The murder of 9-year-old Melina Galani Fratolin, a dual Greek-Canadian citizen, has shocked both Canada and the United States. The young girl was found dead while on vacation with her father in upstate New York, following a series of events that authorities describe as a fabricated abduction story and an ultimately fatal act of violence.
The Disappearance and Discovery
On Sunday, the body of Melina was discovered beneath a fallen tree trunk in shallow waters near the town of Ticonderoga, approximately 30 miles from where she and her father had been staying. Her father, 45-year-old Canadian businessman Luciano Fratolin, initially claimed she had been abducted by two unknown men driving a white van while they were at a highway rest stop near Lake George.
An Amber Alert was issued, prompting a large-scale search. However, authorities quickly dismissed the kidnapping claim as false. According to police, Fratolin told investigators that he briefly left his vehicle to urinate, and upon returning, his daughter was gone. Surveillance footage and inconsistencies in his account led investigators to suspect foul play.
The Forensic Findings
Preliminary findings from the New York medical examiner confirmed that Melina died from “asphyxia due to drowning.” Her death has been officially ruled a homicide. The timeline of the murder places the estimated time of death between 7:40 p.m. and 9:12 p.m. on Saturday — the same evening the pair was scheduled to return to Quebec.
The father of a 9-year-old girl who was initially the subject of an Amber Alert and was later found dead has been charged with her murder, authorities in New York said.
Luciano Frattolin faces second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse charges in the death of his… pic.twitter.com/ukiAW1wX2J
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 21, 2025
The Charges and Legal Proceedings
Luciano Fratolin was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and unlawful disposal of a human body. He was taken to Essex County Jail early Monday morning and appeared before a local court in Ticonderoga later that day. He entered a plea of not guilty and made no statements to the press.
Despite having publicly portrayed a lifestyle of luxury—including expensive vehicles and international travel—Fratolin reportedly told the court he could not afford legal representation.
Background and Ongoing Investigation
Fratolin is the founder of Gambella Coffee, a Montreal-based company. He had divorced Melina’s Greek-born mother in 2019. Since then, the child had lived permanently with her mother in Quebec. Melina had traveled to the U.S. for scheduled vacation time with her father, beginning July 11.
Images of Fratolin’s vehicle have been released by police, who are calling on anyone with information about its movements to come forward. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Melina’s death, including potential motives and what may have led to the tragic outcome.
