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Who is Melina Frattolin’s father? All about the grieving dad who placed desperate 911 call in search of his missing daughter

Melin Frattolin was found dead on Sunday, July 20 after being reported missing on Saturday
posted by Ashim Arora
Sunday 7/20/2025 at 6:20PM EDT
  • Melina Frattolin's father is the founder of Gambella Coffee, an Ethiopia-based brand (Image via Instagram/lucianofrattolin)
    Melina Frattolin's father is the founder of Gambella Coffee, an Ethiopia-based brand (Image via Instagram/lucianofrattolin)

    Melina Frattolin, a nine-year-old girl, was found dead in Upstate New York, multiple outlets reported. The young girl’s father reported her missing on July 19, suggesting that she might have been abducted near Lake George, according to New York State Police. The authorities found the child in Ticonderoga, New York, while claiming that there was “no indication of abduction.”

    Mark Mulholland of WNYT was first to report that Melina’s father, Luciano, is the founder of Gambella Coffee, a brand based in Ethiopia. According to Frattolin’s bio on Gambella Coffee’s website, he spends the majority of his time in Montreal, Canada. Furthermore, he has a mixed ethnicity. Luciano was born to an Ethiopian mother and an Italian father in Gambella.

    Frattolin completed his education in the US and the UK and claimed to have financially succeeded with multiple business ventures across architecture, real estate, construction, mining, and coffee. In his company profile, Luciano described his daughter Melina as the “light of his life” and “inspiration of everything,” while mentioning her impact on him.

    Investigation underway after the authorities found Melina Frattolin deceased amid inconsistencies in her father’s account

    According to New York State Police, a father, identified as 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin, dialed 911 to report the disappearance of his daughter on July 19, 2025, around 9:58 pm. Frattolin claimed that his child went missing in the “area of Exit 22 of I-87 in Lake George, New York.” The 45-year-old also shared his suspicions of a possible abduction, which led authorities to issue an Amber Alert.

    Initially, the investigation was led by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. New York State Police stated:

    “As the case progressed, law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the father’s account of events and the timeline he provided.”

    The authorities said:

    “With the assistance of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Ticonderoga Police Department, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Forest Rangers, and New York State Police K9 and Aviation units, Melina was located deceased in Ticonderoga, New York.”

    According to the Associated Press, Melina was found dead nearly 30 miles away from the place where her father reported her missing. The New York State Police have taken over the case from the Warren County Sheriff's Office. The investigation is still underway, with authorities confirming that there is “no indication that an abduction occurred, and there is no threat to the public.”

    The New York State Police is expected to reveal more details in a press conference on Monday, July 21, 2025. At the same time, CBS 6 (WRGB Albany) reported that the authorities have taken Luciano Frattolin into custody. He is currently being held at Essex County Jail, based on inmate records.

    TOPICS: Melina Frattolin, Amber Alert, Missing Child, New York, New York State Police