed — just about 30 miles from where her body was later discovered. Prior to the grim discovery, police said Frattolin had filed a false report claiming that Milena had been abducted by two men in a white van near Exit 22 on I-87 — less than an hour after she had spoken to her mother by phone before their scheduled flight back to Quebec. Captain Robert McConnell said that Frattolin killed his daughter Melina on Saturday night while they were vacationing near the scenic town of Lake George in the Adirondack Mountains, roughly 60 miles north of Albany. Luciano Frattolin with his daughter Melina Instagram Frattolin and Melina had entered the U.S. legally and had been on vacation since July 11, with plans to return to Quebec on Sunday. On Monday, Frattolin pleaded not guilty in court. He was charged with second-degree murder — a crime that could result in a life sentence under New York law — along with a charge for hiding a human corpse. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 25.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
Missing girl's dad made chilling ‘white van' claim before 9-year-old's body found as ‘inconsistent' timeline exposes truth
Officials said Monday, July 21, that Luciano Frattolin , a father who reported his daughter missing while on vacation in the United States, was charged with second-degree murder and concealing of a corpse. Luciano, 45, called the police on Saturday to report that 9-year-old Melina may have been kidnapped near Lake George, New York. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Project Management Cybersecurity Technology MCA Public Policy Finance healthcare Leadership Digital Marketing PGDM MBA Operations Management others Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Design Thinking Management Degree Data Science Product Management Others Healthcare CXO Data Science Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Also read: Melina Frattolin death: how New York cops found girl's body after father Luciano's account and timeline sh by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo After Melina was discovered dead in a nearby town, inside a pond, an Amber Alert was issued for the girl, however it was cancelled. When she was discovered, Luciano "was suspected of having visited" the location. Live Events Luciano's strained ties with Melina's mom At a press conference Monday morning, Captain Robert A. McConnell of the New York State Police said that Luciano and the girl's mother had been at odds since 2019 and that the mother had full custody of Melina. Melina had called her Montreal-based mother just before she passed away to let her know that the two of them were headed home. According to McConnell, "the child did not appear to be under any duress and appeared to be in good health." "The investigation has found that Mr. Frattolin allegedly murdered Melina and left her body in a remote area, where she was later found by law enforcement, sometime after Melina called her mother and before he called 911." Authorities say the man said he had stopped in a parking lot to urinate and then went back to the car, but Melina was not there. Also read: What happened to Melina Galanis Frattolin? Everything we know so far about the missing 9-year-old found de White van used to coerce child, says 'dad' "Initial reports from Mr. Frattolin of a suspicious white van in the area of the alleged disappearance was proven to be untrue," McConnell stated. Later, the chief disclosed that Luciano had stated that she had been coerced into the van by two unidentified men. "That lead was thoroughly investigated and disproven," he stated. The state police were "working tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable," according to a post made by New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday night. NY Gov. Kathy Hochul makes statement about case "Lake George has broken the news. She wrote on X, "We're grieving the loss of 9-year-old Melina Frattolin . "There is no ongoing threat to the public at this time." Timeline of Melina Frattolin's murder Authorities released a detailed timeline following the death of Melina Frattolin. July 19, 5:30 p.m. – Melina is captured on surveillance cameras with her father, Luciano, in Saratoga Springs, New York. July 19, 6:30 p.m. – Melina speaks to her mother and mentions they are heading back home to Canada. July 19, 10:00 p.m. – Luciano contacts 911 to report a possible abduction. July 20, early morning – An Amber Alert is issued for Melina. July 20, 1:50 p.m. – A body is discovered in a shallow section of a pond in Ticonderoga, New York. Source: New York State Police According to authorities, Luciano had no past criminal history, including domestic violence, and the cause of the girl's death will be disclosed after the autopsy is completed. "We were informed that she had passed away while I was in the command post. "It was really emotional and challenging," he added. "At that point though, the best we could do is provide some measure of justice to the family and we are just fortunate we're able to do that in this case." Also read: Who is Luciano Frattolin? The grieving father at the heart of the Melina Frattolin tragedy Since the beginning of their journey on July 11, the two have been touring the United States, stopping in destinations like New York City and Connecticut. According to the police, Melina's mother didn't worry for her when she was with her father. It is anticipated that Luciano would face charges in New York.
Metro
19 hours ago
- Metro
Dad who reported daughter missing on vacation busted when her body found in pond
A father who reported his nine-year-old daughter missing while they were on a vacation together has been arrested after her body was discovered in a pond. Luciano Frattolin, 45, of Montreal was traveling with his daughter, Melina Frattolin, in upstate New York since July 11 and they were expected back in Canada this past weekend. Frattolin described Melina as 'the light of his life', 'beautiful', and his 'inspiration' in a post on the website of Montreal-based Gambella Coffee, which he founded. He had also called himself a 'loving father' on his Instagram profile. On Saturday night, Frattolin called 911 and claimed that his daughter vanished after he stepped out from a wooded area at a parking lot. Authorities issued an Amber Alert for the public's help in searching for Melina. However, officials found inconsistencies in Frattolin's accounts. 'During a subsequent interview, he then reports two unknown males forced her into a white van,' stated New York State Police Captain Robert McConnell. 'That lead was thoroughly investigated and disproven.' CCTV footage recovered from Saratoga Springs, another resort town close to Lake George, captured the dad and daughter there around 5.30pm on Saturday. Melina talked with her mother, whom she lived with in Montreal, on the phone about an hour later and did not sound distressed, according to police. Tragically, forest rangers found Melina's body in the shallow section of a pond in Ticonderoga, which is roughly 30 miles north of Lake George, on Sunday afternoon. Her father is believed to have murdered her after she spoke with her mum, and then called 911, police said. Frattolin was taken into custody and brought into Essex County Jail shortly after 2am on Monday. He has been charged with second-degree murder and unlawfully disposing of a corpse. A not guilty was entered for him during his arraignment on Monday, Ticonderoga Town Court officials said. He has been assigned a public defender. Frattolin did not have a criminal record or reported instances of domestic violence. More Trending Melina's mother distanced herself from Frattolin in 2019. Frattolin in his bio on his company site mentioned an 'unfortunate event that severely affected his well-being in 2019'. 'Melina has also taught Luciano to let go of his rigid tendencies to keep everything in 'perfect order,'' his bio reads. 'His love for Melina's messy art projects and chaotic ensemble of toys supersedes his love for a meticulously spotless home.' A motive for the killing has not been determined. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Trump calls for Idaho murderer spared death penalty to 'explain what happened' MORE: Two injured in barbershop of horrors stabbing in London MORE: Weak password let hackers bring down 148-year-old logistics firm
