Latest news with #WarrenCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Father of Montreal girl who was found dead in N.Y. charged with 2nd-degree murder
The father of the nine-year-old Montreal girl who was found dead after being reported missing in northeastern New York was arrested Monday morning and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. New York State Police said officers from the Warren County Sheriff's Office received a call Saturday at around 10 p.m. ET from a man who said his daughter was missing from the area of Exit 22 of Highway I-87 in Lake George, possibly due to an abduction. They said the child was identified as Melina Frattolin and her father as 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin. Both were later confirmed to be Montreal residents. Robert McConnell, Bureau of Criminal Investigation captain for the New York State Police, told reporters at a news conference on Monday morning that the father and daughter had been on vacation in the United States since July 11. Melina resided full time with her mother and Frattolin would visit the child when he was in Canada. The parents had been estranged since 2019, police said. McConnell explained that the trip was planned and that the mother was aware of it and had no concerns about Melina being with her father. Frattolin and his daughter were expected to return to Canada on Saturday, July 19, at which time Melina would be returned to her mother's custody in Montreal. According to McConnell, at about 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, video surveillance images showed the girl and her father in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Around 6:30 p.m. ET, Melina spoke to her mother on the phone and told her they were going back to Canada. WATCH | N.Y. State Police provide update on the investigation: The child appeared to be in good health and did not indicate she was under any duress. Sometime after that call and before Frattolin's call to the police, the man allegedly murdered his daughter and left her body in a remote area, said McConnell. Melina was found dead in the shallow water of a pond on Sunday at approximately 1:50 p.m. ET in Ticonderoga, N.Y., about 50 kilometres east of Lake George, near the New York-Vermont border. The charges against Frattolin allege he concealed her body under a log. The Warren County Sheriff's Office initially led the investigation and transferred it to the New York State Police. As the case progressed, officers identified inconsistencies in the father's account of events and the timeline of Melina's disappearance. Police refute Frattolin's initial abduction account McConnell shared the suspect's initial account with reporters. According to him, Frattolin told police he had stopped his car in the area of Exit 22 in Lake George to urinate, left his vehicle to go into a wooded area and when he returned to the car, his daughter was gone. Frattolin reported a white van fleeing the scene southbound. And in a subsequent interview, he mentioned two unknown men who forced Melina into the white van. "That lead was thoroughly investigated and disproven," said McConnell, adding that the suspect has no domestic violence or criminal history. "He fabricated the initial report of the abduction." Frattolin appeared at the Ticonderoga town court on Monday. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf at his arraignment, according to court officials. The public defender's office assigned to defend Frattolin did not immediately respond to phone and email requests for comment from The Associated Press. The victim's cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy which is scheduled for later today. On the website of a company called Gambella Coffee, the girl's father was described as someone who "spends as much time as he can in Montreal, Canada with his beautiful daughter Melina." By Monday morning, the link to the website was broken. Melina was described as the "light of his life, she is the inspiration for…well, everything." The company is headquartered in downtown Montreal.
Montreal Gazette
a day ago
- Montreal Gazette
Timeline of events in the death of Melina Frattolin
Montreal businessman Luciano Frattolin has been charged with the murder of his nine-year-old daughter, Melina, after he claimed that she was kidnapped while on vacation in New York state. Here is a timeline of the events leading up to his arrest. Friday, July 11, 2025 According to New York State Police investigators, Luciano Frattolin and his nine-year-old daughter Melina, both residents of Montreal, legally entered the United States for the purpose of a vacation. They were expected to return to Canada on Saturday, July 19, at which point Melina would be returned to the custody of her mother in Montreal. Police said the mother and Frattolin had been estranged since 2019. Saturday, July 19, 2025 5:30 p.m.: Frattolin and his daughter are seen on video surveillance cameras in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 6:30 p.m.: Authorities say Melina called her mother to say they were returning to Canada. 10 p.m.: The Warren County 911 call centre receives a call from Frattolin reporting his daughter as missing and claiming the disappearance may have involved an abduction at Exit 22 of the I-87 Highway. Frattolin said he had pulled over to urinate in a wooded area and when he returned his daughter was gone. An investigation is immediately launched and an Amber alert issued. The Amber alert said the girl was last seen at about 9:40 p.m. Saturday in a white van and includes her physical description. Sunday, July 20, 2025 The Warren County Sheriff's Office initially led the investigation, with law enforcement reporting inconsistencies in the father's account of events and the timeline he provided. Police would say later that while Frattolin initially claimed he saw a white van heading south after his daughter disappeared, he later said he saw two men forcing her into a van. On Sunday morning, the Essex County Sheriff's Office, Ticonderoga Police Department, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Forest Rangers, and New York State Police K9 and Aviation units, undertake a search in the town of Ticonderoga 'in an area Mr. Frattolin was suspected of having visited.' At about 10:50 a.m., searchers found the girl's body in shallow pond. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed Monday. The case is handed over the New York State Police. It was established there was no indication that an abduction occurred. By the end of the day Frattolin is taken into custody pending a court appearance Monday morning. Monday, July 21, 2025 Frattolin is charged with second degree murder as well as concealing a body in connection with his daughter's death. The website of a coffee company Frattolin is affiliated with, Gambella Coffee, is made inaccessible.
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Indianapolis Star
Missing girl Melina Frattolin found dead in NY; father charged
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. More news: Millions of swimming pools recalled following the deaths of 9 children 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 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
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Missing girl Melina Frattolin found dead in NY; father charged
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
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
9-year-old Canadian girl found dead in upstate New York after dad claimed she was abducted
A 9-year-old girl whose disappearance triggered an Amber Alert has been found dead in New York. On Sunday, an Amber Alert was issued for Melina Frattolin after she went missing. She was found dead hours later in Ticonderoga, New York, according to New York State Police. Luciano Frattolin, 45, the girl's father, reported his daughter missing to Warren County officials just before 10pm the previous evening, according to state police. He reportedly insinuated to police that the girl may have been abducted in the Lake George area. Warren County Sheriff's deputies followed up with Frattolin, and "identified inconsistencies in the father's account of events and the timeline he provided," according to the state's report. In the Amber Alert, Melina was said to have been "in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death." Melina Frattolin, aged 9, was found dead in Ticonderoga, New York on July 20 hours after her father reported her missing and suggested she had been abducted. Police later determined no abduction had taken place, and noted "inconsistencies" in her father's account of her disappearance (New York State Police) A search began that involved multiple local and state agencies, and hours later the girl's body was discovered 35 miles away from the spot where her father said he'd last seen her. Authorities, at the time working the case as a child abduction, determined that the kidnapping story they'd been told by her father was incorrect. "Due to jurisdictional considerations, the Warren County Sheriff's Office has turned the investigation over to the New York State Police," the agency said in a statement. "At this time, there is no indication that an abduction occurred, and there is no threat to the public." Frattolin and his daughter are both Canadian residents. Police have not arrested a suspect as of this report. No cause of death has been determined, and there are no further details at the time of this report regarding his discovery. Law enforcement told reporters that an update on their investigation would be made available sometime on Monday.
