Tragic Discovery: Missing 9-Year-Old Melina Frattolin Found Deceased in New York
The search for 9-year-old Melina Frattolin came to a heartbreaking end after she was found deceased in Ticonderoga, New York. Her father, Luciano Frattolin, had reported her missing on the night of July 19, near Exit 22 on I-87 in Lake George. He claimed she may have been abducted, prompting an urgent multi-agency search involving police, K9 units, and aviation teams.
As the investigation progressed, law enforcement found inconsistencies in the father’s account, and later stated there was no evidence of an abduction. Melina’s body was eventually located by a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officer during a grid search. The New York State Police have taken over the investigation, assuring the public that there is no ongoing threat.
A statement from the Police Benevolent Association of New York expressed deep sorrow over Melina’s death and extended condolences to her family. The officers involved in the search were also recognized for their dedication in what has become a deeply emotional case.
Online, the public has reacted with grief and concern, with many expressing heartbreak over the loss of such a young life. As authorities continue their investigation, questions remain about the circumstances of her disappearance, and the community awaits further updates from law enforcement.
Father in custody after 9-year-old girl found dead in upstate NY kidnapping hoax: police
A 9-year-old Canadian girl whose father had reported she had been kidnapped in upstate New York was found dead Sunday afternoon, with investigators saying she had not been abducted and they were now questioning inconsistencies in her dad’s story, according to authorities.
The body of the girl, identified by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office as Melina Galanis Frattolin, was discovered in Ticonderoga, New York, near the New York-Vermont border, about 15 miles from Lake George, where her father initially claimed she had been kidnapped on Saturday by a man driving a white van.
The report from the father led the New York State Police to issue an Amber Alert earlier on Sunday. A massive search was launched, involving State Police K-9 and aviation units, New York State Park Rangers, the Essex and Warren County sheriff’s offices, the New York State Department of Conservation, and the Ticonderoga Police Department.
“As the case progressed, law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the father’s account of events and the timeline he provided,” according to a statement from the State Police.
The investigation was ongoing Sunday afternoon as State Police took over the investigation from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
Police say the girl’s father, 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin, also of Canada, had been arrested in his daughter’s death. He was booked into the Essex County Jail in northern New York Sunday night.
There has been no word on what he has been charged with and state police did not disclose how Melina died.