Heartbreaking new details have emerged, revealing how a father allegedly hid his nine-year-old daughter’s body after drowning her.
Luciano Frattolin, 45, was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse after the body of his daughter, Melina Frattolin, was discovered partially submerged in a shallow pond in Ticonderoga on July 20.
A preliminary autopsy confirmed the cause of death as “asphyxia due to drowning,” with the manner ruled a homicide, according to New York State Police.
The father, who was born in Ethiopia, was arrested on July 15 and was charged with murder. Police have not disclosed a possible motive.
He appeared in Essex County Court on Wednesday (July 30) dressed in a gray suit and shirt, but no tie, where he was ordered to be held without bail.
Frattolin pleaded not guilty during his court appearance, repeating his plea from the prior week. His public defender, Emily Evatt, argued he had no prior criminal history and had plans to stay with a friend in New York City if released.
However, Judge Coffinger rejected the request, saying: “I would be hard pressed to ignore the severity of the charges that are pending against him at this time, and he does not have any ties to this area...I cannot guarantee his return.”
“No amount of money would ensure he’d return,” acting Essex County District Attorney Michael Langey told the judge.
Authorities say Melina, who lived in Montreal, was visiting the Lake George area with her father when she was reported missing on the evening of Saturday, July 13.
Frattolin, who holds both Ethiopian and Italian citizenship, initially told police that his daughter had been abducted, prompting the issuance of an Amber Alert. But within 24 hours, search crews found the child’s body on private land roughly 30 miles north of where she was last seen.
According to the indictment, Frattolin hid his daughter’s body by "placing it in a wooded area in water, near a fallen tree with a rock on top of the corpse," per The New York Post.
At the time of her death, the father was driving a 2024 gray Toyota Prius. Investigators released images of the vehicle and are seeking public assistance in retracing his movements on July 13, particularly between Exits 28 and 20 on the I-87 Northway during the early evening hours.
Preliminary hearings are scheduled for November 12, with a tentative trial date set for January 5, 2026.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are encouraging anyone with relevant information to contact the state police.