Melina Galanis Frattolin
Melina went missing on July 19, triggering an Amber Alert on July 20, 2025.
Melina was described as about 5 feet tall and 100 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing light-colored shorts, a black-and-white striped shirt, and white Adidas sneakers.
Warren County 911 received a call from a man reporting his 9-year-old daughter missing, with a possible abduction, in the area of Exit 22 of I-87 in Lake George, New York. The child was identified as Melina Frattolin, age 9, and the caller as her father, Luciano Frattolin, age 45, both residents of Canada.
Melina’s body was found that same day in Ticonderoga. Inconsistencies in her father’s statements raised questions about the original abduction narrative. Police reported no ongoing public threat and no identified abductor.
Disappearance and death of Melina Galanis Frattolin.
Friday, July 11, 2025
- Melina and her father, Luciano Frattolin, enter the United States from Canada. Luciano Frattolin had partial custody of his daughter and had informed the mother about the trip. Source
- Note: Melina was residing with her mother in Canada and was scheduled to return by July 20, 2025.
Saturday, July 19, 2025
- 5:30 PM: Melina is reportedly seen in Saratoga Springs, New York. Source
- 6:30 PM: Melina has a phone call with her mother. This is believed to be her last confirmed communication.
- 9:40 PM: Melina is allegedly last seen traveling southbound on I-87 near Exit 22 in the Lake George area in a white van.
- 9:58 PM: Warren County 911 receives a call from Luciano Frattolin reporting a possible abduction.
- Luciano states they stopped at a parking lot so he could use the restroom and, upon returning, Melina was missing from the vehicle.
- He reports seeing a white van fleeing southbound on I-87. Source
Sunday, July 20, 2025
- 1:30 AM: An AMBER Alert is issued by New York State Police for Melina Galanis Frattolin.
- The search involved New York State Police, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Ticonderoga Police Department, New York State Forest Rangers, DEC, K-9 units, and the NYSP Aviation Unit. Source
- Follow-up interview: Luciano changes his story and claims two unknown males forcibly abducted Melina into a white van.
- About 3:30 PM: During a grid search in the Ticonderoga area, a DEC officer finds Melina’s body in the shallow part of a pond.
- 4:30 PM: The AMBER Alert is canceled by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
- 5:00 PM: State Police release a statement noting inconsistencies in Luciano’s accounts, no evidence confirming an abduction, and no current threat to the public. Source
Monday, July 21, 2025
- 2:04 AM: Luciano Frattolin is arrested and booked for second-degree murder. Source
- 2:08 AM: Custody status is updated to in custody at Essex County Jail, with the charge listed as Murder 2nd Degree.
- 10:00 AM: Frattolin is arraigned in town court. A not-guilty plea is entered on his behalf. He is returned to Essex County Jail on the murder charge and concealment of a human corpse count. Court Records
- Press conference. Source
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
- Autopsy conducted: Dr. Michael Sikirica performs the autopsy on Melina Frattolin at Glens Falls Hospital. Source
- Preliminary cause of death: Asphyxia due to drowning.
- Manner of death: Homicide.
- Final report: Pending further laboratory testing and toxicology analysis.
Friday, July 25, 2025
- 1:00 PM: Frattolin is due back in court.
July 30, 2025
- Frattolin pleads not guilty. His request for cash bail is denied by Judge Tatiana Coffinger after Acting Essex County District Attorney Michael Langey argues that he is a flight risk due to citizenship in Ethiopia and Italy, as well as ties in Canada.
- The indictment alleges Frattolin concealed Melina’s body in a pond in Ticonderoga, placing her body in a wooded area in the water near a fallen tree with a rock on top of the corpse.
December 5, 2025
- Luciano Frattolin’s trial, previously scheduled to begin in early January 2026, is pushed back to early 2026, possibly March, according to the Acting District Attorney for Essex County.
April 20, 2026
- Trial scheduled for Luciano Frattolin. Trial Postponed.
July 20, 2026
- Luciano Frattolin’s trial is scheduled to start July 20.
- Frattolin pleaded not guilty to murder and concealment of a human corpse in connection with the death of his daughter Melina in July 2025. An Essex County grand jury handed up an indictment in the case. He has been in Essex County Sheriff’s Office custody since then, after a judge said Frattolin was a flight risk.
Luciano Frattolin
FATHER: LUCIANO FRATTOLIN
Luciano Frattolin
Luciano Frattolin was identified by authorities as Melina’s father and the person who initially reported her missing in the Lake George area. He was later arrested and charged in connection with her death.
Frattolin was described as a resident of Canada. He has been publicly associated with business ventures including Gambella Coffee and Sekota Mining.
Early life
- Frattolin grew up in Gambella, in the Keffa region of Ethiopia. Source
2012
- Luciano Frattolin establishes Sekota Mining PLC in Ethiopia. Source
- The company is launched with the intent to explore and develop iron ore and other mineral resources in Ethiopia.
2013
- Frattolin moves to Canada while continuing business operations connected to Ethiopia.
2016
- Melina Frattolin is born.
2017
- Sekota Mining, led by Frattolin, enters a 20-year concession agreement. Source
- The project involves a reported partnership with Being CBRF Technology Group and an estimated $500 million investment connected to iron ore extraction in the Amhara region.
2019
- Frattolin reportedly experiences a major health crisis, described in his own background materials as an unfortunate event.
- Frattolin and Melina’s mother separate. Melina resides with her mother full time in Canada.
- Frattolin launches Gambella Coffee, a premium coffee brand based in Montreal, Canada. Source
July 2025
- During a visit to Lake George, New York, Luciano reports Melina missing. Source
- Authorities later report inconsistencies in his account, no evidence confirming an abduction, and no current threat to the public.
- Frattolin is later arrested and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse.
Records
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