In a heartbreaking turn of events, 9-year-old Melina Frattolin spoke to her mother on the phone just an hour before she was allegedly murdered by her father, Luciano Frattolin, during a scheduled visitation trip to New York.
The girl was supposed to return home to Montreal later that evening. According to police, nothing during that last call suggested anything was wrong.
Sources reveal that Melina’s mother had been texting Luciano asking when her daughter would be home. But after one haunting message, he stopped replying altogether.
“She just wanted to know when Melina would be back,” a source told The Post. But there was no answer — only silence.
The Father’s Claim and Police Discovery
Around 10 p.m. Saturday night, Luciano Frattolin reported his daughter missing. He told police that Melina had been taken by two men in a white van after he stepped out of his silver 2024 Toyota Prius to urinate near Exit 22 of I-87 close to Lake George.
But law enforcement quickly became suspicious.
Within hours, police discovered Melina’s body hidden under a log in a remote pond. She had been drowned.
Custody Conflict and Family Shock
Luciano and his ex-wife had been separated since 2019 and reportedly experienced ongoing custody disputes. Melina’s trip to New York, which included a visit to New York City, was part of an agreed visitation schedule.
The news has left the mother’s family devastated. A relative told La Presse, “Everyone is in shock. The situation is causing immense stress within our family.”
A Tragic Reminder
Melina’s death has sparked deep sorrow and public outrage. What began as a routine visit between a father and daughter has ended in an unimaginable tragedy.
The final unanswered text may forever haunt her grieving mother — a silent reply to a simple question: “When will she be home?”