A 9-year-old Canadian lady whose father had reported she had been kidnapped in upstate New York was discovered lifeless Sunday afternoon, with investigators saying she had not been kidnapped they usually had been now questioning inconsistencies in her dad’s story, in line with authorities.
The physique of the lady, recognized by the Warren County Sheriff’s Workplace as Melina Galanis Frattolin, was found in Ticonderoga, New York, close to the New York-Vermont border, about 15 miles from Lake George, the place her father initially claimed she had been kidnapped on Saturday by a person driving a white van.
The report from the daddy led the New York State Police to concern an Amber Alert earlier on Sunday. A large search was launched, involving State Police Okay-9 and aviation items, New York State Park Rangers, the Essex and Warren County sheriff’s places of work, the New York State Division of Conservation, and the Ticonderoga Police Division.
An Amber Alert was issued, July 20, 2025, for a 9-year-old lady believed to have been kidnapped close to Lake George, New York, in line with police. (Getty)
Getty Photos
“Because the case progressed, legislation enforcement recognized inconsistencies within the father’s account of occasions and the timeline he offered,” in line with a press release from the State Police.
The investigation was ongoing Sunday afternoon as State Police took over the investigation from the Warren County Sheriff’s Workplace.
There was no rapid remark from the State Police on whether or not Melina’s father, who police recognized as 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin, additionally of Canada, had been arrested in his daughter’s demise.
State police didn’t disclose how Melina died.
“At the moment, there isn’t any indication that an abduction occurred, and there’s no risk to the general public,” the State Police mentioned in its assertion.
Luciano Frattolin referred to as 911 in Warren County late Saturday evening, claiming his daughter had been kidnapped by a stranger, in line with police. The daddy claimed the lady was kidnapped round 9:40 p.m. at a relaxation cease off Interstate 87 close to Lake George, the place he allegedly claimed they pulled over to make use of the restroom, in line with police radio dispatches offered by Broadcastify.
The daddy advised police his daughter was carrying mild coloured shorts, a blue-and-white striped shirt and white Adidas sneakers, police mentioned.
Lake George, nicknamed the Queen of American Lakes, is a protracted, slim oligotrophic lake positioned on the southeast base of the Adirondack Mountains
Denistangneyjr/Getty Photos
“The kid was taken below circumstances that lead police to consider that they’re in imminent hazard of great bodily hurt and/or demise,” authorities mentioned in an preliminary assertion that accompanied the Amber Alert.
