What to Know
In the summer of 2025, Luciano Frattolin took his 9-year-old daughter, Melina, on a trip to the northeastern United States. During the vacation, Frattolin claimed two men kidnapped his daughter in Lake George, New York, on July 20, prompting an Amber Alert.
Investigators found the child’s body a short time later in Ticonderoga. They arrested Frattolin, and prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. He’s currently on trial, and evidence appears to suggest he intentionally killed his only child.
Melina reportedly died from asphyxia due to drowning.
According to CBS 6, Melina traveled with her father to the United States from her home in Canada. Frattolin, a native of Ethiopia, was supposed to bring the child to her mother, Kali Galanis, on July 19, but didn’t return. Instead, he came up with a story about two men abducting Melina in a white van while he stepped away from his car to urinate.
New York State Police issued an Amber Alert and found Melina deceased in shallow water. An autopsy performed at Glens Falls Hospital confirmed the child died by asphyxia and her death was a homicide.
During his murder trial, Galanis testified against Frattolin.
Per Fox News, the mother claimed her daughter did not want to travel with her father to his native Ethiopia. Melina’s hesitation concerned her, so she canceled the proposed trip to Africa. “I became uncomfortable,” Galanis testified. “I was not ok with that anymore.” Instead, she agreed to allow Melina to travel to the United States, where she tragically died.
New York State Police investigator Daniel Mauro reportedly testified that when speaking to Frattolin during questioning, he asked the father if he had any reason to hurt his child. Frattolin allegedly replied, “It would’ve been easier” to kill Melina overseas in Italy or Ethiopia.
Frattolin allegedly wrote down strange notes.
According to court documents obtained by News 10, Frattolin had multiple handwritten notes with various plans. One had bullet points about financial matters such as “Pay all debts to Scotia bank,” and “Chase your dream of becoming the richest man in the world.”
He also allegedly wrote that he wanted to “End madness either way but tomorrow/Saturday” and “Always be positive, be yourself, and never lie. Trust God.”
‘Luciano Frattolin 2.0’ appeared to be his plan for the future.
In another handwritten document, Frattolin’s plan for Luciano Frattolin 2.0, which included plans to “Take Melina to Maine to end.” The father seemingly wanted to kill his daughter and move on with his life. Evidence also includes a press release reportedly drafted alongside an attorney to be released if Frattolin won custody of his daughter.
Frattolin boasted about his daughter’s high IQ, but alleged Galanis had a “severe mental illness.” He stated there were signs Melina was “suffering from Schizophrenia,” and that “Kali is simply evil.”
Frattolin’s trial continues. He faces up to life in prison.
