Canadian Girl, 9, Found Dead in Ticonderoga After False Kidnapping Report by Father

Melina Galanis Frattolin was found dead in Ticonderoga, New York

A 9-year-old Canadian girl was found dead Sunday afternoon in Ticonderoga, New York, following a missing person report that initially triggered an Amber Alert. Authorities later revealed the alleged abduction report filed by the girl’s father was unfounded.

Melina Galanis Frattolin’s body was discovered roughly 30 miles from Lake George, where her father, 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin, originally claimed she was last seen. Frattolin contacted the Warren County Sheriff’s Office at 9:58 p.m. on Saturday, reporting a possible abduction of his daughter. The alert described the girl as being in imminent danger of serious harm or death.

However, New York State Police (NYSP) later determined that there was no evidence of a legitimate kidnapping. As the investigation progressed, inconsistencies in Frattolin’s account and timeline emerged, prompting state authorities to take over the case due to jurisdictional concerns.

Police activated an amber alert for Melina around four hours after she was reported missing

The Amber Alert was activated early Sunday morning and canceled at 4:18 p.m. after Melina’s body was found. Police confirmed that while the initial report indicated the child was abducted under alarming circumstances, there is currently no active threat to the public.

Both Melina and her father are residents of Canada. As of now, no arrests have been made, and no suspect has been formally identified. Authorities have also not released details on the cause of death or the nature of the circumstances surrounding it.

The New York State Police announced that they will hold a media briefing on Monday to provide further updates on the investigation.