9-year-old Girl Found Dead in Upstate New York After Abduction Report Deemed Inaccurate

A 9-year-old girl who was reported abducted in Upstate New York over the weekend has been found dead, with state police now saying there is “no indication” that an abduction actually occurred.

Melina Frattolin was discovered deceased in the Town of Ticonderoga, located in Essex County, according to a Sunday statement from New York State Police spokesperson Trooper Stephanie O’Neil.

Initially reported missing in Lake George, Melina was last seen in a van near Exit 22 of the Adirondack Northway (I87), which is roughly an hour south of where her body was later located.

Her father, Luciano Frattolin, contacted 911 around 10pm Saturday to report a possible abduction.

In response, an AMBER Alert was issued at approximately 1:30am Sunday. At that time, authorities believes that she was in imminent danger of serious harm or death.

The case was initially handled by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office before the New York State Police assumed control.

Investigators later uncovered inconsistencies in the father's version of events and the timeline he provided.

A large-scale search effort followed including the State Police, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Ticonderoga Police Department, and officers/forest rangers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

A DEC officer ultimately located Melina’s body during a grid search in the Ticonderoga area.

Authorities have confirmed that there is no evidence an abduction occurred and have stated that there is no threat to public safety. A news conference is scheduled for Monday to provide further details.

Both Melina and her father are Canadian nationals.

Officials have not revealed if the father is currently a suspect.

9-year-old Girl Found Dead in Upstate New York After Abduction Report Deemed Inaccurate