Father Arrested in Connection with the Death of 9-Year-Old Girl in Upstate New York

The father of a missing 9-year-old girl was taken into custody and charged with her murder after her body was discovered near Lake George in Ticonderoga. Luciano Frattolin, 45, reportedly killed her shortly after a phone call with her mother and left her body in a shallow pond close to the New York-Vermont border.

The girl, Melina, was found in the water on Sunday afternoon. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death, which officials say remains unclear. Frattolin was arraigned in Ticonderoga Town Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and unlawful disposal of a body.

Frattolin, who was traveling with his daughter during a custody visit, did not speak to reporters following his arrest. He appeared in court dressed in a disposable suit, indicating police had seized his clothing. His legal representatives claim he cannot afford a lawyer, despite evidence of a luxurious lifestyle on social media.

Authorities revealed the pair were last seen on surveillance footage in Saratoga Springs on Saturday evening. Melina had spoken with her mother earlier that day and appeared fine. However, her father later reported her missing, claiming she was abducted by two men in a white van—a claim later found to be inconsistent with evidence. A missing person alert and Amber Alert were issued shortly after her disappearance.

Police now believe that the child was murdered soon after her last known contact with her mother. The body was left in the water, and the precise motive for the crime remains unknown at this time.

Frattolin, who was born in Ethiopia and had no prior criminal history, was traveling between Connecticut and New York with his daughter. The couple had split in 2019, and police confirmed that Melina’s mother had no concerns for her safety prior to the incident.

In his personal bio, Frattolin described facing a substantial personal hardship in 2019 and expressed a desire to promote social justice, motivated by a hope that his daughter would not face the injustices he encountered as a child.

Police believe her father was responsible for her death, and her remains were located shortly after she was reported missing and an attempt to locate her was issued. An official autopsy is pending. Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive for the crime.