Father of Melina Frattolin, Lake George missing girl, charged with murder
9-year-old found dead in NY, father arrested
A 9-year-old Canadian girl was reported missing by her father in upstate New York., Officials arrested the father after Melina Galanis Frattolin was found dead.
The father of a missing Canadian girl who was found dead after an Amber Alert was issued for her over the weekend is facing charges.
New York State Police held a press conference Monday morning with the latest information on the case.
Father in custody
Big picture view:
Luciano Frattolin, 45, is being held at the Essex County Jail, WRGB-TV in Albany, New York reported, citing inmate records available through the MobilePatrol Public Safety app.
He is facing charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse, New York State Police spokesman Robert McConnell said. His arraignment is scheduled for later on Monday.
RELATED: 9-year-old girl found dead after Amber Alert issued
Dig deeper:
Frattolin is the founder of Gambella Coffee, a company based in Montreal. In a biography, Melina is described as "the light of his life," WRGB reported, citing a website.
Authorities said he was on vacation with his daughter from Canada, and has been estranged from the girl’s mother, who has full-time custody. But he was authorized to travel alone with his daughter and the vacation was planned.
Authorities said Monday he has no criminal history.
Missing girl in Lake George, NY
Amber Alert issued:
New York authorities issued an Amber Alert for 9-year-old Melina Galanis Frattoli after police say she was reported abducted in Lake George, New York, on Saturday night, July 19, while on vacation with her father.
According to WRGB-TV, law enforcement first reported the girl was last seen around 7:40 p.m. Saturday in a white van on I-87 southbound near exit 22. However, further reports changed that time to 9:40 p.m. Police also said she was believed to be in "imminent danger," and her body was discovered, with investigators saying there was no indication that she was abducted and there were inconsistencies in her father's account of events.
An Amber Alert was issued early Sunday morning, but authorities later found inconsistencies in the father's story and the timeline he provided.
Body found:
The girl's body was discovered on Sunday around Ticonderoga, which is east of Lake George near the state line with Vermont during a search.
New York police said Monday that her body was found in the shallow part of a pond in the remote area.
The Source: Information for this story was taken from information shared at a press conference on Monday, July 21, 2025, by New York State Police spokesman Robert McConnell. Other information was taken from previous FOX Local reporting, WRGB-TV, and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Washington, D.C. and Detroit.