Luciano Frattolin, a coffee entrepreneur, was found guilty on Monday of murdering his 9-year-old daughter, Melina, in an Adirondacks swamp as part of a revenge plot against his ex-wife. The conviction came after weeks of testimony in Essex County Court.
Jurors deliberated for approximately one hour before returning a verdict of guilty on charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a body. Frattolin now faces a potential sentence of life in prison.
The incident occurred in July 2025 when Frattolin was on a court-approved vacation with Melina near Ticonderoga, New York. He subsequently reported his daughter missing, claiming she had been kidnapped and sparking a large-scale search in the Adirondacks. Prosecutors argued that Frattolin drowned Melina and then attempted to conceal her body. Essex County District Attorney Michael Langey described the scene during closing statements, noting the girl's body was found covered in dirt and grass.
Frattolin, who did not testify in his own defense after being advised not to by his legal counsel, is a dual citizen of Ethiopia and Italy. Court documents and notes left by Frattolin in his rental vehicle suggested a motive of revenge and a desire to "end this evil." He had also accused his ex-wife, Kali Galanis, of child abuse and alleged she was framing him for Melina's disappearance. Galanis had full custody of Melina after her long-distance relationship with Frattolin ended in 2019. She had permitted yearly visits, including the trip to New York that ultimately led to Melina's death, after canceling a planned trip to Ethiopia.
Evidence presented to the jury included Frattolin's changing narratives to investigators and his written statements, which prosecutors contended demonstrated his guilt. The jury sided with the prosecution, concluding that Frattolin's account of events was inconsistent and fabricated.