A case that has shocked Canada has unfolded within a few hours during a family holiday in New York. 9 -year -old Greek -Canadian Melina Galani Fratolin was found dead, while her father is now accused of her murder.
The little girl was vacationing with her father, Luciano Fratolin, 45, who is originally from Italy and Ethiopia. On Saturday night, Fratolin called the police to declare the disappearance of his 9 -year -old daughter, claiming that he may have been abducted.
However, from the very first hours of the investigation, the authorities found ambiguities and contradictions in his testimony. Police moved quickly, and soon the 45 -year -old was arrested and now accused of Second degree murder and corpse concealment.
Little Melina’s body was found a few hours later in a remote area near a lake, buried under a tree trunk. According to preliminary police data, the father allegedly had transferred the child’s lifeless body to that point in order to hide it.
This tragic case has caused shock, and questions about precise incentives and circumstances of crime remain unanswered.
She claimed that they kidnapped her
It all started on Saturday night (19.07.2025) when Fratolin He called the authorities and reported the disappearance of his daughter, while also referring to a possible abduction.
In particular, he said that his daughter was abducted by a parking lot near Lake George, a tourist city in the Antirodak area. Indeed, in his testimony, he claimed that two men with a white van abducted her.
“Mr. Fratolin said he had stopped in a parking lot near I-87, in the Lake George area, to urinate. He initially said that he was removed from his vehicle and when he returned, his child had disappeared.
Reported a suspicious white vehicle near the spot and two men in it. This scenario was thoroughly investigated and denied, “New York State Deputy Governor Robert McConl told reporters, according to the Montreal Journal.
Authorities arrived immediately in the area and began an investigation to locate it. However, on Sunday, members of the New York State Forestry found Melina dead on the shores of Lake George.
It is noted that the two were expected to return to Canada on Saturday so that the 9 -year -old would return to her mother, who had her custody.
Authorities issued Amber Alert, but revealed that they emerged contradictions In what the father was told. Initially, The 45 -year -old said he couldn’t find his child after coming out of a wooded area in a parking lot near Lake George.
According to the authorities, however, in the subsequent interrogation he said that Two unknown men forced her to enter a white van, an elected element thoroughly and denied, According to police.
Also, cameras security they recorded Father and daughter in nearby town at 17:30 in the afternoon of Saturday, while The little one spoke with her mother on the phone about an hour later, without appearing anxious. It was the last time he was seen alive. Police believe that the murder took place after this call. Their return to Quebec was scheduled for that day.
Eventually Melina’s lifeless body was found on Sunday.
According to the indictment, Her father hid it under a tree trunk, about 48 kilometers north of Lake George. Melina was murdered between 7:40 and 9:12 in the same night, according to the case file.
Father and daughter had been vacationing on July 11 in the US and was expected to return to Montreal that weekend. OR Little live in Montreal with her mother who had her diligence as he had separated from Fratolin for years.
Frattolin, a coffee company owner, appeared on social media as “affectionate father“, While not having a previous criminal record or history of domestic violence.