Police in New York State say they have found the body of a 9-year-old Canadian girl who was reported missing on Saturday night.
According to a news release from New York State Police, officers from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office received a call just before 10 p.m. ET. A man said his daughter, Melina Frattolin, had gone missing near Exit 22 on Interstate 87 in Lake George, and he believed she may have been abducted.
The girl was identified as Melina Frattolin, a Canadian citizen, and her father as 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin. Both were said to be living in Canada.
At first, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation. But as officers looked into the case, they found problems with Luciano’s story and the timeline of Melina’s disappearance.
On Sunday, with help from other local agencies, police found Melina’s body in Ticonderoga, New York. That’s about 50 kilometers east of Lake George, near the Vermont border.
Police now say there is no sign that an abduction happened, and there is no danger to the public. The investigation has been taken over by New York State Police.
So far, no charges have been announced, and police have not shared more details about how Melina died. A news conference is planned for Monday.
Luciano Frattolin’s current location is unknown. He has not responded to messages sent through LinkedIn, Instagram, or his business website. On his Instagram page, he calls himself a “loving father.”
A post on the website of Gambella, a coffee company he founded in Montreal, says Melina is “the light of his life” and “the inspiration for, well, everything.”
