Melina Frattolin died due to drowning in New York State, autopsy reveals shocking details as father faces murder charges

Police have revealed fresh details in the Melina Frattolin death case, stating that the autopsy report of the nine-year-old confirmed that she died of asphyxia due to drowning. New York State Police on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) released the preliminary findings into the death of Frattolin, whose dead body was found in the state over the weekend.

The autopsy of the deceased girl was conducted by Dr. Michael Sikirica on Monday (July 21, 2025) at Glens Falls Hospital. In the report, it was revealed that the manner of death has been ruled a homicide, according to media reports. The final report in the case is pending further laboratory testing.

Melina Frattolin’s father faces charges

Luciano Frattolin, father of Melina Frattolin, is charged with murder in connection with the death of his 9-year-old daughter. She was the subject of an AMBER Alert over the weekend. The AP reported that a plea of not guilty was entered on Frattolin’s behalf on Monday morning.

According to media reports, authorities have claimed that Melina Frattolin was never truly missing and that her father staged the entire disappearance to cover up her death. Melina’s body was discovered on Sunday (July 20, 2025) in Ticonderoga, N.Y., about 50 kilometers northeast of Lake George near the New York-Vermont boundary.

Police seek public’s help

According to CNY Central, the New York State Police are seeking the public's assistance in obtaining additional video evidence or eyewitness accounts related to the vehicle Frattolin and her companion traveled in from July 11, 2025, to July 19, 2025.

As the investigation continues, authorities are specifically focusing on information from the area of the I-87 Northway between Exits 28 and 20 during the evening hours of July 19, 2025.

While speaking at a news conference on Monday, New York State Police Captain Robert A. McConnell said that the father legally entered the US for a vacation and was expected to return on July 20, the day his daughter’s body was found, CP24 reported.

The two visited a number of locations in Connecticut and New York, including New York City. Police further revealed that Melina’s mother, who lives in Montreal, has had sole custody of her daughter since the couple became estranged in 2019. Police also stated that Melina’s father called 911 at 10 p.m. on Saturday to report his daughter missing and possibly abducted. He alleged that two unknown men forced his daughter into a white van while he stopped to urinate near a parking lot in Lake George.