What happened to Melina Galanis Frattolin? Everything we know so far about the missing 9-year-old found dead in Ticonderoga
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BREAKING: State police say the body of Melina Frattolin has been found, in Ticonderoga. They say there were inconsistencies in her father's story and at this time, there is no indication that an abduction took place.https://t.co/uDO1DsKYhS
— CBS 6 Albany - WRGB (@CBS6Albany) July 20, 2025
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The search for 9-year-old Melina Galanis Frattolin ended in tragedy after her body was discovered in Ticonderoga, New York, following an Amber Alert issued early Sunday morning, July 20. New York State Police (NYSP) have noted inconsistencies in her father's account, and currently say there is no evidence to suggest that an abduction occurred.The missing girl from Lake George was last seen at approximately 9:40 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 19, traveling in a white van on I-87 southbound near Exit 22, close to Lake George. Her disappearance triggered an urgent response and widespread search under the Lake George Amber Alert update issued shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday.Authorities described Melina Galanis as being 5 feet tall and weighing around 100 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing light-colored shorts, a black and white striped shirt, and white Adidas sneakers.Initial reports from police said Melina was last seen at 7:40 p.m., though that timeline was later revised to 9:40 p.m. The suspect involved in the incident remained unidentified at the time the Amber Alert in N.Y. was activated.Investigators later discovered inconsistencies in the timeline provided by Melina Frattolin's father.With support from the Essex County Sheriff's Office, Ticonderoga Police Department, the Department of Environmental Conservation, Forest Rangers, and State Police K9 and Aviation units, her body was ultimately found in Ticonderoga.Due to jurisdictional factors, the Warren County Sheriff's Office handed the investigation over to the New York State Police. Officials have since clarified that there is no ongoing threat to the public and the Amber Alert has been cancelled.News of the Lake George abduction case's heartbreaking outcome has sparked intense reactions online. Outraged netizens targeted the father, alleging foul play, especially after reports suggested he filed the missing person report after she had already died.'What an absolute piece of garbage. I hope he rots in hell,' wrote one user on X. Another commented, 'Shorter: father filed the missing person report after she was already deceased.'As of now, law enforcement has not confirmed charges. A media briefing is expected Monday to provide the next official update on Melina Frattolin and the ongoing investigation.
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Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Canadian father arrested for murder of 9-year-old daughter found dead near Lake George after reporting her missing
A Canadian man has been arrested for the murder of his 9-year-old daughter, just days after he reported her missing while the two were vacationing in New York's Adirondack region. Luciano Frattolin , 45, is now in custody following the discovery of his daughter, Melina Galanis Frattolin's body in a wooded area near Lake George over the weekend. The chain of events began late Saturday, July 19, when Frattolin called 911 from a rest area near Exit 22 off the I-87 in the popular upstate New York vacation spot of Lake George. He reported that Melina had been kidnapped by two men in a white van, prompting New York State Police to issue an Amber Alert . Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category MCA Others Data Science Project Management CXO Operations Management healthcare MBA Management Product Management Technology Data Analytics Data Science Leadership Design Thinking PGDM Digital Marketing Artificial Intelligence Public Policy Cybersecurity others Healthcare Finance Degree Skills you'll gain: Programming Proficiency Data Handling & Analysis Cybersecurity Awareness & Skills Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Master of Computer Applications Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details The alert described Melina as 5 feet tall, approximately 100 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, last seen wearing a striped shirt and Adidas sneakers. Frattolin claimed the van was heading south on the interstate. Responding to the alert, multiple agencies, including K9 units, aviation support, and forest rangers, launched an intensive search. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top Most Expensive Luxury Cars - Nobody in Sichon Has One! Undo However, within hours, inconsistencies began to emerge in Frattolin's story. Investigators could find no evidence to support the reported abduction. After analyzing surveillance footage, timelines, and physical evidence, police dismissed the kidnapping theory. On Sunday morning, the Amber Alert was canceled, and the case quickly shifted direction. By Sunday afternoon, authorities had located Melina's body in a wooded area along Route 74 in Ticonderoga, about 15 miles east of Lake George and close to the New York-Vermont border. Her remains were discovered in a shallow, swamp-like pond. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Live Events Frattolin was arrested early the following morning and booked into the Essex County Jail on charges of murder and concealment of a human corpse . At his initial court appearance in Ticonderoga Town Court, a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and he remains held without bail. During a press briefing, New York State Police Captain Robert McConnell confirmed that Frattolin had "fabricated the initial report of the abduction" and was now the sole suspect in Melina's death. McConnell stated that investigators believe the child was killed sometime Saturday evening, shortly after speaking with her mother by phone to say she and her father were heading back to Montreal following a 10-day road trip through New York and Connecticut. Melina's mother, who had been estranged from Frattolin since 2019, reportedly had no objections to the trip and was in regular phone contact with her daughter. She told officers that the call Saturday night was typical and raised no red flags. Canadian authorities are closely coordinating with their American counterparts as the investigation continues. Authorities have not released the official cause of death, pending a full autopsy report from the medical examiner. Law enforcement officials emphasized that the incident was isolated and posed no ongoing threat to the public. 'This is a profoundly tragic and disturbing case,' said Captain McConnell. 'Our deepest sympathies are with Melina's family and community. We are committed to ensuring justice is served.' A scheduled press conference was held in Latham, New York Monday morning, where state officials reiterated that all investigative leads now point to Frattolin acting alone. No other suspects are being sought.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Canada cafe-owner dad, charged with murder of his daughter, tells judge he couldn't afford a lawyer, custody details hint at possible motive
Canada cafe owner, charged in the US for murder of his daughter, appeared in the court Monday. New York State Police has not found any motive behind Canadian father Luciano Frattolin, 45, killing his 9-year-old daughter Melina Frattolin on the last day of their US vacation, but charged him with second-degree murder and then disposal of the body. The father told the judge that he could not afford an attorney for himself. A not guilty plea was entered oin his behalf as the county's public defender appeared on behalf of him. The father spoke briefly in the court telling judge Richard Carpenter that the address listed for him in Montreal was incorrect. Timeline of 9-year-old's murder The father and daughter arrived in the US on a vacation on July 11. They visited places in Connecticut and New York, including NYC. On Saturday, at around 5.30 pm, they were in Saratoga Springs, a restaurant surveillance camera showed. It was their last day of vacation and they were supposed to be in Montreal Sunday, Around 6.30 pm, Melina called her mother and she was fine. Police think Melina was killed between her phone call with her mother and when her father called the 911 at 9.58 pm Saturday. He told the police that he pulled over his car and went inside the woods to urinate. When he returned, he saw Melina was not there and two men forced her inside a white van. The 911 dall triggered an Amber alert as the frantic search for the nine-year-old began. Police said the abduction story started to disintegrate as the investigation continued as Melina's body was found at around 10.50 am Sunday in the shallow end of a pond in Ticonderoga. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo Police said the body was concealed under a log and an autopsy would reveal how she was killed. No motive found but daughter was supposed to be in mother's custody Luciano Frattolin has no criminal record in Canada and his estranged wife also did not believe there was any danger to their daughter from him. Melina's mother was given the full custody of Melina when the parents split in 2019 but Melina's father was authorized to take the daughter out on a vacation.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
9-year-old Canadian girl killed by father? Melina's mother had full custody, she did not believe ex-husband posed any danger
Canadian girl Melina Frattolin's mother had her full custody after the parents divorced in 2019. New York State Police believed Melina Galanis Frattolin, the 9-year-old Canadian girl, who was found dead in Ticonderoga, was killed by her father Luciano Frattolin, a cafe owner in Canada. Luciano was charged with second-degree murder and also with unlawful disposal of the body, reports said. The father-daughter duo was in the US on a vacation and was supposed to return to Montreal Sunday. Police said Melina's mother and father got divorced in 2019 and the mother got full custody of the daughter. But the mother did not believe her ex-husband posed any danger to their daughter. Melina even spoke to her mother earlier during the trip and was in good health. Frattolin told the police that two men in a van abducted his daughter when he stopped his car to urinate by the side of the road. Captain Robert McConnel said that the abduction story was fully fabricated; Frattolin killed his daughter and left her in the shallow end of a pond in Ticonderoga. Frattolin reported his daughter missing just before 10 pm Saturday near the Northway's Exit 22 in Lake George. The child's body was found on Sunday. As the investigation unfolded, police said Frattolin gave inconsistent statements. "The child appeared to be in good health and did not indicate she was under any duress," McConnell said. "The investigation has determined sometime after Melina's phone call with her mother, and before Mr. Frattolin's 911 call, he allegedly murdered Melina and left her body in a remote area where she was later discovered by law enforcement." "This is certainly a difficult case and a heartbreaking investigation," McConnell said. "The best we can do is provide some measure of justice to the family." According to police records, the father-daughter duo entered the US legally on July 11 for vacation and were due to return to Montreal on July 20, the date when Melina was supposed to return to her mother's custody.
