According to police, 9-year-old Melina Frattolin was last seen alive on surveillance footage with her father at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Investigators believe she was killed later that evening, sometime between 7:40 p.m. and 9:12 p.m., according to a criminal complaint.

He was arrested and booked into Essex County Jail around 2 a.m. Monday.

He was later brought to Ticonderoga Town Court for arraignment, appearing disheveled in a white Tyvek suit and disposable boots, with his hands cuffed behind his back. Frattolin did not answer questions from reporters and only spoke in court to correct his address and say he couldn’t afford an attorney — despite presenting an image of wealth and luxury online.

A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf, according to the Times Union.

Frattolin and Melina had been in the U.S. since July 11 as part of a custody visit arranged with his ex-wife, whom he separated from in 2019. The pair had traveled through Connecticut and New York during their trip.

Melina reportedly sounded normal and in good spirits when she spoke to her mother by phone around 6:30 p.m. Saturday — shortly before she and her father were supposed to fly home to Quebec.

Authorities say Frattolin was allowed to travel with Melina during a custody visit arranged with his ex-wife, from whom he separated in 2019. Melina lived full-time with her mother in Quebec, who told police she had never feared for her daughter’s safety during visits with her father. Frattolin had no known criminal or domestic violence history.

An official cause of death has not yet been released.

Frattolin’s social media reflects a shift: his last post featuring Melina appeared in 2023, while his most recent post in June 2025 showcased only a Porsche.

As the investigation continues, police say there is no broader threat to the public. An exact motive remains unclear, and the final autopsy results have yet to be released.