A heartbreaking story is unfolding out of upstate New York, where 9 year old Canadian girl Melina Galanis Frattolin was found deėād just hours after her father reported her missing in a suspected abductiōn.
TICONDEROGA, N.Y. — A 9-year-old Canadian girl, Melina Galanis Frattolin, was found dead in Ticonderoga, New York, on Sunday, July 20, 2025, hours after her father reported her missing and claimed she had been kidnapped, authorities said. New York State Police have since determined that no abduction took place, citing inconsistencies in the father’s account of events.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Luciano Frattolin, 45, at approximately 9:58 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, reporting that his daughter had been abducted near Exit 22 of Interstate 87 in Lake George, a popular tourist destination. Frattolin alleged that Melina was last seen around 9:40 p.m. at a rest stop, wearing light-colored shorts, a blue-and-white striped shirt, and white Adidas sneakers. The report prompted an Amber Alert and a multi-agency search involving the New York State Police, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Ticonderoga Police Department, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and State Forest Rangers, with support from K9 and aviation units.On Sunday afternoon, Melina’s body was discovered in Ticonderoga, approximately 35 miles from where she was reported missing.
Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death or the exact location where the body was found. New York State Police stated, “There is no indication that an abduction occurred, and there is no threat to the public.” No arrests have been made in connection with Melina’s death, and the investigation remains ongoing, with a press briefing scheduled for Monday.Luciano Frattolin, a Canadian businessman from Montreal, described Melina as “the light of his life” on a biographical page for a coffee company he founded. Efforts to reach Frattolin or the Essex County District Attorney’s Office for comment were unsuccessful.The case has drawn attention to the complexities of Amber Alerts, which are typically issued when there is evidence of imminent danger, particularly in non-family abductions. This incident follows another high-profile case in New York, where a 9-year-old girl was abducted from Moreau Lake State Park in 2023 and found alive after a delayed Amber Alert.
Melina, visiting the Lake George area with her father, was the subject of an Amber Alert issued late Saturday night, July 19. According to initial reports, her father, Luciano Frattolin, claimed she had been abductėd near the family’s accommodation. But by Sunday afternoon, the young girl’s bodý was discovered 30 miles away in Ticonderoga, a quiet town near the Vermont border.
What began as a desperate search has now become a criminal investigation.
Authorities have since walked back the abductioṉ claim, revealing “inconsistencies” in the father’s account. The Amber Alert was officially cancelled around 4:18 PM on July 20. Investigators now say there is no threat to the public & no evidence that Melina was taken by an unknown person.
As of now, no arrests have been made & the cause of deaṯħ remains unconfirmed pending autopśý results. A press conference is scheduled for Monday, July 21, where law enforcement is expected to share further findings.
Her name deserves to be remembered not just for how her life ended, but for who she was – a child with dreams, laughter & loved ones.
Rest in peace, Melina. We will be watching closely for justice.
