Tragic Death of 9-Year-Old in Upstate New York

A nine-year-old girl was found dead after her father, Luciano Frattolin, claimed she had been abducted. Law enforcement confirmed that Melina Frattolin drowned and was discovered hidden beneath a log in a secluded pond near Ticonderoga, about 30 miles from where she was reportedly taken.

Melina was on a scheduled visit with her father, which included a trip to New York City, before her disappearance. She had spoken with her mother via phone just an hour before her death, and at that time, everything appeared normal. The child’s body was discovered within two hours of that call.

Initially, Frattolin reported his daughter missing around 10 p.m. on Saturday, claiming she was taken by two men in a white van while he stepped out to urinate near Exit 22 of I-87. An Amber Alert was issued, but later that afternoon, authorities found her body in a shallow waterway still in upstate New York.

In interviews, authorities revealed that Frattolin lied about the abduction, initially claiming his daughter was taken by strangers. Surveillance footage from a restaurant in Saratoga Springs showed father and daughter together at around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The autopsy concluded Melina drowned, with asphyxia as the cause of death. She and her father had entered the US legally for a vacation but planned to return to Montreal later that night. Melina was due to reunite with her mother in Montreal after the trip.

Frattolin, who has no prior criminal record, faces criminal charges in connection to her death. He is currently held at Essex County Jail. Despite his recent legal troubles, including lawsuits and disputes over property in Montreal, authorities are still investigating his movements over the weekend.

The case has shocked the community, highlighting the tragic loss of a young girl and raising questions about family custody and personal safety.