logo
Missing girl Melina Frattolin found dead in NY; father charged

Missing girl Melina Frattolin found dead in NY; father charged

USA Today4 days ago
Luciano Frattolin has been charged with murdering his 9-year-old daughter Melina Frattolin, New York State Police officials announced July 21.
Melina Frattolin was found dead in Upstate New York on July 20 after Luciano Frattolin reported her abducted the previous night, NYSP said in a release.
Officials allege that Luciano Frattolin murdered his daughter after the pair, who live in Montreal, traveled to the United States for a vacation this month.
He has been charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse and is being held at the Essex County Corrections facility pending an arraignment scheduled for Monday morning, police said.
"This is certainly a difficult case, a heartbreaking investigation," Robert McConnell, NYSP captain, said at the press conference. "On behalf of the New York State Police and our law enforcement partners, I want to offer our condolences to the family of Melina."
Here's everything we know so far.
Melina Frattolin allegedly murdered by father, dumped in wooded area: officials
Luciano and Melina Frattolin entered the United States on July 11 for a vacation, officials said.
They planned to return on July 20 to Canada, where Melina lived full-time with her mother, according to police. Melina's parents have been estranged since 2019, police said.
At around 5:30 p.m. local time on July 19, officials said Luciano and Melina Frattolin were seen on video surveillance in Saratoga Springs, New York.
At about 6:30 p.m., the girl spoke to her mother on the phone and told her she and her father were on route back to Canada, police said.
Sometime after Melina spoke to her mother on the phone and before Luciano Frattolin reported her missing, he allegedly killed her, according to authorities.
Her body was found in the shallow portion of a pond in a wooded area, police said. Her cause of death is pending autopsy results.
Luciano Frattolin reported daughter missing after allegedly killing her
Luciano Frattolin reported his daughter missing around 10 p.m. local time on July 19.
He told authorities he and his daughter 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 told authorities.
The Warren County Sheriff's Office activated an Amber Alert for the missing girl on the morning of July 20, noting that she was last seen in a white van on I-87 southbound.
Police confirmed on July 20 around 5 p.m. ET that Melina Frattolin was found dead in Ticonderoga, New York, which is about 100 miles north of Albany by the Vermont border.
Officials noted at the time that they found "inconsistencies" in Luciano Frattolin's timeline of events and added that "there is no indication that an abduction occurred."
The Warren County Sheriff's Office turned over the investigation to the state police.
Contributing: James Powel and Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Grandma who saw accused killer dad Luciano Frattolin tormented by thought she could have saved his daughter
Grandma who saw accused killer dad Luciano Frattolin tormented by thought she could have saved his daughter

New York Post

time16 hours ago

  • New York Post

Grandma who saw accused killer dad Luciano Frattolin tormented by thought she could have saved his daughter

A New York grandmother who believes she spotted accused killer dad Luciano Frattolin is tormented by the thought she should have saved his 9-year-old daughter, Melina, she told The Post. 'This is really bothering me,' Rebecca Kulickowski said of driving past a 'skinny, tall guy' around the same time and location as Frattolin is accused of drowning his daughter in Ticonderoga on Saturday. 'I've kept playing that moment back in my head, asking why we didn't stop?' Kulickowski said — saying is plagued by wondering, 'If we had, she'd still be alive.' 4 Luciano Frattolin has been accused of drowning his daughter after reporting a hoax kidnapping. Essex County Sheriff's Office Lulickowski previously revealed how she had been driving through Ticonderoga toward Schroon Lake on Saturday when she saw a Toyota Prius stopped in the road. 'It only caught my eye because as I was driving past the car, I seen a skinny, tall guy,' she told News 10. '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. 4 Rebecca Kulickowski told The Post she keeps replaying the moment she saw him in her head. WTEN The next day, Kulickowski got an Amber Alert about little Melina and immediately contacted police. '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. 4 Little Melina Frattolin's body was found in Eagle Lake pinned under a log on Sunday. Instagram/Luciano Frattolin 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. Frattolin, who had custody of his daughter for the week, was charged on Monday with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. 4 Frattolin appeared in court on Monday charged with murder and concealment of a corpse. Wnyt13 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. Frattolin was arrested early on Monday morning and appeared in court later that day, when he pleaded not guilty. He is due back in court again on Friday.

Turquoise Alert Issued For 6-Year-Old Girl in Arizona
Turquoise Alert Issued For 6-Year-Old Girl in Arizona

Miami Herald

time21 hours ago

  • Miami Herald

Turquoise Alert Issued For 6-Year-Old Girl in Arizona

A Turquoise Alert has been issued for a 6-year-old girl who was last seen in Arizona with her mother, who does not have custody of her. The Arizona Department of Public Safety said that mother Sarah Coultas is alleged to have fled from Hawaii with her daughter Violet, in violation of a court order. A Turquoise Alert is a public notification system in Arizona designed to help locate missing endangered individuals under the age of 65 under suspicious or unexplained circumstances. The alert was created after the passage of Emily's Law in May 2025, named in memory of Emily Pike, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, who was found dead in February. Her case highlighted the need for an alert system for those who fall outside of the criteria for an Amber Alert. This is the first time the Arizona Department of Public Safety has issued a Turquoise Alert after the system was established in May. Police are seeking to track down Violet Coultas and return her to safety after she was sighted with her noncustodial mother. According to the Turquoise Alert, Violet Coultas was last seen with her mother on video surveillance at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on July 12 at around 10 p.m. The child was last seen wearing a white shirt, pink jacket, pink sweater, light-colored shorts, and white shoes. She is 3 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 43 pounds, and has blonde hair and hazel eyes. Any sightings or information is requested to be reported to 911. Any leads or historic tips can be directed to the Hawaii Police Department. The Hawaii Police Department said in a statement that Coltas was wanted for questioning in connection with a custodial interference investigation before she disappeared with the child. The mother most recently lived in Pa'auilo and worked in Hilo on the island, they said. She is described as being 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, and having straight brown hair and hazel eyes. The pair were spotted together on July 6 at the top of Miloli'i Road in South Kona, Hawaii, before next being seen at an Arizona airport the following week. The Arizona Department of Public Safety said in a statement: "Sarah Coultas is alleged to have fled Hawaii with Violet in violation of a court order." Authorities in both Arizona and Hawaii are working to locate Violet and ensure her safe return. 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

Turquoise Alert Issued For 6-Year-Old Girl in Arizona
Turquoise Alert Issued For 6-Year-Old Girl in Arizona

Newsweek

timea day ago

  • Newsweek

Turquoise Alert Issued For 6-Year-Old Girl in Arizona

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Turquoise Alert has been issued for a 6-year-old girl who was last seen in Arizona with her mother, who does not have custody of her. The Arizona Department of Public Safety said that mother Sarah Coultas is alleged to have fled from Hawaii with her daughter Violet, in violation of a court order. What Is A Turquoise Alert? A Turquoise Alert is a public notification system in Arizona designed to help locate missing endangered individuals under the age of 65 under suspicious or unexplained circumstances. The alert was created after the passage of Emily's Law in May 2025, named in memory of Emily Pike, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, who was found dead in February. Her case highlighted the need for an alert system for those who fall outside of the criteria for an Amber Alert. Why It Matters This is the first time the Arizona Department of Public Safety has issued a Turquoise Alert after the system was established in May. Police are seeking to track down Violet Coultas and return her to safety after she was sighted with her noncustodial mother. What To Know According to the Turquoise Alert, Violet Coultas was last seen with her mother on video surveillance at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on July 12 at around 10 p.m. Terminal 3 of Phoenix Sky Harbor airport in Arizona pictured on April 8, 2019. The airport was the last place that Sarah and Violet Coultas were sighted. Terminal 3 of Phoenix Sky Harbor airport in Arizona pictured on April 8, 2019. The airport was the last place that Sarah and Violet Coultas were sighted. Getty Images The child was last seen wearing a white shirt, pink jacket, pink sweater, light-colored shorts, and white shoes. She is 3 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 43 pounds, and has blonde hair and hazel eyes. Any sightings or information is requested to be reported to 911. Any leads or historic tips can be directed to the Hawaii Police Department. The Hawaii Police Department said in a statement that Coltas was wanted for questioning in connection with a custodial interference investigation before she disappeared with the child. The mother most recently lived in Pa'auilo and worked in Hilo on the island, they said. She is described as being 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, and having straight brown hair and hazel eyes. The pair were spotted together on July 6 at the top of Miloli'i Road in South Kona, Hawaii, before next being seen at an Arizona airport the following week. What People Are Saying The Arizona Department of Public Safety said in a statement: "Sarah Coultas is alleged to have fled Hawaii with Violet in violation of a court order." What Happens Next Authorities in both Arizona and Hawaii are working to locate Violet and ensure her safe return.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store