Authorities have confirmed that 9-year-old Melina Frattolin, who was found dead in upstate New York over the weekend, died from asphyxia due to drowning, and her death has been ruled a homicide, according to New York State Police.
The preliminary autopsy was conducted on Monday, July 21, by Dr. Michael Sikirica. While the official report remains pending additional lab tests, police announced the initial findings in a press release on Tuesday.
Melina, who was on vacation with her father from Montreal, Canada, was reported missing on Saturday night, July 19, prompting an Amber Alert. Just hours later, on Sunday, July 20, her body was found in Ticonderoga, a small town in northeastern New York.
Her father, 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin, had initially told authorities that he believed Melina had been kidnapped. However, investigators quickly uncovered inconsistencies in his story and the timeline he provided, concluding there was no indication of an abduction.
Frattolin was arrested the following day and has been charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. Authorities allege he killed his daughter and left her body in a remote location. According to the Associated Press, he has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Melina and her father had been vacationing in the Lake George area. State police revealed that Frattolin and the child’s mother — who held custody — had been separated for several years.
Investigators are now asking the public for help. They are seeking any video footage or eyewitness accounts related to a silver vehicle the father and daughter were traveling in between July 11 and July 19 along Interstate 87.
Anyone with information is urged to contact New York State Police.
