A Canadian man has been found guilty of murdering his nine-year-old daughter in a revenge plot against his ex-wife. Luciano Frattolin, 45, was convicted of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse after his daughter Melina's body was discovered.
Murder and Disposal of the Body
Frattolin drowned Melina and then hid her body near Ticonderoga, Canada, beneath foliage and a large rock. He fabricated a story that she had been kidnapped, which triggered amber alerts and search parties in the local area. Her body was found the next day, roughly 250 miles north of New York City.
Trial and Evidence
Jurors were shown a photograph of her corpse, but Frattolin shielded his eyes. Essex County District Attorney Michael Langey described the experience of Frattolin's ex-wife Kali Galanis: “She waited for her daughter to come home all night, looked out the window... Her daughter never came back, and she had to get the call the next day that she was dead in a brook in Essex County.”
An autopsy found Melina died from asphyxia due to drowning. Documents found in Frattolin's car solidified the case, proving his intent. Langey said: “It was something that when you read it, there definitely was a plan. He definitely knew a life was coming to an end somewhere on this vacation, no matter where he went.”
Frattolin announced he would not testify in his defence, telling the judge: “I really want to, but I was advised not to.” Galanis, who had full custody of Melina after separating from Frattolin in 2019, was not present in the courtroom during the trial.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Frattolin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 14 and will remain in the custody of Essex County until then. He has a month to appeal the jury's decision. During closing statements, Langey said: “Melina’s short life came to a violent end.” Following her death, residents near Ticonderoga honoured her by adopting her name for a section of the local highway.
