A CANADIAN girl who had gone missing in New York had not been taken by a “white van” as her father initially claimed, according to police.
On Monday, officials declared that father Luciano Frattolin faced charges of second-degree murder and corpse concealment following his report of his daughter’s disappearance while vacationing in the United States.
On Saturday, 45-year-old Luciano had called police stating that 9-year-old Melina was possibly abducted in Lake George, New York.
An Amber Alert was issued for the girl, but it was called off after Melina was found dead in a nearby town inside of a pond.
Luciano “was suspected of having visited” the area where she was found.
New York State Police Captain Robert A. McConnell disclosed during a Monday morning press conference that since 2019, Luciano and the girl’s mother had been estranged, with full custody of Melina awarded to the mother.
Right before her death, Melina had called her mother, who lives in Montreal, to tell her that the pair were on their way home.
“The child appeared to be in good health, and did not indicate that she was under any duress,” said McConnell.
“The investigation has concluded that sometime after Melina’s phone call with her mother, and prior to Mr. Frattolin’s 911 call, he allegedly murdered Melina and abandoned her body in a remote location, where law enforcement later found her.”
The man claimed that he had pulled over in a parking lot to urinate before returning to the car where Melina was nowhere to be found, according to authorities.
“Initial reports from Mr. Frattolin of a suspicious white van in the area of the alleged disappearance was proven to be untrue,” McConnell said.
The chief later revealed Luciano had claimed that two unknown males had forced her into said van.
“That lead was thoroughly investigated and disproven,” he said.
On Sunday night, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul posted that the state police were “working tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable”.
“Heartbreaking news out of Lake George. We’re mourning the loss of 9-year-old Melina Frattolin,” she posted on X.
“There is no ongoing threat to the public at this time.”
A timeline on Melina Frattolin’s murder
Police provided a detailed timeline after Melina Frattolin was killed.
- July 19, 5:30 p.m. – Melina is last seen on surveillance footage with her father, Luciano in Saratoga Springs, New York.
- July 19, 6:30 p.m. – The girl speaks to her mother, telling her that they are heading back home to Canada.
- July 19, 10:00 p.m. – Luciano, Melina’s father, calls 911 to report a possible abduction.
- July 20, early morning – An Amber Alert is issued for Melina
- July 20, 1:50 p.m. – A body is found in a shallow part of a pond in Ticonderoga, New York
Source: New York State Police
The girl’s cause of death is to be released pending autopsy results, and that Luciano had no prior criminal history, including domestic violence, according to police.
“I was at the command post when we received notification that she was deceased. It was very difficult and emotional,” he said.
“At that point though, the best we could do is provide some measure of justice to the family and we are just fortunate we’re able to do that in this case.”
The two were traveling parts of the U.S. since the start of their trip on July 11, visiting places like Connecticut and New York City.
Police say that her mother had no concerns for Melina while she was with her father.
Luciano is expected to be prosecuted in New York.
