July 30, 2025 – Ticonderoga, NY — A tragic case in upstate New York has shocked both sides of the U.S.–Canada border, as authorities confirmed that 9-year-old Melina Frattolin was found dead after her father falsely claimed she had been abducted.

Luciano Frattolin, 45, of Montreal, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse following the discovery of his daughter's body in a shallow pond near Ticonderoga, New York, on July 20. Earlier that same day, Frattolin reported to police that Melina had been kidnapped by two men in a white van while they were stopped at a parking lot near Exit 22 on I-87 in Lake George.

New York State Police Captain Robert McConnell addressed the media, saying, “Mr. Frattolin initially claimed he had stepped away from his vehicle to urinate and returned to find his daughter gone. He described a suspicious white van and two men nearby. However, this account was quickly investigated and proven to be false.”

Despite issuing an AMBER Alert in response to the reported abduction, authorities soon uncovered inconsistencies in Frattolin's story. Hours later, Melina’s body was found, and her father was taken into custody. He pleaded not guilty during a court appearance at Ticonderoga Town Court.

Investigators believe the crime occurred during the father-daughter trip back to Montreal from New York, where they had been vacationing. The motive remains unclear, but reports from Montreal media indicate Frattolin was under severe financial strain, facing significant debts and child support arrears.

Melina’s mother, who had full custody of the child following the couple’s separation in 2019, has not issued a public statement. Authorities have confirmed she was not present during the trip.

Luciano Frattolin is known in business circles as the founder of Gambella, an organic coffee brand. The company’s website describes him as a “visionary entrepreneur” with Ethiopian and Italian heritage. His biography highlights a culturally rich upbringing split between Ethiopia and Milan, portraying him as a man with “a distinct cross-cultural ethos.”

Shockingly, despite portraying a lavish lifestyle on social media—complete with global travel and luxury cars—Frattolin claimed in court that he could not afford legal representation.

On the same company website where his business is profiled, Frattolin referred to Melina as “the light of his life” and his greatest inspiration—words now deeply at odds with the charges he faces.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death, including the events leading up to the trip and the father's financial and mental state.