A coffee CEO, Luciano Frattolin, coldly inquired about the "benefits" of telling the truth to police as they questioned him about the alleged murder of his 9-year-old daughter, Melina, a New York court heard. Frattolin, 45, is accused of drowning his daughter during a custody trip from Ottawa, Canada, to Ticonderoga, New York, in July 2025. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and concealment of a corpse.
During Frattolin's trial in Elizabethtown, New York, footage of his interrogation by New York State Police Investigator Ashlee Marks was presented. Marks told Frattolin she did not believe his account of his daughter's kidnapping, stating, "You’re not telling us the truth. I can see it in your face. I can see it in your body language." Frattolin's response, "What are the benefits?" was interpreted by prosecutors as him considering whether to confess to the crime.
Prosecutors allege that Frattolin murdered Melina to avoid paying child support. Cell phone data presented in court indicated Frattolin was near the marshy lake where his daughter's body was discovered. Frattolin initially claimed he and Melina had gone to the lake to swim, but insisted they both returned to the car. When confronted with his cell phone data, he maintained his story, though he added that they did not swim due to the presence of "100 homes" nearby. Investigator Marks testified that she had visited the area earlier that day and saw no homes.
Frattolin also changed his story regarding his clothing during the interrogation, first claiming he had not changed, then stating he had changed his shirt because he was sweaty. His wet clothes were reportedly found discarded in a trash bag along Interstate 87, the route back to Canada.
Melina's mother, Kali Galanis, testified that Frattolin's trip to New York came after he unsuccessfully attempted to take their daughter to his native Ethiopia. Galanis had not allowed the Ethiopia trip in January 2025 because Melina expressed she did not want to go. Galanis had become concerned about Frattolin's overseas travel plans, citing cases where estranged spouses abscond with children. She also mentioned other "troubling and alarming things" Melina had told her about her father's statements regarding her unwillingness to travel to Ethiopia. Frattolin then compromised by taking Melina to New York instead.
Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Sikirica testified that Melina's death was a drowning case, with her lungs, airway, and stomach filled with mud, debris, and plants from the marsh. Her remains were covered in mud, and a stone appeared to have been used to weight her down in the water.
Frattolin initially reported Melina missing on July 19, 2025, claiming she had been kidnapped by two men in a white van. He has maintained his not-guilty plea throughout the proceedings. The trial is ongoing.