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| Melina Frattolin Story |
Tragedy in Upstate New York: 9-Year-Old Canadian Girl Drowns, Father Charged with Murder
A heartbreaking story has emerged from Upstate New York, where 9-year-old Melina Frattolin from Canada was found dead after what authorities are calling a homicide. According to preliminary autopsy results released by the New York State Police on July 22, Melina died from asphyxia caused by drowning. Her body was discovered in a shallow pond in a wooded area near Ticonderoga, a small town close to the Vermont border.
The autopsy was conducted at Glens Falls Hospital, and while the initial findings point to drowning as the cause of death, officials say further lab tests are needed before a final report is issued.
Melina’s father, Luciano Frattolin, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. At this time, it’s unclear whether he has legal representation.
The tragic sequence of events began during what was supposed to be a summer vacation. Luciano and Melina, who lived in Montreal, entered the United States on July 11 with plans to return to Canada on July 20. On July 19, the pair were seen together on surveillance footage in Saratoga Springs around 5:30 p.m. Just an hour later, Melina spoke to her mother on the phone, telling her they were heading back to Canada.
Later that night, around 10 p.m., Luciano reported Melina missing. He told police that while driving on Interstate 87 near Lake George, he pulled over to relieve himself in a wooded area. When he returned to the car, he claimed Melina had vanished.
The next morning, an Amber Alert was issued for the missing girl. However, police later stated that there was no evidence to support the claim that Melina had been abducted.
By the evening of July 20, the search came to a devastating end. Melina’s body was found in a pond in Ticonderoga, roughly 100 miles north of Albany. The area is known for its scenic beauty, but on that day, it became the site of a tragic discovery.
Investigators quickly turned their attention to Luciano Frattolin. According to police, he had been estranged from Melina’s mother since 2019. Melina lived full-time with her mother in Canada, and the vacation to the U.S. was meant to be a bonding trip with her father.
Luciano’s background paints a picture of a man with varied interests and a complex personal history. His LinkedIn profile describes him as an entrepreneur. Before his arrest, he reportedly owned a coffee company, and an archived website also links him to a mining business. An Ethiopian newspaper previously identified him as having Ethiopian and Italian heritage.
On his now-defunct personal website, Luciano spoke lovingly of his daughter. He described Melina as “the light of his life” and shared anecdotes about how she helped him loosen up and embrace the chaos of childhood. He wrote about how her messy art projects and scattered toys brought joy to his otherwise orderly life.
But those warm words now stand in stark contrast to the charges he faces. The community, both in Canada and the U.S., is grappling with the shock of Melina’s death and the disturbing allegations against her father.
As the investigation continues, many questions remain unanswered. What led to the events of July 19 and 20? What happened in the hours between Melina’s last phone call and the discovery of her body? And what evidence led police to conclude that her death was not an accident, but a homicide?
Authorities are urging patience as they await the final autopsy report and continue to gather evidence. In the meantime, Melina’s family and loved ones are left to mourn the loss of a bright, young girl whose life was cut tragically short.
This case has drawn attention across borders, with many Canadians following the developments closely. Melina’s story has touched hearts and sparked conversations about child safety, custody arrangements, and the importance of vigilance during family disputes.
As more details emerge, the hope is that justice will be served and that Melina’s memory will be honored. For now, her death remains a painful reminder of how quickly a joyful vacation can turn into a nightmare—and how fragile life can be.
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