On the night of July 19, 2025, around 9:58 p.m., Warren County 911 received a call from a man, identified as 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin from Canada, reporting that his 9-year-old daughter was missing and might have been abducted near Exit 22 on I-87 in Lake George, New York. The missing child was identified as Melina Frattolin, age 9.
The following day, New York State Police confirmed that Melina Galanis Frattolin had been found dead in Ticonderoga, New York. Trooper Stephanie O’Neil, a spokesperson for the State Police, shared the update in a statement on Sunday, July 20.
The news of Melina’s death came just hours after state police announced in an Amber Alert that the 9-year-old who was then said to have been last seen in a white van on Saturday, July 19, at 9:40 p.m, was “taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death.”
Per the since-canceled Amber Alert, the girl was last seen going southbound on Interstate 87 near exit 22 in the area of Lake George. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) had been investigating the case as a child abduction.
“As the investigation developed, officers discovered inconsistencies in Mr. Frattolin’s description of events and the timeline he provided,” O’Neil said.
Earlier on Sunday, authorities reported that Melina was last seen in a white van traveling southbound on I-87 near Exit 22 at approximately 9:40 p.m. on July 19.
She was described as being of Indian descent with brown hair and brown eyes, 5 feet tall, weighing 100 lbs., and wearing a blue-and-white striped shirt, shorts, and white Adidas sneakers.
Her father had called 911 shortly before 10 p.m. to report that she was missing.
Due to the circumstances, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office has transferred the case to the New York State Police. Officials emphasized there is no sign of an abduction and no threat to public safety.
The investigation is still ongoing, and a press conference is expected to be held today, July 21, 2025.
