Upstate New York AMBER Alert Ends in Heartbreak

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the tragic news surrounding the AMBER Alert for 9-year-old Melina Galanis Frattolin which was canceled at 4:18 p.m. on Sunday, July 20. 

New York State Police have confirmed that the alert has been canceled, not because Melina was found safe, but because her life was heartbreakingly cut short. Authorities say she was found deceased.

A Life Full of Promise, Gone Too Soon

At just nine years old, Melina should have been dreaming about her next summer adventure, chasing fireflies, or picking out her first day of school outfit. Instead, a community now mourns a child taken far too soon under circumstances that are still unfolding.

The Abduction in Lake George

On July 19, 2025, around 9:58 p.m., Warren County 911 received a call from a man reporting that his 9-year-old daughter was missing and may have been abducted near Exit 22 of I-87 in Lake George, New York. The missing child was identified as Melina Frattolin, and the caller as her father, 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin, both residents of Canada.

Authorities Feared the Worst

From the beginning, police believed Melina was in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death. That level of concern sparked an immediate and wide-reaching search. Sadly, their worst fears were realized.

READ MORE: Upstate New York Woman Identified 51 Years After Disappearance

Melina’s Body Found Near Ticonderoga

With the assistance of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Ticonderoga Police Department, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Forest Rangers, and New York State Police K9 and Aviation units, the search for Melina ended in the most devastating way. New York State Police and the Ticonderoga Police Department confirm the news that Melina’s body was found near Ticonderoga, New York.

Inconsistencies in the Father's Story

Law enforcement has since revealed that inconsistencies in Melina’s father’s account and the timeline he provided shifted the direction of the investigation. What initially appeared to be a child abduction may, in fact, be something very different.

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No Indication of Abduction

As of now, New York State Police say there is no indication that an abduction occurred, and that there is no threat to the public. Due to jurisdictional boundaries, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office has turned the investigation over to New York State Police for further handling.