Less than 24 hours after her father reported her missing, nine-year-old Melina Frattolin was tragically found dead.
Luciano Frattolin, 45, alerted the New York State Police that he believed his daughter had been kidnapped, triggering an amber alert on Saturday.
He reported the possible abduction near Exit 22 in Lake George, upstate New York, to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
But on Sunday afternoon, authorities delivered a heartbreaking update: Melina’s body had been found, and there was no evidence to support the claim of an abduction.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office initially led the investigation, the New York State Police (NYSP) said.
“As the case progressed, law enforcement uncovered inconsistencies in the father’s account and the timeline he provided,” NYSP added.
Tragically, Melina was found dead in Ticonderoga, New York—about 45 miles south of where her father reported last seeing her. Authorities emphasized that “there is no indication that an abduction occurred” and assured the public that “there is no threat.”
Melina Frattolin was described as a five-foot-tall, 100-pound girl with brown eyes and hair, of Indian heritage. Both she and her father reside in Canada.
Her father, Luciano Frattolin, reported Melina missing near Lake George, a small, picturesque village in the Adirondack region of upstate New York, about 60 miles north of Albany.
At this time, no charges have been filed. NYSP said a press conference will be held Monday to provide further details surrounding this heartbreaking tragedy.
Frattolin is also known as the founder of Gambella, an organic coffee company. According to the company’s website, Luciano is “an experienced entrepreneur with a proven track record of building diverse, high-performance businesses.”
Born to an Ethiopian mother and an Italian father, Luciano’s upbringing reflects a unique blend of cultures—from the crimson coffee plantations of his mother’s Gambella village to the neoclassical streets of Milan, where his father hails from. This cross-cultural heritage deeply informs his worldview and business ventures.
When Melina was reported missing, police issued an amber alert, signaling that the child was believed to be in “imminent danger.” The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) notes that amber alerts are reserved for the most serious child-abduction cases.
“The goal of an AMBER Alert is to quickly mobilize the community to aid in the search and safe recovery of a missing child,” officials explained.
“These alerts are broadcast across radio, TV, digital road signs, cellphones, and other connected devices to reach as many people as possible.”
In 2025 alone, the system helped recover 1,268 children, underscoring its critical role in child safety.