Crime
Luciano Frattolin arrested after his 9-year-old daughter Melina Frattolin found dead in Ticonderoga
Essex County, NY – A tragic case that began with an Amber Alert over the weekend has ended with the arrest of a Canadian man following the discovery of his 9-year-old daughter’s body in upstate New York.
Authorities have confirmed that Luciano Frattolin, the father of Melina Galanis Frattolin, has been taken into custody and is being held at the Essex County Jail.
Melina, who had been reported missing by her father late Saturday evening, was found deceased on Sunday approximately 35 miles from the area where she was initially reported missing.
The case was initially treated as a suspected abduction after Frattolin contacted authorities around 10 p.m. Saturday claiming his daughter had been kidnapped.
Law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Canada launched an urgent search, issuing a regional Amber Alert and focusing attention on the Lake George and Ticonderoga areas of New York.
Melina was first believed to have last been seen around 7:40 p.m. traveling in a white van on Interstate 87 southbound near Exit 22. That time was later updated to 9:40 p.m. as the investigation progressed. Authorities said the girl was considered to be in “imminent danger” at the time.
However, as the investigation continued, New York State Police identified multiple inconsistencies in Frattolin’s statements and timeline.
By Sunday, officials stated there was “no indication that an abduction had occurred” and assured the public that there was “no threat to the community.”
Melina’s body was located later that day, ending the search under devastating circumstances.
According to publicly available information, Frattolin is a Montreal-based entrepreneur and the founder of Gambella Coffee.
His company’s biography and other personal writings painted a picture of a devoted father.
Melina was described in online profiles as “the light of his life,” with Frattolin often highlighting his daughter’s importance in shaping his worldview and inspiring his advocacy for social justice.
A now-poignant excerpt from his biography reads:
“Luciano currently spends as much time as he can in Montreal, Canada, with his beautiful daughter Melina. As the light of his life, she is the inspiration for… everything. His pursuits for building a more equitable and just world are deeply guided by his determination that she will not have to endure the same social injustices that he encountered throughout his childhood.”
Frattolin, described as the son of an Ethiopian mother and Italian father, claimed to draw strength and purpose from his cross-cultural upbringing, which he said was the foundation for his personal and professional ethos.
As of now, authorities have not released the specific charges Frattolin is facing in connection to Melina’s death.
The case remains under active investigation, and further details, including cause of death, are expected to be released pending autopsy results and prosecutorial decisions.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.