A tragic case involving a missing Canadian child has taken a chilling turn after nine-year-old Melina Frattolin was found dead in upstate New York, just hours after her father claimed she had been abducted. Luciano Frattolin, 45, called 911 on the evening of July 19, reporting that his daughter had been kidnapped in Lake George, New York, where they had been vacationing.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office immediately issued an Amber Alert for Melina, warning that she was in “imminent danger.” Authorities said she was last seen in a white van on Interstate 87 southbound near Exit 22, at around 9:40 p.m. on Saturday. “The child was taken under circumstances that led police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death,” the alert read.
It was canceled the following afternoon at 4:18 p.m., when Melina’s body was discovered in Ticonderoga, approximately 30 miles from where she was reported missing. However, law enforcement quickly noted discrepancies in Frattolin’s account. A statement from Trooper Stephanie O’Neil, spokesperson for the New York State Police, said, CBS6 reports.
“As the case progressed, law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the father’s account of events and the timeline he provided.” “At this time, there is no indication that an abduction occurred, and there is no threat to the public.”
As the investigation shifted from a missing child case to a potential criminal matter, jurisdiction was handed over to the New York State Police. Frattolin was arrested shortly thereafter and is currently being held at the Essex County Jail, according to official records. Frattolin is the founder of Gambella Coffee, a Montreal-based company.
The company’s website describes him as an entrepreneur with cross-cultural roots in Ethiopia and Italy. His online biography described Melina as “the light of his life.” Luciano currently spends as much time as he can in Montreal, Canada, with his beautiful daughter Melina. As the light of his life, she is the inspiration for—well, everything.”
No further details have been released regarding the cause of Melina’s death or the potential charges Frattolin may face. The investigation remains ongoing. Melina’s death has stunned both the local community and the Canadian public, as the heartbreaking case continues to raise difficult questions about trust, truth, and the unfathomable loss of a child.