The trial of Luciano Frattolin, accused of murdering his 9-year-old daughter Melina, has revealed the remote Adirondack location where her body was allegedly concealed. Prosecutors presented evidence to jurors showing the desolate spot along Paragon Brook near Eagle Lake in Ticonderoga, New York, where Melina's remains were discovered on July 20, 2025.
Frattolin, 45, is accused of transporting his daughter's body to the wooded area and submerging it in mud under a fallen tree, secured by a large feldspar rock. According to testimony and photographic evidence, he navigated a dense, brush-filled, and rocky terrain to reach the secluded site. The rock, described as a weighty piece of feldspar with pearly quartz deposits common to the Adirondacks, was found near the recovery site after Melina's body was removed.
Authorities were led to the area after Frattolin reported his daughter missing, claiming she had been kidnapped from a Thruway rest stop. However, law enforcement quickly identified him as a suspect through license plate readers and other data. Despite investigators locating his daughter's body, Frattolin reportedly did not confess.
Evidence presented in court suggests Frattolin parked his rental Toyota Prius near the Short Swing Trailhead on Route 74, a location consistent with data extracted from the vehicle. This trailhead provides access to the Pharoah Lake wilderness, a remote area where Melina's body was found. The hike to the site, even for an equipped backpacker, is estimated to take just under 10 minutes and involves navigating challenging terrain.
Investigators also found a garbage bag containing mud-covered blue Lululemon shorts, sneakers, and wet wipes discarded along Interstate 87, approximately half a mile from where Frattolin's car was reportedly seen traveling southbound shortly after he claimed his daughter was kidnapped. Frattolin was seen on surveillance footage wearing similar attire hours earlier at a McDonald's in Saratoga Springs.
Prosecutors are working to establish the complete timeline of Melina's final hours and the motive behind the alleged murder. Investigators have reportedly found writings attributed to Frattolin that suggest a desire to regain custody of his daughter. Melina's mother, Kali Galanis, testified that her daughter had contacted her on July 19, 2025, indicating that Frattolin was late returning her and that they would arrive later than expected in Montreal. Frattolin's text message to Galanis, sent around 8:55 p.m. on July 19, stated they would arrive in Montreal at 9:15 p.m., a timeframe prosecutors suggest aligns with him emerging from the woods after allegedly disposing of his daughter's body. Frattolin was later found to be driving south on I-87 around 9:20 p.m. that evening.