Photo: greenleaf123 / iStock / Getty Images
Luciano Frattolin, a 45-year-old father from Montreal, is expected to appear in court today in Ticonderoga, facing charges of second-degree murder and improper disposal of a human corpse. Prosecutors allege that Frattolin killed his nine-year-old daughter, Melina Frattolin, while they were on vacation in New York earlier this month.
The case began when Frattolin reported his daughter missing, claiming she was abducted near Lake George. This triggered an Amber Alert and a widespread search. However, inconsistencies in his story led authorities to question his account. On Sunday, police discovered Melina's body in a shallow pond in Ticonderoga, and an autopsy later revealed she died by drowning.
Frattolin, who has dual citizenship in Ethiopia and Italy, entered the U.S. legally on July 11 with Melina for a planned vacation. The pair visited several destinations, including New York City and Saratoga Springs, before the tragic incident. Surveillance footage showed them in Saratoga Springs on the evening of July 19, just hours before the alleged murder.
Despite claiming that Melina was taken by two men in a white van, police determined that Frattolin fabricated this story. Authorities, including the New York State Police and local law enforcement, concentrated their search efforts in the Ticonderoga area, where Melina's body was eventually found.
Frattolin has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently held at the Essex County Jail. The case has moved to a grand jury, and the investigation is ongoing. A candlelight vigil for Melina is scheduled to take place in Ticonderoga on Tuesday night.