Luciano Frattolin, accused of murdering his nine-year-old daughter Melina, was allegedly planning a custody battle and documenting his grievances in a series of notes found in his rental car, prosecutors revealed Thursday.
Investigators discovered a 10-year "father's report," along with notes labeled "Plan A" and "Plan B," in the glove compartment of the Toyota Prius used to transport Melina's body. A document titled "closure/confession" was also found in the vehicle, where the girl was last seen before her body was allegedly dumped in an Adirondack swamp on July 19, 2025. Frattolin, 45, faces murder charges in connection with his daughter's death.
Evidence presented in Essex County Court also included a draft press release addressed to Canadian media outlets. In it, Frattolin allegedly described his ex-wife as "the queen of evil" and stated that he would win custody of his daughter. Another discovered note, presented as a transcript of a dispute, included the lines, "Death is better than living with you. Your Dad is the only one who can control you," and "The problem was never me it was always your mental illness."
These documents were found among other items in an Ikea grocery bag within the rental car. Police had scoured the vehicle for clues after Frattolin reported his daughter missing on July 19, 2025, claiming she had been kidnapped by men in a white van along Interstate 87, which prompted an Amber Alert. Frattolin was arrested two days later, on July 21, 2025.
State police investigator Jacalyn Sommer testified and presented photographs of the belongings found in the car. The defendant's bags contained a laptop and several condoms. Sommer also testified that some of Melina's clothing, including two pairs of underpants, and Frattolin's shorts and shirt, showed signs of "seminal fluid." However, an investigator who testified earlier in the trial stated that no semen was found in the underwear. The testing status of Frattolin's clothing was not specified. Frattolin is scheduled to return to court on Friday.