Authorities in New York state have arrested the father of a 9-year-old girl who was found dead on Sunday after he reported her missing.
Luciano Frattolin, aged 45, is currently incarcerated in Essex County, according to a report by WROC, with specifics surrounding his detention remaining undisclosed. Following the discovery of Melina Frattolin’s body in Ticonderoga, the New York State Police announced their intent to conduct a press conference later on Monday morning to discuss the situation.
An Amber Alert was issued by state police early on Sunday when Frattolin contacted the Warren County Sheriff’s Office just before 10 p.m. on Saturday to report his daughter missing. The alert detailed that she was last spotted in a white van traveling southbound on Interstate 87.
When police began their investigation, they noticed “inconsistencies in the father’s account of events and the timeline he gave.” After Melina’s body was discovered in Ticonderoga, authorities concluded there were no signs that she had actually been kidnapped.
The girl’s body was found by a state Department of Environmental Conservation officer during a grid search coordinated by state forest rangers, the Times Union reported. Officials have not said why they focused the search in that area.
Luciano Frattolin, a Canadian businessman, was booked into the Essex County jail early Monday morning and is scheduled for arraignment.
