LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. — A 9-year-old girl, Melina Frattolin, has been found dead following an Amber Alert issued after she was reported missing. Initially believed to have been abducted, authorities later identified inconsistencies in her father’s account of the events.
Melina was reported missing on July 19 by her 45-year-old father, Luciano Frattolin. He called Warren County officials around 9:58 p.m. to report that his daughter was missing, prompting an Amber Alert. The alert sparked widespread media coverage, as authorities feared Melina was in imminent danger.
However, after the investigation began, officials from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) identified “inconsistencies” in the father’s version of events and the timeline he provided. The investigation was then taken over by the New York State Police, with support from multiple agencies.
Hours after the Amber Alert was issued, police discovered Melina’s body in Ticonderoga, N.Y. The Amber Alert was canceled at 4:18 p.m. on July 20, as authorities no longer believed an abduction had occurred. State police confirmed that there was no public threat and that the investigation was ongoing.
Investigation Unfolds
According to state police, both Melina and her father were Canadian residents. While the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, the investigation continues to explore the inconsistencies in her father’s account of the situation.
The Amber Alert initially reported Melina as being last seen in a white van at 9:40 p.m. on July 19 near Exit 22 on Interstate 87, near Lake George. The alert stated that Melina was in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death. Authorities described her as being of Indian descent with brown hair and eyes, standing 5 feet tall and weighing 100 lbs. At the time, she was wearing a blue-and-white striped shirt, shorts, and white Adidas sneakers.
The news of her death followed the activation of the Amber Alert, which is used in the most serious cases of child abductions. While the alert initially stated that authorities did not know who the suspect was, they urged anyone with information to contact the WCSO.
What is an Amber Alert?
Amber Alerts are issued by law enforcement when a child is believed to have been abducted, and their life is in danger. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports that since 2004, more than 1,260 children have been found through the use of Amber Alerts.
This case remains under investigation, and authorities are continuing to seek more details as they piece together the circumstances surrounding Melina’s tragic death.
