Latest news with #Melina
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Missing girl's dad made chilling ‘white van' claim before 9-year-old's body found as ‘inconsistent' timeline exposes truth
Officials said Monday, July 21, that Luciano Frattolin , a father who reported his daughter missing while on vacation in the United States, was charged with second-degree murder and concealing of a corpse. Luciano, 45, called the police on Saturday to report that 9-year-old Melina may have been kidnapped near Lake George, New York. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Project Management Cybersecurity Technology MCA Public Policy Finance healthcare Leadership Digital Marketing PGDM MBA Operations Management others Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Design Thinking Management Degree Data Science Product Management Others Healthcare CXO Data Science Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Also read: Melina Frattolin death: how New York cops found girl's body after father Luciano's account and timeline sh by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo After Melina was discovered dead in a nearby town, inside a pond, an Amber Alert was issued for the girl, however it was cancelled. When she was discovered, Luciano "was suspected of having visited" the location. Live Events Luciano's strained ties with Melina's mom At a press conference Monday morning, Captain Robert A. McConnell of the New York State Police said that Luciano and the girl's mother had been at odds since 2019 and that the mother had full custody of Melina. Melina had called her Montreal-based mother just before she passed away to let her know that the two of them were headed home. According to McConnell, "the child did not appear to be under any duress and appeared to be in good health." "The investigation has found that Mr. Frattolin allegedly murdered Melina and left her body in a remote area, where she was later found by law enforcement, sometime after Melina called her mother and before he called 911." Authorities say the man said he had stopped in a parking lot to urinate and then went back to the car, but Melina was not there. Also read: What happened to Melina Galanis Frattolin? Everything we know so far about the missing 9-year-old found de White van used to coerce child, says 'dad' "Initial reports from Mr. Frattolin of a suspicious white van in the area of the alleged disappearance was proven to be untrue," McConnell stated. Later, the chief disclosed that Luciano had stated that she had been coerced into the van by two unidentified men. "That lead was thoroughly investigated and disproven," he stated. The state police were "working tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable," according to a post made by New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday night. NY Gov. Kathy Hochul makes statement about case "Lake George has broken the news. She wrote on X, "We're grieving the loss of 9-year-old Melina Frattolin . "There is no ongoing threat to the public at this time." Timeline of Melina Frattolin's murder Authorities released a detailed timeline following the death of Melina Frattolin. July 19, 5:30 p.m. – Melina is captured on surveillance cameras with her father, Luciano, in Saratoga Springs, New York. July 19, 6:30 p.m. – Melina speaks to her mother and mentions they are heading back home to Canada. July 19, 10:00 p.m. – Luciano contacts 911 to report a possible abduction. July 20, early morning – An Amber Alert is issued for Melina. July 20, 1:50 p.m. – A body is discovered in a shallow section of a pond in Ticonderoga, New York. Source: New York State Police According to authorities, Luciano had no past criminal history, including domestic violence, and the cause of the girl's death will be disclosed after the autopsy is completed. "We were informed that she had passed away while I was in the command post. "It was really emotional and challenging," he added. "At that point though, the best we could do is provide some measure of justice to the family and we are just fortunate we're able to do that in this case." Also read: Who is Luciano Frattolin? The grieving father at the heart of the Melina Frattolin tragedy Since the beginning of their journey on July 11, the two have been touring the United States, stopping in destinations like New York City and Connecticut. According to the police, Melina's mother didn't worry for her when she was with her father. It is anticipated that Luciano would face charges in New York.
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.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Sickening place 'killer dad' hid daughter Melina Frattolin's body after faking disappearance from Lake George
A Canadian CEO charged with killing his nine-year-old daughter allegedly hid her body in a remote pond after telling cops she had been 'abducted' by two men. Organic coffee brand founder Luciano Frattollin, 45, attempted to conceal his daughter Melina's body in shallow waters in Ticonderoga, upstate New York, after claiming she had been kidnapped at a location 45 miles away, officials have said. New York State Police gave more heartbreaking details about the little girl's death in a press conference on Monday, after charging her father with second-degree murder and concealing a body. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Captain Robert McConnell said Frattolin, who lives in Montreal, Canada, killed Melina on Saturday night while they were on vacation close to the picturesque town of Lake George, located in the Adirondacks region of New York 60 miles north of Albany. Frattolin and Melina were in America legally after starting their vacation on July 11, and they were due to return to their native Quebec on Sunday. The horror unfolded on Saturday night, when Frattolin called the local Warren County Sheriff's Office claiming that two men in a white van had abducted his daughter. New York State Police issued an amber alert for help finding the little girl at around 10pm, advising the public that she was believed to be in 'imminent danger'. But detectives quickly 'identified inconsistencies in the father's account of events and the timeline he provided', and they found Melina dead just before 2pm on Sunday. New York State Forest Rangers discovered her body 'in the shallow water of a pond' in Ticonderoga, New York, around 45 miles south of where her father said she had last been seen on the highway close to Lake George. Frattolin has been charged with murder in the second degree and concealment of a human corpse, and he is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility. He was seen in a white jumpsuit and shackles being hauled into Ticonderoga Town Court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to both charges. Captain McConnell said Melina's mother, who has been estranged from Frattolin since 2019, was expecting her daughter to be returned to her home in Montreal on Sunday. Melina resided full time with her mother and Frattolin visited without limitations. He also had zero criminal record, McConnell said. Surveillance footage from 5.30pm on Sunday showed Melina's final moments as she was seen with her father in Saratoga Springs. At 6.30pm, she phoned her mother and told her that she and her father were en route back to Canada. 'The child appeared to be in good health and did not indicate she was under any duress,' McConnell told the press conference. 'The investigation has determined sometime after Melina's phone call with her mother and sometime 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.' Captain McConnell said Luciano initially told cops that Melina was kidnapped on the highway near Lake George when he pulled over to urinate in the woods. The alleged killer dad said he turned around to find his daughter was no longer in their car, and he saw 'a suspicious white van' fleeing the scene. He later added that 'two unknown males forced' Melina into the vehicle. But when her body was found, detectives said there was no evidence she was ever abducted, and detectives said there was 'no threat to the public'. NYSP said that 'as the case progressed, law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the father's account of events and the timeline he provided.' Melina's cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy, which was scheduled for Monday. McConnell expressed his condolences for Melina's family. 'This is certainly a difficult case and a heartbreaking investigation,' he said. Frattolin is the founder of an organic coffee brand called Gambella, according to the product's website. 'Luciano Frattolin is an experienced entrepreneur with a proven track record of building diverse, high-performance businesses,' the website reads. 'With a background in the humanities and social sciences, his formal education, together with his pragmatic understanding about the complexities of life, motivates him to maintain an understanding of the world grounded in a distinct cross-cultural ethos. 'The son of an Ethiopian mother and an Italian father, Luciano was born in the small, remote village of Gambella. 'With a childhood spent running between rows of crimson coffee buds on the Ethiopian family plantation, and the neoclassical architecture of his father's Milano, his vision of the world and his pursuits within, reflect these hyphenated cultures.'
Sky News AU
7 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Accused killer dad Luciano Frattolin may have been struggling to pay dead nine-year-old daughter Melina's child support as staggering debt is revealed
Accused killer dad Luciano Frattolin may have been struggling to cover child support for his daughter, owing hundreds of thousands of dollars to creditors despite depicting a high-flying lifestyle on social media. The flailing 45-year-old Canadian coffee entrepreneur — charged Monday with the murder of his 9-year-old daughter Melina during a trip to upstate New York — had rented a property in the hip Montreal enclave of Mile End since 2020, which he sublet as an Airbnb, according to a report in La Presse. He hired two property managers to run the venture, including having them make the rent payments he owed — enabling him to pay his daughter's child support with what he netted afterward, he said in court documents obtained by the outlet. But his lease was terminated by the landlord in August 2024 when he fell $26,000 behind in rent. He was also being denied access to the property, where he said he stored his daughter's winter clothing and toys. He is currently suing the managers for more than $115,000, claiming they exploited the property without his knowledge and never made the rent payments as promised, according to Le Devoir. In turn, the managers alleged Frattolin had planned to empty his bank account and flee the country, which he denied. An employee of Dépanneur Café, a coffee shop Frattolin once owned and on which he still owes Bank of Nova Scotia about $83,000, said the accused killer had been splitting his time between Italy and Canada for the past 18 months. The bank said Frattolin also owed them $97,000 in unpaid credit-card debts from Café Gambella, another coffee shop bearing the same name as his online java business, Gambella Coffee. At his arraignment in Ticonderoga Town Court on Monday afternoon, Frattolin said he couldn't afford a lawyer and requested a public defender. But his Instagram page paints a very different picture of his financial situation, rife with photos and posts featuring exotic travel and expensive sports cars and replete with statements such as, 'I am truly addicted to Porsche.' Frattolin and Melina had been traveling across Connecticut and New York as part of a custody arrangement he had with his ex-wife, from whom he split in 2019, New York State Police revealed at a press conference Monday. Melina sounded fine when she made a phone call to her mom about 6:30 p.m., shortly before the girl and her dad were scheduled to fly back to Quebec, police said. The dad then reported her missing that night — claiming she'd been snatched by two men in a white van around 7:40 p.m., just an hour after the call with her mom, the Albany Times-Union said. Hours later, authorities found her body under a log in shallow water near New York's border with Vermont, with cops later saying the kidnapping report he filed was bogus. He was charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. He's due back in court July 25. Originally published as Accused killer dad Luciano Frattolin may have been struggling to pay dead nine-year-old daughter Melina's child support as staggering debt is revealed
Metro
8 hours ago
- Metro
Dad who reported daughter missing on vacation busted when her body found in pond
A father who reported his nine-year-old daughter missing while they were on a vacation together has been arrested after her body was discovered in a pond. Luciano Frattolin, 45, of Montreal was traveling with his daughter, Melina Frattolin, in upstate New York since July 11 and they were expected back in Canada this past weekend. Frattolin described Melina as 'the light of his life', 'beautiful', and his 'inspiration' in a post on the website of Montreal-based Gambella Coffee, which he founded. He had also called himself a 'loving father' on his Instagram profile. On Saturday night, Frattolin called 911 and claimed that his daughter vanished after he stepped out from a wooded area at a parking lot. Authorities issued an Amber Alert for the public's help in searching for Melina. However, officials found inconsistencies in Frattolin's accounts. 'During a subsequent interview, he then reports two unknown males forced her into a white van,' stated New York State Police Captain Robert McConnell. 'That lead was thoroughly investigated and disproven.' CCTV footage recovered from Saratoga Springs, another resort town close to Lake George, captured the dad and daughter there around 5.30pm on Saturday. Melina talked with her mother, whom she lived with in Montreal, on the phone about an hour later and did not sound distressed, according to police. Tragically, forest rangers found Melina's body in the shallow section of a pond in Ticonderoga, which is roughly 30 miles north of Lake George, on Sunday afternoon. Her father is believed to have murdered her after she spoke with her mum, and then called 911, police said. Frattolin was taken into custody and brought into Essex County Jail shortly after 2am on Monday. He has been charged with second-degree murder and unlawfully disposing of a corpse. A not guilty was entered for him during his arraignment on Monday, Ticonderoga Town Court officials said. He has been assigned a public defender. Frattolin did not have a criminal record or reported instances of domestic violence. More Trending Melina's mother distanced herself from Frattolin in 2019. Frattolin in his bio on his company site mentioned an 'unfortunate event that severely affected his well-being in 2019'. 'Melina has also taught Luciano to let go of his rigid tendencies to keep everything in 'perfect order,'' his bio reads. 'His love for Melina's messy art projects and chaotic ensemble of toys supersedes his love for a meticulously spotless home.' A motive for the killing has not been determined. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Trump calls for Idaho murderer spared death penalty to 'explain what happened' MORE: Two injured in barbershop of horrors stabbing in London MORE: Weak password let hackers bring down 148-year-old logistics firm
