Canadian Father Arrested After Daughter Found Dead in Upstate New York Amid Custody Dispute

Luciano Frattolin, a Canadian citizen, was arrested in New York on charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse after the body of his nine-year-old daughter, Melina, was discovered near Ticonderoga.

The heartbreaking discovery came just days before Frattolin was scheduled to return custody of Melina to her mother, sparking a serious investigation into the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death.

Frattolin and Melina had traveled from Montreal to New York on July 11 for what was intended to be a family vacation. 

The father was expected to hand over custody to Melina’s mother, who has maintained full custody since 2019 after separating from Frattolin. 

On Saturday evening, Melina called her mother to say they were preparing to return to Canada, but later that night, the girl was reportedly killed.

During a press conference on Monday, New York State Police Captain Robert McConnell shared details about the case, revealing that Melina’s body was discovered in a shallow pond near Ticonderoga, approximately 45 miles from where Frattolin had first claimed she disappeared. 

Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of death, pending results from an autopsy scheduled for Monday.

Frattolin initially told investigators that Melina went missing near Lake George, New York, while he briefly stopped in the woods to use the bathroom. 

He reported seeing a suspicious white van fleeing the area. 

Later, he revised his story to say that two unknown men forced Melina into the vehicle. 

However, as the investigation progressed, inconsistencies in Frattolin’s timeline and statements led law enforcement officials to doubt the abduction narrative.

Local authorities initially responded to the report, but the case was quickly transferred to the New York State Police due to jurisdictional considerations, as the events spanned multiple locations and involved an out-of-country suspect. 

State police then took over the lead on the investigation, coordinating efforts across agencies and jurisdictions to track Frattolin’s movements and verify his statements.

“The discovery was devastating,” Captain McConnell said, expressing the somber mood of investigators working on the case. 

He also assured the public that there was no ongoing threat following Frattolin’s arrest, emphasizing that the girl’s death appears to be an isolated incident.

Frattolin, who was arraigned Monday in Ticonderoga Town Court and pleaded not guilty, is also known for founding Gambella, a company specializing in organic coffee products. 

He comes from a diverse heritage, with an Ethiopian mother and an Italian father, and describes himself as an entrepreneur with a global outlook, the Daily Mail reports.

The timing of Melina’s death, occurring just before custody was to be transferred back to her mother, has raised questions about a possible motive, though authorities have not publicly commented on this aspect of the investigation. 

The tragic case has sent shockwaves through communities in both New York and Montreal, highlighting the ongoing challenges that custody disputes and child welfare cases can present.

As the legal process unfolds, investigators continue to gather evidence to build a comprehensive case. 

Meanwhile, local residents remain shaken by the events, with many expressing grief and concern for the well-being of children caught in difficult family situations.

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