Luciano Frattolin, 45, was arraigned on Monday morning (July 21, 2025) in Ticonderoga Town Court and pleaded not guilty to both charges. He is currently being held at the Essex County Jail.

Authorities said Luciano contacted the Warren County Sheriff’s Office at around 9:58 p.m. on Saturday to report that his daughter had disappeared near Exit 22 on the Northway in Lake George.

He initially suggested that Melina may have been abducted. An AMBER Alert issued early Sunday stated the child had last been seen in a white van heading southbound.

Melina’s body was discovered by law enforcement on Sunday, July 20, at approximately 1:50 p.m. Police located her in a shallow section of a pond in Ticonderoga