Father arrested in New York in death of 9-year-old daughter he had reported missing
Luciano Frattolin is charged with murder and concealing of a corpse in the death of his daughter, Melina Frattolin, New York State Police Capt. Robert McConnell said.
A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf at the 45-year-old Montreal man's arraignment Monday, Times-Union of Albany reported. The lawyer and the public defender's office assigned to defend Frattolin did not immediately respond to Associated Press phone and email requests for comment.
Luciano Frattolin called 911 Saturday night to report that has daughter had been abducted from a parking lot near Lake George, a resort town in the Adirondack region, authorities said. That led officials to issue an Amber Alert to enlist the public's help in finding her.
But authorities said over the weekend that there were inconsistencies in the father's account, and that they concluded there was no evidence she had been taken.
'He fabricated the initial report of the abduction,' McConnell said.
Investigators found the girl's body on Sunday in the shallows of a pond about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Lake George, near New York's border with Vermont, authorities said.
Police said the father and daughter had been vacationing in the U.S. and were expected back in Montreal on Sunday. The girl lived with her mother, who has been estranged from Luciano Frattolin since 2019, police said.
Frattolin did not respond to requests for comment sent via LinkedIn, Instagram and his company website over the weekend. He described himself as a 'loving father' on his Instagram profile, and on the website of a coffee company said to be founded by him, a post says that his daughter Melina is 'the light of his life.'
Police said Frattolin had no prior criminal or domestic violence history.
—-
Associated Press reporter Cedar Attanasio in New York City contributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 minutes ago
- BBC News
Two held on suspicion of murder after death of dad-of-five
Two men have bee held as part of a murder investigation into the death of a father-of-five. The body of Paul Smith, 40, who was also known as Smigger, was found at a property on Thirlmere Road in Everton, Liverpool, on was described by his family as an "amazing father" with a "huge heart". Two men from Liverpool, one 43 and one 60, are in custody for questioning. A post mortem examination is to be carried out to establish the cause of Mr Smith's death, Merseyside Police said. 'Contagious smile' In a tribute, Mr Smith's family said his children "adored him", adding he was "a loving, supportive partner and a devoted son, always striving to provide for his family". They added: "Paul had a huge heart. He was the life and soul of the party, charming and warm to everyone he met."He will be mourned and missed by many, friends and family alike." 'Full of love' His family also described him as a "loving brother" adding he devoted his time and love to supporting his elder and younger siblings. "He was the glue that bonded his siblings together with his contagious smile and crazy personality. "He will be greatly missed and forever remembered for being the outgoing loving sibling and son he was."Det Ch Insp Steve Ball said: "We are determined to find out exactly what happened, and I would urge anyone with information to come forward at the earliest opportunity so prompt action can be taken."If you live locally and saw or heard anything suspicious, or have since heard talk of what happened, speak to us."He added: "What seems like a trivial detail could be absolutely vital." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
2 minutes ago
- BBC News
Rapist who held axe to victim's throat jailed for seven years
A serial rapist who held an axe to the throat of one of his victims has been jailed for seven Jackson,19, from Paisley, was found guilty of 10 charges including the repeated rape of two High Court in Glasgow heard his offending started when he was just 14 and carried on at different locations in the Renfrewshire town from 2020 to 2022 .Jackson was put on the sex offenders list and banned from approaching or contacting either victim for an indefinite period. Judge Sheena Fraser said she accepted Jackson was of a similar age to the victims, but told him each girl had been "vulnerable".She said: "You took advantage of them."I have had the benefit of victim impact statements from each, which outline the harm that you caused them."It is clear that you do not take any responsibility for what you have done." Jackson, who was found guilty following a trial in Paisley, repeatedly preyed on the first girl and choked her court heard he also cut holes in the tights that she was other girl suffered a similar ordeal at his hands and he raped her despite her desperate pleas for him to heard that Jackson also assaulted the girl and took photos of her as she teenager was told was told he would also be supervised for a further three years on his Jackson's conviction last month the families of his victims released a joint said: "They have to live with the trauma of what he has done to them for the rest of their lives."The crimes that were committed by Kyle Jackson were downright evil and we now feel justice has been served by the jury finding him guilty of the charges." Det Sgt Jonathan Campbell said: "Kyle Jackson is a dangerous man who carried out these horrifying crimes across a number of years, and he will now face the consequences of his despicable actions in prison."
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Report: Trump told he was named in Epstein files months ago
Donald Trump was informed months ago by Pam Bondi that his name appears 'multiple times' in the Jeffrey Epstein files the same day she recommended against releasing all documents, according to a new report. Senior administration officials claimed that Attorney General Bondi told Trump during a May 2025 meeting that his name was found in the Epstein documents more than previously though, among hundreds of other high-profile individuals. The files contained 'unverified hearsay' about Trump and the individuals who had social connections to Epstein, the officials claim. Bondi recommended in that same meeting, according to the Wall Street Journal , that the administration not release more files because they contained child [expletive] and personal information for victims. Trump, the sources claim, deferred to his attorney general on whether to make additional files public. Just because the president is named in the files does not implicate him in any wrongdoing or connect him to Epstein's child [sexual] trafficking crimes. Administration officials told the Journal that Bondi's May meeting with Trump was a routine briefing covering a number of topics - and the Epstein files wasn't the focus. White House communications director Steven Cheung slammed the Journal's report as 'fake news' in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'The fact is that the President kicked him out of his club for being a creep. This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media, just like the Obama Russiagate scandal, which President Trump was right about,' he said. Trump denied that Bondi told him his name was flagged in the files after he emerged from another meeting with her on July 15. Trump replied: 'No, no' when asked by a reporter whether his name in the files came up. He told reporters on the South Lawn that Bondi had 'given us just a very quick briefing' on their contents before accusing former FBI Director James Comey of 'making up' the files. It's already known that Trump's name appeared on Epstein's flight logs, as well as the names of his second wife Marla Maples and his son Eric and daughter Tiffany. Epstein's 'black book' contact list also included entries for Trump's first wife Ivana, their daughter Ivanka and the president's brother Robert. Trump has had recent beef with the Wall Street Journal , threatening to sue the publication and its owner Rupert Murdoch for publishing last week a piece claiming he sent Epstein a 50th birthday card with a hand-drawn outline of a naked women. The Justice Department told the Wall Street Journal that Trump was made aware of the findings as part of the 'routine briefing.' Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly said that nothing was found in the files that would mandate an additional investigation - or even prosecution. 'As part of our routine briefing, we made the President aware of the findings,' they told the Journal. The Daily Mail reached out to the Justice Department for additional details on the meeting. Bondi has drawn ire and confusion from the MAGA base for say in February that she had the Epstein 'client list' on her desk ready for review. But the July memo said there was no such list found in the DOJ review.
