A Montreal man is facing murder charges after his 9-year-old daughter was found dead in a remote pond in Ticonderoga, New York.
45-year-old Luciano Frattolin was arrested June 21 and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse following an investigation by New York State Police and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
On Saturday night, Frattolin called 911 from the Lake George area, reporting his daughter, Melina Frattolin, missing and possibly abducted. A multi-agency search was launched, and on Sunday afternoon, Melina’s body was found by forest rangers in a shallow pond.
Investigators say Frattolin and Melina had entered the U.S. from Canada on July 11 for a vacation, with plans to return to Montreal on July 19. Surveillance footage placed the pair in Saratoga Springs Saturday evening, and Melina last spoke with her mother around 6:30 p.m., showing no signs of distress.
Police believe Frattolin murdered Melina sometime after that call and then falsely reported an abduction. No evidence has been found to support his claim of a suspicious white van at the scene.
Frattolin is being held in Essex County and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Ticonderoga Town Court.
A tragic discovery has been made in the case of a missing 9-year-old Canadian girl whose disappearance was initially reported as a possible abduction in Lake George on Saturday night.
According to State Police, Warren County 911 received a call around 10 p.m. Saturday from 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin of Canada, reporting that his daughter, Melina Frattolin, was missing near Exit 22 of I-87 in Lake George. The child was also a resident of Canada.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office launched an immediate investigation, treating the case as a potential abduction. However, as the investigation progressed, law enforcement officials noted inconsistencies in the father’s account and timeline.
Multiple agencies joined the search effort, including the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Ticonderoga Police Department, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Forest Rangers, and New York State Police K9 and Aviation units.
Tragically, Melina Frattolin was located deceased in Ticonderoga on Sunday.
Due to the nature of the findings and the evolving investigation, the New York State Police have now taken over the case. Authorities say there is no indication of an abduction and no threat to the public at this time.
The investigation remains active, and a media briefing is expected on Monday.
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