A Montreal man will spend at least 25 years in prison for the death of his 9-year-old daughter, a case that began with a 911 call claiming she had been abducted. Luciano Frattolin, 45, received 25 years to life for second-degree murder Wednesday in New York, plus an additional consecutive one-to-three years for hiding Melina’s body. The killing happened in Ticonderoga, New York, in July 2025 as the two drove home from a vacation.
The false abduction report triggered an AMBER Alert and drew search resources from across the region before Melina’s body was found hours later near the Vermont border, north of Lake George Village. Prosecutors used cellphone and car data to place Frattolin at the scene despite his denials, and the August jury conviction followed quickly. The judge noted that only Frattolin knows why it happened.
Melina’s family said in a statement that they continue to suffer deeply and that while nothing can bring her back, they are relieved this chapter is closed. The case has also sparked broader discussion about false abduction reports, how they drain emergency resources, and why prosecutors pursued second-degree rather than first-degree murder charges. What do you think should happen to someone who files a false abduction report? Let us know on our Facebook page.
