Man Charged with Drowning His 9-Year-Old Daughter After Faking Kidnapping

A man has been arrested and charged after allegedly killing his young daughter following a false kidnapping report. The investigation began when authorities received an Amber Alert indicating the girl, Melina, had been abducted. Her body was later found submerged under a log in Eagle Lake, near Ticonderoga and Schroon Lake.

Witnesses recount seeing the suspect, Luciano Frattolin, shortly before the crime. A local woman, Rebecca Kulickowski, described passing a tall, skinny man around the same spot and time as Frattolin was reported to be nearby. She recalls their eyes locking as she drove by and felt an unsettling connection. She said, “There was something about him—like our eyes met, and I just knew something wasn’t right.”

The day after her sighting, Kulickowski was alerted by authorities about the kidnapping, which she found distressing. This led to her sharing her observations with police, providing critical information in the case.

It was later discovered that Frattolin had falsely reported the kidnapping, claiming his daughter had been taken. His deception was uncovered when her body was recovered in Eagle Lake, confirming her death. The suspect had custody of Melina the week of the incident.

Frattolin was detained early Monday morning. He appeared in court later that day and pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human remains. Authorities say he strangled Melina about an hour after speaking with her mother and before reporting her missing two and a half hours later, around 10 p.m. Saturday.

The case continues as he is scheduled to appear back in court on Friday. The tragic events highlight the devastating consequences of his actions, with authorities now investigating the full extent of the crime.