Canadian Father Accused of Killing Daughter in Upstate New York, Falsely Claimed Kidnapping

A Montreal man is facing charges after New York authorities say he murdered his 9-year-old daughter while on vacation in the U.S. and misled police by reporting a false abduction.

Luciano Frattolin, who had taken his daughter Melina Galanis Frattolin on a trip through New York City and Connecticut, was charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse after her body was found Sunday in a shallow pond near Ticonderoga, according to New York State Police.

Authorities say the father and daughter crossed into the U.S. on July 11th for what was meant to be a 10-day trip.

Melina’s mother, who lives in Montreal and has had sole custody since 2019, had no concerns about the vacation, police said. On Saturday evening, Melina reportedly spoke with her mother saying they were on their way home. Hours later, she was dead.

According to police, Frattolin contacted 911 late Saturday in Warren County claiming Melina had been abducted near Exit 22 on Interstate 87, close to Lake George.

He told dispatchers he had pulled over to relieve himself in the woods and, upon returning, saw two men force his daughter into a white van before fleeing the scene.

The report prompted an AMBER Alert early Sunday and launched a large-scale multi-agency search effort involving aviation teams, K-9 units, local law enforcement, and state park personnel.

However, investigators soon became suspicious of Frattolin’s version of events. Discrepancies in the timeline and inconsistencies in his statements led them to question his account.

By Sunday afternoon, New York State Police Forest Rangers discovered Melina’s body submerged in a shallow section of a remote pond near Ticonderoga.

At a Monday press conference, State Police Capt. Robert McConnell said investigators believe Melina was killed on Saturday night, shortly after the call with her mother.

There is no prior record of criminal activity or domestic abuse involving Frattolin and police continue to search for a clear motive. An autopsy will determine the cause and manner of Melina’s death.

Frattolin was arrested in Essex County and taken to jail early Monday. Authorities believe he killed his daughter, left her body in the isolated location, and fabricated the kidnapping story to cover his tracks.

“This is certainly a difficult case and a heartbreaking investigation,” McConnell said. “The best we can do is provide some measure of justice to the family.”

Canadian Father Accused of Killing Daughter in Upstate New York, Falsely Claimed Kidnapping