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9-year-old Canadian tourist Melina Frattolin found dead in NY after dad claimed she was kidnapped: cops

  • Writer: WGON
    WGON
  • Jul 21
  • 2 min read
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A 9-year-old Canadian tourist was found dead in upstate New York Sunday afternoon — hours after an apparently bogus kidnapping report from her father, cops said.


Melina Galanis Frattolin’s body was recovered in Ticonderoga, New York — roughly 30 miles from Lake George, where her father originally reported she was last seen.


Authorities had issued an Amber Alert citing her “imminent danger” of being harmed or killed earlier Sunday.


However, there was apparently no real abduction during the entire ordeal, authorities said.

Melina’s father, Luciano Frattolin, 45, called the Warren County Sheriff’s Office at 9:58 p.m.

Saturday to report his daughter’s disappearance, noting a possible abduction, according to police.


Luciano Frattolin is a resident of Canada, as was his daughter, according to the New York State Police


While the sheriff’s office was leading the investigation, authorities found “inconsistencies in the father’s account of events and the timeline he provided,” according to the state police.


The investigation was soon turned over to the state police “due to jurisdictional considerations.”


The state police determined there was no indication of an abduction. 


On Sunday morning, the state police issued an Amber Alert for Melina around four hours after she was reported missing along with a description. It was canceled at 4:18 p.m. 


“The child was taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death,” the alert read.


The circumstances of her abduction were not immediately released and the suspect was listed as “unknown” in the statement from the state police.


No suspect or arrest has been announced, but the state police said there is no present “threat to the public.” 


The state police will be holding a media event related to Melina’s death and disappearance on Monday.

 
 
 

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