Luciano Frattolin, 45, of Montreal, has been indicted on charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Melina, which occurred after a vacation in the Adirondacks.
According to court documents, Frattolin is accused of drowning Melina on July 19 and subsequently concealing her corpse in a remote wooded pond near Ticonderoga. In an effort to conceal her remains, the indictment alleges that he placed a rock atop the corpse and concealed them under a fallen tree.
Frattolin reported that Melina had been abducted by two men in a white van, which prompted a region-wide search and an Amber Alert early on July 20. Investigators subsequently dismissed the claim as fabricated. Later that day, authorities discovered her body.
Frattolin has been denied parole despite entering a plea of not guilty. The judge expressed apprehension regarding his numerous international connections and classified him as a flight risk. He is scheduled to appear in court on August 19, and a potential jury trial is slated to commence on January 5, 2026.