Latest news with #Ticonderoga
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Heartbreaking piece of Melina Frattolin 'evidence' dumped in flower bed after nine year-old's murder 'by father'
An electronic tablet believed to have belonged to Melina Frattolin, the nine-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered by her father, was found dumped in a flower bed, a local hotel owner said. Frattolin's lifeless body was found underneath a log in the shallow end of a pond near Ticonderoga Sunday after her father, Luciano Frattolin, reported her missing the day before. Luciano, a Canadian CEO, initially told police his child was abducted by someone in a white van in upstate New York, but now cops claim he misled the investigation after they found her dead. Nearly a week after the little girl's body was discovered, Rob Gregor, the owner of Gregor Hotels in Lake George, said his staff found the device that he believes was Frattolin's in the flowers outside the building just off Exit 22 - the same area Luciano called police to report her missing. 'We looked at a couple other pictures and it looked shockingly similar to, you know, the little girl they were looking for,' Gregor told CBS6. He said objects often get dumped in the town, especially on a Saturday night, but when his staff decided to switch it on they found what appeared to be images of her on the screen. 'She plugged in the tablet and the first photographs look very much like the missing girl at the time. She was missing– We didn't know that she was deceased – So, I ran over to the hotel,' Gregor recalled. After finding the device, Gregor contacted the authorities, prompting a Warren County Sheriff deputy and the New York State Police to respond. A tablet believed to have belonged to Melina Frattolin, the nine-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered by her father, was found dumped in a flower bed outside of a Lake George hotel Rob Gregor, the owner of Gregor Hotels in Lake George, said he found a device that he believes was Frattolin's in the flowers outside the building just off Exit 22 (pictured) - the same area Luciano called police to report her missing 'They took it into evidence. So that's the last I saw of it,' Gregor told the outlet. The authorities are yet to confirm the tablet belonged to the Fratollin. Daily Mail contacted the New York State Police for comment but did not hear back in time for this report. An autopsy ruled that Melina died from asphyxia due to drowning. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. Luciano, who has been arrested in connection to his daughter's suspicious death, was reportedly spotted running by a witness. Ticonderoga resident Rebecca Kulickowski said she had tipped police off after saying she spotted a man sprinting through a hilly section of woodland on Saturday night. She told News10: 'It only caught my eye because as I was driving past the car, I seen a skinny tall guy. And he was running up a hill that he was parked next to and there was wooded area on the bottom of it. '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.' Luciano (pictured with his late daughter) initially told police his child was abducted by someone in a white van in upstate New York, but now cops claim he misled the investigation after they found her dead Gregor said when his staff powered the tablet on they found images that appeared to look like Frattolin. (Pictured: The flower bed the device was found in) Police released pictures of Luciano's vehicle, a grey 2024 Toyota Prius, as they asked for help in gathering more evidence State Police said they had received over 700 tips from the public after the initial alert was issued. As part of their investigation, they also released pictures of Luciano's vehicle, a grey 2024 Toyota Prius, as they asked for help in gathering more evidence. Captain Robert McConnell with the New York State Police said her father, who lives in Montreal, Canada, killed the girl on Saturday night while they were on vacation close to the picturesque town of Lake George, located in the Adirondacks region of New York. The father and daughter were both in America legally after starting their vacation on July 11. They were due to return to their native Quebec on Sunday. Luciano initially called the local Warren County Sheriff's Office claiming that two men in a white van had abducted his daughter. An AMBER alert was ssued by New York State Police around 10pm, as they advised the public they believed she was in 'imminent danger.' Luciano was charged with second-degree murder on Sunday night. The father remains in custody and has pleaded not guilty Police soon became suspicious of Luciano's story just before locating her body around 2pm Sunday. He was charged with second-degree murder on Sunday night. The father remains in custody and has pleaded not guilty. He is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility and he was spotted in a white prison jumpsuit and shackles while he was hauled into Ticonderoga Town Court on Monday. The nine-year-old resided full time with her mother and her father visited without limitations. He also had zero criminal record, McConnell said.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Disturbing behavior of Melina Frattolin's dad 'moments after he murdered the nine year-old'
The father of a nine-year-old girl facing murder charges over her death was spotted running through a hill by a witness after allegedly killing his daughter and hiding her body. Melina Frattolin was reported missing on Saturday by her father Luciano Frattolin, who told police his child was abducted by someone in a white van in upstate New York. Her body was later found underneath a log in a shallow section of a pond near Ticonderoga, having died by drowning. State Police say her father, a Canadian CEO, faked the missing report and is facing a second-degree murder charge, as well as concealment of a human corpse. He has pleaded not guilty. Ticonderoga resident Rebecca Kulickowski had tipped police off after saying she spotted a man she thinks was Luciano sprinting through a hilly section of woodland on Saturday night. She told News10: 'It only caught my eye because as I was driving past the car, I seen a skinny tall guy. And he was running up a hill that he was parked next to and there was wooded area on the bottom of it. '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.' After waking up the next day to an Amber Alert over the disappearance of Melina, she immediately called the cops to explain what she had saw. State Police said they had received over 700 tips from the public after the initial alert was issued. As part of their investigation, they also released pictures of Luciano's vehicle, a grey 2024 Toyota Prius, as they asked for help in gathering more evidence. Captain Robert McConnell said her father, who lives in Montreal, Canada, killed the girl on Saturday night while they were on vacation close to the picturesque town of Lake George, located in the Adirondacks region of New York. The father and daughter were both in America legally after starting their vacation on July 11. They were due to return to their native Quebec on Sunday. The horror unfolded on Saturday night, when Luciano called the local Warren County Sheriff's Office claiming that two men in a white van had abducted his daughter. Police soon became suspicious of Luciano's story on what happened just before locating her body around 2pm Sunday. He is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility and was spotted in a white prison jumpsuit and shackles while being hauled into Ticonderoga Town Court on Monday. Captain McConnell said Frattolin's mother, who has been estranged from Luciano since 2019, was expecting her daughter to be returned to her home in Montreal on Sunday. He is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility and was spotted in a white prison jumpsuit and shackles while being hauled into Ticonderoga Town Court on Monday The nine-year-old resided full time with her mother and her father visited without limitations. He also had zero criminal record, McConnell said. Surveillance footage from 5.30pm on Sunday showed Frattolin'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 on their way back to Canada. '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 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 his child 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' Frattolin 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.' McConnell expressed his condolences to the family. 'This is certainly a difficult case and a heartbreaking investigation,' he said. Prior to her death, Frattolin's father gushed about her online, calling her the 'light of his life' and sharing pictures and videos of their 'father daughter' time. Luciano 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 read.
National Post
a day ago
- National Post
Americans hold vigil for Canadian girl, 9, found dead in a pond
Residents of an upstate New York town gathered Tuesday night to shed tears and light candles for a nine-year-old Montreal girl whose body was found in their community over the weekend. Article content Scores of people in Ticonderoga gathered at a local park for an emotional tribute to nine-year-old Melina Frattolin. Article content As 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' played softly from a speaker, people lit each other's candles, wiped away tears and bowed their heads as a prayer was read. Article content Article content Her 45-year-old father has been charged with second-degree murder and the concealment of a human corpse. Luciano Frattolin, a Montreal resident, has pleaded not guilty. Article content Article content Ticonderoga resident Bridgette Cruz, who organized the vigil, said her heart is shattered for Melina's mother and loved ones. Article content 'She was supposed to be taken care of, and I can't fathom as a mother the pain that she's enduring in her heart, and the suffering,' she said ahead of the vigil. 'It truly is a tragedy, not just for this town but two nations.' Article content She says the little girl would forever be a part of the community, even if she didn't live there. Article content 'This little girl was not from here but we're going to love her like she was from Ticonderoga,' Cruz said. Article content Matthew Courtright, president and CEO of the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, said the whole community had been affected by the death. Article content Article content 'In the face of tragedy, in the face of issues, we always come together,' he said. 'People step up and we support each other.' Article content Article content At the vigil, a bouquet of flowers and a small stuffed animal were set on a table. Next to it sat two pieces of artwork, with a message in a child's handwriting that read, 'RIP Melina. You were loved by a lot of people.' Article content As the sun set across the park, illuminating the open spaces and a bubbling waterfall, many of the vigil attendees expressed incomprehension at how a father could allegedly have killed his child. Article content Article content 'Hearing about the father, it's devastating,' said Annette Hurlburt. 'I have a nine-year old nephew and I can't imagine this happening to him.' Article content She said many residents of the town received an Amber Alert when Melina went missing, and had hoped for her safe return. Article content Hurlburt said her message was to encourage anyone who is struggling to seek help before it's too late. 'If you are in a situation and you need to seek help, so tragedies like this don't happen, I would recommend getting help,' she said. Article content
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Ticonderoga community remembers 9-year-old Melina Frattolin with Tuesday night vigil
A community shaken after nine-year-old Melina Frattolin was found dead in the small New York town of Ticonderoga on Sunday. Her death was ruled a homicide. Her father, Luciano Frattolin of Montreal is being charged in her death. He pled not guilty Monday to charges of second degree murder and concealment of a corpse.
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
Montreal girl allegedly killed by father was drowned, initial autopsy finds
'This is her soul's resting place,' says organizer of vigil honoring Melina Frattolin in Ticonderoga, N.Y. An autopsy has found that a nine-year-old Montreal girl allegedly killed by her father over the weekend was drowned. The preliminary findings of the autopsy, which were released on Tuesday by New York State Police, found Melina Frattolin died by asphyxia due to drowning and her death was a homicide. The results will have to be confirmed by further laboratory testing. Melina's body was found Sunday in the shallow water of a pond in Ticonderoga, N.Y., about 50 kilometres east of Lake George, near the New York-Vermont border. Her father, 45-year-old Montrealer Luciano Frattolin, was charged on Monday with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. He appeared at the Ticonderoga town court on Monday. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf at his arraignment, according to court officials. His case is expected to return to court on Friday. Father 'fabricated' abduction: police In a news conference on Monday following Frattolin's arrest, New York State Police outlined the timeline of events. They say Frattolin first reported his daughter's disappearance to local police at around 10 p.m. last Saturday while they were travelling in the United States. An Amber Alert was triggered. Police say he told investigators that he'd left his car to urinate in a wooded area and that his daughter was gone when he returned. He reported a white van fleeing the scene southbound. In a subsequent interview, he mentioned two unknown men who forced Melina into the white van. New York State Police confirmed that the father had "fabricated the initial report of the abduction." 'She will be one of us' Details about how Melina died were released just hours before people gathered for a vigil at Percy Thompson Centennial Park in Ticonderoga — a small town of about 4,700 people located about 200 kilometres south of Montreal. There were speeches and solemn music, while candles were lit and people joined together in prayer. With her voice shaking, Bridgette Cruz, a Ticonderoga resident who organized the vigil, told the crowd that "no child should be left on the side of the road." "If this is where her sweet soul was found, then this is her soul's resting place," Cruz said. "She will be one of us." Prior to the event, Cruz told CBC News the vigil was meant to highlight the collective grief felt by people, including parents, on both sides of the border. "I feel like we kind of need a little closure here in this town for her," she said. Photogallery | Vigil for Melina Frattolin held in Ticonderoga, N.Y. Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Police seek public's help In addition to the preliminary autopsy findings, police released images of a grey 2024 Toyota Prius, the car in which the father and daughter travelled. They are urging anyone who saw it to contact authorities by calling 518-873-2750 or emailing crimetip@ They said they were specifically looking for people who may have come across the car driving in the areas of I-87 north between exits 28 and 20 on Saturday evening. Details of Frattolin's financial situation began to surface on Monday. He owes more than $150,000 to Scotiabank, according to two separate court cases. The bank alleges he entered into credit agreements between 2023 and 2024 related to his business, Gambella Coffee. Frattolin is also seeking more than $115,000 in damages from business partners whom he says he entrusted to run an Airbnb on Bernard Street in Montreal in 2022, according to court documents. On Monday, police said the investigation had not yet uncovered a possible motive for the alleged murder.
