News & Current Events
Missing 9‑Year‑Old Melina Found Dead After Father’s White Van Kidnap Claim
Less than twenty-four hours after her father reported that she had been kidnapped in a white van, a nine-year-old girl was discovered dead.
Luciano Frattolin, 45, informed the New York State Police (NYSP) that he believed his daughter had been abducted, prompting the NYSP to issue a “amber alert” for Melina Frattolin on Saturday.
He reported the ‘potential abduction’ in the vicinity of Exit 22 in Lake George, upstate New York, to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).
However, authorities released a devastating update on Sunday afternoon, stating that the young girl had been found dead and that “there is no indication that an abduction occurred.”
“The Warren County Sheriff’s Office initially led the investigation,” NYSP said.
“As the case progressed, law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the father’s account of events and the timeline he provided.”
Melina was discovered dead in Ticonderoga, New York, approximately 45 miles south of her father’s reported last sighting, according to NYSP.
They added that “there is no indication that an abduction occurred’ and ‘there is no threat to the public.”
Frattolin was characterized as being of Indian heritage, five feet tall, weighing one hundred pounds, and having brown eyes and hair.
According to the police, she and her father both reside in Canada.
About 60 miles north of Albany, in the Adirondack region of upstate New York, is the small waterside village of Lake George, where her father said she was last seen.
There are currently no charges. According to NYSP, a conference will be held on Monday to provide additional details regarding the tragedy.
According to the product’s website, Frattolin is the creator of the organic coffee company Gambella.
“Luciano Frattolin is an experienced entrepreneur with a proven track record of building diverse, high-performance businesses,” the website reads.
“With a background in the humanities and social sciences, his formal education, together with his pragmatic understanding about the complexities of life, motivates him to maintain an understanding of the world grounded in a distinct cross-cultural ethos.”
“The son of an Ethiopian mother and an Italian father, Luciano was born in the small, remote village of Gambella.”
“With a childhood spent running between rows of crimson coffee buds on the Ethiopian family plantation, and the neoclassical architecture of his father’s Milano, his vision of the world and his pursuits within, reflect these hyphenated cultures.”
When Melina was allegedly kidnapped, police issued an amber alert, stating that they thought the youngster was in “imminent danger.”
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) website, amber alerts are triggered in “the most serious child-abduction cases.”
“The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of a missing child.”
“These alerts are broadcast through radio, TV, road signs, cellphones, and other data-enabled devices.”
In 2025 alone, 1,268 children were’recovered’ with their help, according to the group.
Now Trending:
- Tragedy Strikes As Hot Air Balloon Crash Kills 8 Of 21 On Board
- Tragedy Strikes As Pilot Landon Baldwin And Wife Torrie Confirmed Dead In San Diego Plane Crash
- Tragedy In California: Small Plane Crash Claims Two Lives And A Dog In Suburban Neighborhood
Please SHARE this article with Family and Friends and let us know what you think in comments!
