Father Charged with Murdering 9-Year-Old Daughter in New York
Montreal father arrested after falsely claiming daughter was kidnapped; police later found her body in remote pond near Lake George.
- Canadian man charged with murdering 9-year-old daughter during U.S. vacation
- Father falsely reported kidnapping to police, sparking Amber Alert
- Victim’s body found in pond; investigation into motive continues
A Canadian man, Luciano Frattolin, has been charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse after allegedly killing his 9-year-old daughter, Melina Galanis Frattolin, during a trip to upstate New York and falsely claiming she had been kidnapped.
Authorities say the tragic incident occurred over the weekend, with Melina’s body discovered Sunday in a shallow pond near Ticonderoga, not far from Lake George. New York State Police believe Frattolin fabricated a kidnapping story to cover up the crime, initially telling officers that his daughter was abducted by two strangers after he stopped to relieve himself in the woods.
Melina had last spoken to her mother Saturday evening, saying she and her father were heading back to Montreal after a 10-day vacation in New York City and Connecticut. Hours later, Frattolin allegedly murdered her and abandoned her body in a remote area.
The false abduction report prompted the issuance of an Amber Alert and a massive multi-agency search. However, inconsistencies in Frattolin’s story quickly raised suspicions, leading investigators to focus on him as the prime suspect.
Authorities say the father and Melina’s mother had been estranged since 2019, but the mother had no concerns about their U.S. trip. Frattolin had no prior criminal history or known instances of domestic violence.
An autopsy will determine the exact cause of Melina’s death, while the motive behind the killing remains unclear. Frattolin was arrested in Essex County and is currently in custody.
“This is a heartbreaking case,” said Capt. Robert McConnell of the New York State Police. “We’re doing everything we can to bring justice to Melina and her family.”
