New details are emerging about the death of Melina Frattolin.

On Tuesday, July 22, the New York State Police stated that an autopsy determined that the 9-year-old’s cause of death was asphyxiation due to drowning, and the manner of death was homicide. Further details are expected, pending laboratory testing.

The authorities also requested that anyone who may have seen a 2024 gray Toyota Prius in the Ticonderoga, New York, area from July 11 through July 19, 2025 contact investigators. 

Melina’s father, 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin, remains in police custody after being arrested and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse on July 21. He’s pleaded not guilty to both charges, according to NBC News. 

According to New York State Police, Luciano has been estranged from his wife, who maintained full custody of Melina in Montreal, Quebec, since 2019. New York State Police Capt. Robert McConnell said in a press conference that Melina’s mother indicated she had no previous concerns about her daughter’s safety prior to allowing the father to take her on a vacation.

The search for Melina Frattolin

On the evening of July 19, 2025, Luciano called Warren County 911 to report that his daughter, a Canadian citizen, was missing. Luciano told investigators that he noticed a “suspicious white van” in the area around the time of Melina’s disappearance. Multiple agencies and K9 units joined the search for the young girl.

The following day, at around 1:30 p.m., New York State Forest Rangers found the remains of Melina in “the shallow water of a pond” in Ticonderoga, State Police confirmed. 

During the course of the investigation, authorities “identified inconsistencies in the father’s account of events and the timeline he provided,” prompting them to take him into custody on July 21, investigators said. 

Timeline leading up to Melina Frattolin’s death

Investigators have since released a timeline of events, revealing that Melina and Luciano legally crossed the Canadian-American border on July 11, 2025. They went on to visit sites in New York City and Connecticut, before traveling to Saratoga Springs, New York, on July 19 — the same day Melina was expected to return to her mother’s custody. Surveillance footage obtained by the police show that Melina called her mom around 6:30 p.m., “and did not indicate she was under any duress.” 

“The investigation has determined sometime after Melina’s phone call with her mother and before Frattolin’s 911 call he allegedly murdered Melina and left her body in a remote area where she was later discovered by law enforcement,” according to State Police.

Anyone with information is urged to call 518-873-2750 or email crimetip@troopers.ny.gov.