Canadian Father Charged with Murder After 9-Year-Old Daughter Found Dead in Upstate New York Pond
July 21, 2025 | Ticonderoga, NY –
A tragic case of deception and loss has gripped both New York and Canada after a 9-year-old girl from Montreal was found dead in a shallow pond in upstate New York over the weekend. Her father, 49-year-old Luciano Frattolin, has been charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in connection with her death.
The child, Melina Galanis Frattolin, was reported missing late Saturday night, prompting an Amber Alert and a massive law enforcement search that ended in heartbreak on Sunday. According to New York State Police, Frattolin initially claimed that his daughter had been abducted by two strangers near Lake George after he pulled over to urinate in the woods. But inconsistencies in his story quickly shifted investigators’ focus.
A Faked Kidnapping
Authorities say Frattolin called 911 on Saturday night around 9:40 p.m. from Warren County, alleging that while returning to his car from the woods, he saw two men force his daughter into a white van and drive away. That report triggered an urgent statewide Amber Alert and a wide-scale search involving K-9 units, helicopters, and officers from multiple state and local agencies.
However, Capt. Robert McConnell of the New York State Police stated during a Monday press conference that Frattolin’s story began to unravel under scrutiny.
“He fabricated the initial report of the abduction,” McConnell said. “As the investigation progressed, inconsistencies in his timeline and version of events led us to treat him as a suspect.”
Body Found in Remote Pond
Melina’s body was discovered Sunday afternoon by State Police Forest Rangers in a remote, wooded area near Ticonderoga, New York, at the shallow edge of a pond. Investigators believe she was killed Saturday evening—just hours after she had last spoken to her mother by phone to say she and her father were heading back to Montreal after a 10-day vacation in New York City and Connecticut.
Melina lived full-time with her mother in Montreal. Her parents had reportedly been estranged since 2019. The girl’s mother had no concerns about the trip prior to the tragedy, according to police.
No Known History of Violence
McConnell said Frattolin had no known criminal history or prior evidence of domestic violence. He crossed into the U.S. with his daughter on July 11 for the vacation.
The motive for the killing is still under investigation. An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause and manner of death.
Frattolin was arrested in Essex County and booked into the Essex County Jail early Monday. He is expected to appear in Ticonderoga Town Court later in the day.
A Grieving Community
Authorities described the case as deeply disturbing and emotionally devastating for all involved.
“This is certainly a difficult case and a heartbreaking investigation,” Capt. McConnell said. “The best we can do is provide some measure of justice to the family.”
Melina’s death has sparked shock and grief in both the local community and her hometown of Montreal, where she was known as a bright and cheerful child.
As investigators work to piece together what led to this senseless tragedy, the case serves as a somber reminder of how easily tragedy can unfold behind the veil of a seemingly normal family outing.
Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available on this developing story.
