Missing Girl, 9, Found Dead in New York After Amber Alert, Police Say ‘No Indication’ of Abduction Following Dad’s Report

A 9-year-old girl reported missing from Lake George, New York, over the weekend has been found dead, and police now say there is no evidence she was abducted, despite an initial Amber Alert that sparked widespread concern.

Melina Galanis Frattolin, a Canadian national, was the subject of an Amber Alert issued on Sunday, July 20, after her father, 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin, told authorities she had been taken the night before. However, New York State Police now say there are “inconsistencies” in his account and no indication that an abduction occurred.

According to officials, Frattolin contacted Warren County authorities at 9:58 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, reporting his daughter missing near Lake George. The Amber Alert that followed claimed Melina had last been seen in a white van traveling southbound on Interstate 87, suggesting she was in “imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death.”

But just hours later, on Sunday afternoon, police located Melina’s body in Ticonderoga, N.Y., with the help of multiple local and state agencies. The Amber Alert was cancelled shortly after 4 p.m.

“Due to jurisdictional considerations, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office has turned the investigation over to the New York State Police,” officials said in a statement. “At this time, there is no indication that an abduction occurred, and there is no threat to the public.”

Investigators said the timeline and events provided by Melina’s father did not match up, raising further questions about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death. State police have not publicly identified any suspects or disclosed a cause of death, but the case is now under full investigation.

Melina, described as 5 feet tall with brown hair and eyes, was reportedly wearing a blue-and-white striped shirt, shorts, and white Adidas sneakers at the time she was reported missing.

The tragic case has drawn significant public attention, especially after initial alerts described the child as potentially being in life-threatening danger. The state’s Amber Alert system, used only in the most serious cases of child abduction, had prompted concern across the region.

Both Melina and her father were visiting New York from Canada, according to police.

As the investigation continues, authorities have not stated whether any charges will be filed but are urging anyone with information to contact the New York State Police.