Prosecutors allege that coffee company founder Luciano Frattolin drowned his nine-year-old daughter, Melina, in a marsh in upstate New York in July 2025 as part of a scheme to avoid child support payments. Frattolin, 45, the founder of coffee company Gambella, has pleaded not guilty to murder and concealment of a corpse charges.
Melina Frattolin's body was discovered near Eagle Lake in Ticonderoga, with experts testifying that her lungs, airway, and stomach were filled with mud, debris, and plants, indicating she drowned in the marsh. Dr. Michael Sikirica, a medical examiner, described the death as a "definitely a drowning case" and noted her remains appeared to be weighted down by a stone.
Testimony revealed that Melina had expressed fear about a planned trip with her father to his native Ethiopia in January 2025. Her mother, Kali Galanis, testified that she did not allow Melina to go on that trip after the child stated she did not want to. Galanis, who was separated from Frattolin, had growing concerns about his travel plans with their daughter, especially after her lawyer mentioned cases of estranged spouses abducting children to other countries. Galanis also cited other "troubling and alarming things" the child told her about her father's statements regarding her unwillingness to travel.
Frattolin ultimately compromised, arranging a trip to New York instead. Prosecutors contend this trip was a ruse to murder Melina and cease child support obligations. They also presented cell phone data that they claim places Frattolin at the lake where his daughter's body was found.
When Melina was reported missing on July 19, 2025, Frattolin initially told authorities she had been kidnapped by two men in a white van while they were traveling back to Canada from New York. Investigator Daniel Mauro of the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation testified that Frattolin was interrogated for 13 hours. During the interrogation, Frattolin's story about changing his clothes changed. He initially denied changing, then admitted to changing his shirt because he was "sweaty." Investigators suspected he changed his clothes because he had been wading in the marsh.
Frattolin claimed his daughter was taken when he stopped by the side of the highway to urinate, and she was abducted as he turned away. However, investigators presented cell phone data that they stated placed him near the location where Melina was found. Frattolin's wet clothes were reportedly discovered in a trash bag discarded along Interstate 87, the route he was using to drive Melina back to her mother in Montreal.
Footage from the interrogation showed Mauro telling Frattolin, "You know something you haven't told us." The defense maintains that Melina was kidnapped as Frattolin described.
