Lake George (12804) Horror: Vacation Tragedy in Upstate New York – URGENT INVESTIGATION

Lake George (12804) – A heartbreaking discovery has torn apart what should have been a joyful father-daughter vacation. On July 19, Luciano Frattolin, a 45-year-old Canadian entrepreneur, reported his 9-year-old daughter Melina missing near Lake George, New York, sparking an Amber Alert early on July 20. Authorities charged Frattolin with fabrication however, when inconsistencies emerged in his story, he was soon declared the prime suspect. Later that day, Melina’s body was tragically found hidden beneath a log in a remote pond in Ticonderoga. Frattolin has since been arrested for second‑degree murder and concealment of a corpse, and pleaded not guilty during his first court appearance on July 21. The father, who once glorified Melina as “the light of his life,” now faces the unimaginable reality that she may have died at his hands—leaving a devastated community and questioning how a cherished trip turned so deadly.

Key Facts

• BREAKING: Melina, 9, found dead July 20 in pond near Ticonderoga, NY.

• IMPACT: Victim-child and suspect-father; parent-child trust shattered.

• OFFICIAL SOURCE: “Inconsistencies in his story” – NY State Police.

• ACTION: Witnesses urged to share surveillance from Lake George/Ticonderoga area.

Hyperlocal Impact

1. Precise Location:
   Lake George/Ticonderoga region (12804/12883) – Vacation site and remote pond area.

2. Community Connection:
   “We hoped for her safe return—this breaks our hearts.”
   – Emily Rogers, Lake George innkeeper.

While on a family trip with scheduled return on July 20, Frattolin first called police on the evening of July 19, claiming Melina was abducted from a parking area—prompting intense search efforts and an Amber Alert. But surveillance from Saratoga Springs showed them together shortly before, and calls made by the girl to her mother showed no distress. The shocking discovery of Melina’s body under a log in Ticonderoga, paired with Frattolin’s questionable statements, led to his arrest on July 21 in Essex County Jail, where he entered a not guilty plea during arraignment.

Exclusive Angle

• WHY THIS MATTERS NOW:
  Authorities emphasize need to vet abduction reports swiftly—especially when involving minors in unfamiliar locations.

Update Log

•  July 21, 10:00 AM: Frattolin pleads not guilty in Ticonderoga court.

•  July 22, 3:30 PM: Autopsy scheduled; next hearing set for Friday.

This devastating case of a cherished father-daughter vacation ending in tragedy sends shockwaves through communities across New York and Canada. As investigators peel back layers of surveillance and statements, the chilling question remains: how does a cherished trip turn so sinister—and how can future tragedies be prevented?