Melina Frattolin, a 9-year-old girl, was determined to have died from asphyxiation due to drowning, classified as a homicide. Her father, Luciano Frattolin, was arrested for second-degree murder and hiding her body. He had been estranged from Melina's mother since 2019, who had full custody. Authorities became suspicious due to inconsistencies in Luciano's account of events. After he reported her missing on July 19, 2025, her remains were found the next day in a pond in Ticonderoga, New York.
On Tuesday, July 22, the New York State Police stated that an autopsy determined that the 9-year-old's cause of death was asphyxiation due to drowning, and the manner of death was homicide.
Luciano Frattolin, Melina's father, remains in police custody after being arrested and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse on July 21.
According to New York State Police, Luciano has been estranged from his wife since 2019, who maintained full custody of Melina in Montreal.
During the course of the investigation, authorities identified inconsistencies in the father's account of events and the timeline he provided.
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