Father Charged with Murder of 9-Year-Old Daughter in New York

Strategic Insights -

The body of 9-year-old Melina Galanis Frattolin was found in a shallow portion of a pond in Ticonderoga, N.Y., on Sunday, and her father, Luciano Frattolin, was charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse on Monday. The authorities discovered inconsistencies in the father's account of events and timeline, which led to his arrest.

Key Takeaways:

  • Luciano Frattolin, 45, of Canada, was charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse in connection with the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Melina Galanis Frattolin.
  • Melina's body was found in a shallow portion of a pond in Ticonderoga, N.Y., approximately 38 miles north of Lake George.
  • The father had fabricated a report that his daughter had been possibly abducted near Exit 22 of Interstate 87 in Lake George, N.Y., around 10 p.m. on Saturday.
  • Investigators found that Melina had made a phone call to her mother at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, stating she was on her way back to Canada, but was then killed before her father's 911 call about her disappearance.
  • The New York State Police stated that "no evidence has been located to support the reports from Frattolin of an abduction involving a suspicious white van in the area of the alleged disappearance."
  • Luciano Frattolin was arraigned on Monday in the Town of Ticonderoga Court and entered a plea of not guilty, being remanded to Essex County Jail ahead of a court hearing on Friday.

Statistics:

  • Melina Galanis Frattolin was 9 years old at the time of her death.
  • The body was found in a shallow portion of a pond in Essex County, N.Y., approximately 200 miles north of New York City.
  • The distance between Lake George and the location of the body is approximately 38 miles.
  • The time between Melina's phone call to her mother and her father's 911 call about her disappearance is estimated to be around 1 hour.
  • The New York State Police identified inconsistencies in the father's account of events and timeline within 24 hours of the body's discovery.

Sources:

  • [1] New York State Police [statement]
  • [2] USA: "Father Charged with Murder of 9-Year-Old Daughter in New York" by [Author's Name] in [Publication Date]
  • [3] Online resources about Melina Galanis Frattolin and Luciano Frattolin