The Canadian father accused of murdering his 9-year-old daughter while on vacation in upstate New York was reportedly the owner of a coffee company that advertised his relationship with his daughter on its website.
Luciano Frattolin, 45, was charged with murder and concealment of a corpse after New York State Police reported that he murdered his daughter, Melina, and dumped her body in a remote area.
According to authorities, Frattolin reported his daughter missing on July 19, while visiting the Lake George area in upstate New York with Melina from Montreal, Canada. The next day, police issued an Amber Alert after Frattolin suspected his daughter had been kidnapped.
However, on July 20, Melina’s body was discovered, and police reported “inconsistencies” in Frattolin’s story.
The Associated Press, WRGB, and The Montreal Gazette reported, citing the company’s website, that Frattolin was listed as Gambella Coffee’s founder. The company’s website has since been taken down.
WRGB reported that Frattolin’s bio page on Gambella’s now-defunct website stated that he “spends as much time as he can in Montreal, Canada, with his beautiful daughter Melina.”
“As the light of his life, she is the inspiration for, well, everything,” the page allegedly stated. “His pursuits for building a more equitable and just world are deeply guided by his determination that she will not have to endure the same social injustices that he encountered throughout his childhood.”
The reported page also stated that Melina taught Frattolin how to let go of his “rigid tendencies.”
According to state police, Frattolin and Melina entered the United States legally while on vacation and are scheduled to return to Canada on July 20.
Frattolin and his wife, Melina’s mother, have been separated for several years, according to state police, who note that the girl’s mother has custody.
The Associated Press reported that Frattolin appeared in court on Monday, July 21, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
