The father of the nine-year-old Canadian girl who was found dead after being reported missing in northeastern New York was arrested Monday morning, according to VINE — a system that allows victims of crime in the U.S. to obtain information about criminal cases.
More to come. Below is a previous version of this story.
A news release from New York State Police says officers from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a man who said his nine-year-old daughter was missing from the area of Exit 22 of I-87 in Lake George, possibly due to an abduction, on Saturday just before 10 p.m. ET.
They say the child was identified as Canadian resident Melina Frattolin, and her father as 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin. Both father and daughter were identified by authorities as residents of Canada.
The release says the Warren County Sheriff’s Office initially led the investigation but, as the case progressed, officers identified inconsistencies in the father’s account of events and the timeline of Melina’s disappearance.
Police in New York say with the help of several local agencies, Melina was found dead on Sunday in Ticonderoga, N.Y., about 50 kilometres east of Lake George near the New York-Vermont border.
No indication abduction occurred, say police
The investigation has been turned over to the New York State Police, who said there is no indication at this time that an abduction occurred and there is no threat to the public.
There was no word on charges in the news release, and New York State Police did not immediately respond to questions about the circumstances surrounding Melina’s death. Law enforcement officials said a news conference is scheduled for Monday.
Luciano’s whereabouts weren’t clear late Sunday. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent via LinkedIn, Instagram and his company website, but describes himself as a “loving father” on his Instagram profile.
On the website of the Gambella coffee company headquartered in downtown Montreal, said to be founded by Luciano, a post says that his daughter, Melina, is “the light of his life.”
“She is the inspiration for, well, everything,” it added.
