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Father Accused of Drowning Daughter, Hiding Body Under Tree and Rock in Upstate New York

Newly unsealed court documents have revealed disturbing new details in the case of a Montreal father accused of killing his 9-year-old daughter during a vacation in upstate New York earlier this month.

Luciano Frattolin, an entrepreneur with dual Ethiopian and Italian citizenship, is facing charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse following the death of his daughter, Melina Frattolin. Her body was discovered on July 20 in a shallow pond near Ticonderoga, New York — a day after her father had reported her missing.

According to the indictment, Frattolin allegedly drowned Melina before concealing her body “in a wooded area in water, near a fallen tree with a rock on top of the corpse.”


Frattolin appeared in Essex County Court this week wearing a gray suit and light blue shirt. Shackled and handcuffed, he spoke calmly during his arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the charges, reaffirming an earlier plea entered shortly after his arrest.

Acting Essex County District Attorney Michael Langey argued against bail, citing Frattolin’s multiple citizenships and strong ties to Canada as significant flight risks.

“No amount of money would ensure he’d return,” Langey told the court.

Frattolin’s public defender, Emily Evatt, noted that he has no criminal history and was willing to stay with a friend in New York City during legal proceedings. However, Judge Tatiana Coffinger denied bail, stating that the severity of the charges and Frattolin’s lack of local ties made release too dangerous.

Investigators say Frattolin initially filed a false kidnapping report after allegedly killing his daughter. The child’s body was found the following day by search teams who had been combing the area.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12, with a possible trial date set for January 5, 2026.

The case has drawn widespread attention on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border and remains under active investigation. Authorities have not released additional information about a possible motive.

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