Luciano Frattolin, the 45-year-old founder of the organic coffee brand Gambella, is on trial in upstate New York for the second-degree murder and concealment of his nine-year-old daughter, Melina. Frattolin, who is from Montreal, has pleaded not guilty, maintaining his defense that Melina was abducted on July 19, 2025.
Prosecutors allege that Frattolin drowned his daughter and then concealed her body. The girl's remains were found by law enforcement in a remote pond in Ticonderoga, New York, approximately 45 miles south of where Frattolin originally claimed she was last seen. The discovery was made off Short Swing Trail in the Pharaoh Lakes Wilderness Area.
According to Assistant District Attorney Carrie Daly, Frattolin and Melina's mother, Kali Galanis, had a relationship that ended in 2019. Galanis had full custody of Melina, but allowed Frattolin to take her on a vacation to the United States in July 2025. Prosecutors suggest this trip was a potential ploy by Frattolin, who was reportedly struggling with child support payments and allegedly believed Melina and Galanis suffered from mental illness.
Melina was scheduled to return to her mother's home by 8:30 p.m. on July 19. However, her phone's activity, which Galanis used for tracking, ceased after a stop at a McDonald's in Saratoga Springs. Shortly after, around 9:30 p.m., Frattolin called 911 from Lake George, reporting that his daughter had been forced into a white van. He told investigators he pursued the van for 15 to 20 minutes before stopping to make the call.
The report triggered a large-scale search for Melina. Initially, Frattolin appeared to cooperate with authorities, allowing searches of his vehicle and phones. However, prosecutors stated that Frattolin's account of events changed as new evidence emerged. They claim his journey with Melina on the night of her disappearance deviated from his initial statements, with cellphone and vehicle data placing him in the Ticonderoga area for nearly an hour, contrary to his description of a brief drive.
Investigators also noted discrepancies in Frattolin's statements about accessing his cellphone and his clothing. Prosecutors presented evidence that Frattolin had texted Galanis stating Melina would be home soon after the alleged abduction. Video from the McDonald's showed him in different attire than he was seen in later that night, and wet clothing and shoes believed to be his were later found in a garbage bag in the woods.
Frattolin's defense attorney, Brian Pilatzke, argued that his client deeply loved his daughter and had planned a week-long vacation to explore New York City and the surrounding areas. Pilatzke asserted that the prosecution's case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence and criticized the investigation, citing language barriers between police and Frattolin, who holds dual Ethiopian and Italian citizenship. The defense also claims law enforcement mishandled the investigation by delaying an Amber Alert, interrogating Frattolin for extended periods, and allegedly failing to consider alternative theories.
"This is a tragedy. A young child is gone," Pilatzke told the jury, emphasizing their role in determining guilt or innocence based on whether the prosecution can prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.