Father Sentenced to 25 Years to Life for Drowning Daughter in New York Swamp

Luciano Frattolin, 46, has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the July 2025 murder of his 9-year-old daughter, Melina. The sentencing took place on Wednesday in Essex County Supreme Court in Elizabethtown, New York.

Frattolin, described as a failed coffee CEO, drowned his daughter in a swamp in Ticonderoga, New York. He had claimed Melina was abducted by masked men in a van during their return trip from New York City. Prosecutors stated that Frattolin's motive was to enact revenge on Melina's mother and to avoid paying child support. Frattolin did not offer an explanation or apology at his sentencing, responding to a request for a statement with only "No thank you."

During the sentencing, Judge Tatiana Coffinger criticized Frattolin's actions, stating, "I hope at some point in your life you will realize what you have done." She added, "You live in a world of self-made delusion of wealth and image when the greatest accomplishment in your life could’ve been as a great father."

Frattolin was convicted of second-degree murder in August. The judge noted that he would face deportation at the end of his sentence if paroled. Frattolin, an Italian and Ethiopian citizen who was living in Canada at the time of the murder, appeared nervous during the proceedings.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Frattolin's story unraveled as he repeatedly lied to investigators. Cell phone data placed him near the lake where his daughter's body was found, a location he had initially denied visiting. New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Investigator Daniel Mauro testified that Frattolin changed his story multiple times during a 13-hour interrogation, including admitting to changing his shirt because he was "sweaty"—a detail that raised suspicions that he had been wading in the marsh.

Frattolin's wet clothes were later discovered in a trash bag discarded along Interstate 87, the route he had been traveling. The judge also pointed out Frattolin's attempt to cover up the murder with a kidnapping hoax, describing it as a "Hollywood script" that led law enforcement on an extensive search.

Melina's remains were found on July 19, 2025, submerged under a log in a remote pond. Medical examiners testified that her body was covered in mud and plant debris, and evidence indicated she had drowned. Her lungs were found to be filled with black material, and her remains appeared to have been weighted down.

District Attorney Michael Langey read a statement on behalf of Melina's family, expressing their deep suffering and relief that this chapter is over. "We are sincerely grateful to everyone who worked on the case, for your dedication and persistence. Your efforts helped bring a measure of justice for our family," the statement concluded.

Frattolin's attorney, Brian Pilatzke, maintained his client's innocence, stating that "what happened in that body of water in Ticonderoga is a mystery."