Latest news with #vigil
National Post
a day 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
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Vigil honours slain Montreal girl
July 22, 2025 | The New York state community where a 9-year-old Montreal girl was found dead holds a vigil in her memory as police say she died by drowning. Carney reiterates he wants the best deal for Canada, suggesting the U.S. trade deadline may be fluid. And, remembering Ozzy Osbourne — the godfather of heavy metal.
CTV News
2 days ago
- 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
2 days ago
- CBC
Vigil held in New York for Montreal girl allegedly killed by father
Vigil held in New York for Montreal girl allegedly killed by father | Hanomansing Tonight News Duration 3:48 A vigil was held in Ticonderoga, N.Y., Tuesday evening to remember Melina Frattolin, a nine-year-old Montreal girl whose body was found in the shallow water of a pond in the town on Sunday. Her father has been charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse.
CBC
2 days ago
- 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.
