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The trial for Luciano Frattolin, a Montreal man accused of murdering his nine-year-old daughter, Melina, during a vacation in upstate New York, has been delayed again and is now scheduled to begin on Monday, July 20 in Essex County. The case, which has drawn significant attention, centers around allegations that Frattolin killed his daughter while they were staying in Ticonderoga during July 2025, then lied to authorities by initially claiming she was abducted in Lake George.
According to NBC5, this is the third time the trial has been postponed. It was first set for December, then rescheduled for March, and later to Monday (April 20), before being moved to July 20, 2026. Frattolin remains in police custody after a judge ruled him a flight risk.
Authorities report that on July 19, 2025, Frattolin called 911, claiming his daughter had been kidnapped near Exit 22 on I-87 in Lake George. An Amber Alert was issued, and an extensive search followed. Investigators, however, found inconsistencies in Frattolin’s story. According to Spectrum News, police determined no abduction took place, and Melina’s body was discovered the next day in a shallow pond in Ticonderoga.
Frattolin was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. State police said Melina died from "asphyxia due to drowning," and investigators believe she was killed on July 19, just hours after she spoke with her mother by phone. As reported by ABC News, the indictment alleges Frattolin drowned his daughter and concealed her body in a wooded area by placing it in water with a rock on top.
Frattolin’s defense team has filed motions to suppress evidence, including statements he made to law enforcement and data from his cell phone. He has been held without bail in the Essex County Sheriff’s Office since his arrest.
The case is set to move forward later this summer, with court proceedings expected to begin on Monday, July 20.