NY - Melina Frattolin, 9, Abducted, seen 9:40pm in a white van traveling south on I-87 near exit 22, Lake George, 19 Jul 2025 *arrest*

[katydid23]

I think you're right. He gave her one last big vacation and then made sure she never found out he was in ruins.

It's a theory that fits with what we know now, subject to change as we learn more.

jmo

Yes, the 'one last big vacay' reminiscent of the monster father who took his young son to Disneyland then set him on fire on the last night. Some parents are truly vile creatures.

I think Frattolin has this big fantasy life that was delusional. When it finally came crashing down he had no rational answer.

[David Rothenberg, an artist from Las Vegas, known as Dave Dave, who was badly scarred as a boy when his father tried to burn him to death.]

 

[Jmoose]

LE went for 2nd degree murder, hence no premeditation. Interesting. I also wonder if he ever had the intention at all to get her back to her mum.
But if accidental, why all the kidnapping 2 men plus white van nonsense and hiding her under a log in a pond in a forest. Just call 911 and get help.
Does not make much sense. Looks intentional to me.
Jmo

They can always upgrade the charges

 

[Snoopster]

Since Melina was killed shortly after her call to her mom makes me wonder if something she said to her mom on the call set her father off. Did he 'react' badly to a comment? Did Melina say she was looking forward to being back home? Did dad take offense to that and overreact, with violent results?

 

[mickey2942]

I am more inclined to think that there was some sort of event that occurred, Melina talks to her mother, which may have upset LF, exacerbated stress or anger. Along with his crushing finances, existential crisis, probably frustrated. Maybe Melina was tired, cranky, spilled a drink or something and he "snapped". Then, it can't be taken back. So, dump her body, create a story.

 

[katydid23]

I have no doubt that Luciano loved his daughter....so what went wrong? Accident? Revenge? Sudden anger?

This small reel just breaks my heart.

My thoughts are with Melina's mom. No mother should ever go through this.

I think Luciano had built up this big PHONEY reputation of being a rich, carefree successful CEO. And it was all deceptive, bogus nonsense. His 'coffee business' was a total failure. Did he really believe he could sell organic coffee at 65 bucks a pop? He seems delusional.

His air b'n'b 'business is also a sham. He tried to call it a 'bed and breakfast. That is nonsense. He'd have to actually live there, cook nice breakfasts for his gusts and cater to their needs. He did NOTHING but find a location, hire rental agents and have them rent it out and shove some money his way, by neglecting to pay all of the bills. How long did he think he could get away with that?

So he lived a sham of a crooked life that was propped up by social media platforms. He probably did love his daughter, in the way that he could---an irrational kind of haphazard collection of intense emotions based upon fear and tension, imo. Always that fear of loss---knowing his financial house of cards was about to implode.

When it finally did blow up, was it too hard, knowing his little girl was going to learn what a failure he was? Knowing his ex was going to cut ties, keep him from seeing his girl anymore.

Maybe he didnt think he had anything more to lose? He'd see it as a 'Mercy Killing.' Prevent his little princess from hearing the bad news. Protect her by ending the nightmare before it began?

He is delusional, imo.

 

[Inthedetails]

I think Luciano had built up this big PHONEY reputation of being a rich, carefree successful CEO. And it was all deceptive, bogus nonsense. His 'coffee business' was a total failure. Did he really believe he could sell organic coffee at 65 bucks a pop? He seems delusional.

His air b'n'b 'business is also a sham. He tried to call it a 'bed and breakfast. That is nonsense. He'd have to actually live there, cook nice breakfasts for his gusts and cater to their needs. He did NOTHING but find a location, hire rental agents and have them rent it out and shove some money his way, by neglecting to pay all of the bills. How long did he think he could get away with that?

So he lived a sham of a crooked life that was propped up by social media platforms. He probably did love his daughter, in the way that he could---an irrational kind of haphazard collection of intense emotions based upon fear and tension, imo. Always that fear of loss---knowing his financial house of cards was about to implode.

When it finally did blow up, was it too hard, knowing his little girl was going to learn what a failure he was? Knowing his ex was going to cut ties, keep him from seeing his girl anymore.

Maybe h didnt think he had anything more to lose? He'd see it as a 'Mercy Killing.' Prevent his little princess from hearing the bad news. Protect her by ending the nightmare before it began?

He is delusional, imo.

Yep.

jmopinion

 

[borndem]

Welcome to Websleuths,
Pillbugthrowaway2025 !!​

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[Snoopster]

I think Luciano had built up this big PHONEY reputation of being a rich, carefree successful CEO. And it was all deceptive, bogus nonsense. His 'coffee business' was a total failure. Did he really believe he could sell organic coffee at 65 bucks a pop? He seems delusional.

His air b'n'b 'business is also a sham. He tried to call it a 'bed and breakfast. That is nonsense. He'd have to actually live there, cook nice breakfasts for his gusts and cater to their needs. He did NOTHING but find a location, hire rental agents and have them rent it out and shove some money his way, by neglecting to pay all of the bills. How long did he think he could get away with that?

So he lived a sham of a crooked life that was propped up by social media platforms. He probably did love his daughter, in the way that he could---an irrational kind of haphazard collection of intense emotions based upon fear and tension, imo. Always that fear of loss---knowing his financial house of cards was about to implode.

When it finally did blow up, was it too hard, knowing his little girl was going to learn what a failure he was? Knowing his ex was going to cut ties, keep him from seeing his girl anymore.

Maybe he didnt think he had anything more to lose? He'd see it as a 'Mercy Killing.' Prevent his little princess from hearing the bad news. Protect her by ending the nightmare before it began?

He is delusional, imo.

Do we have a link to his "b'n'b" business?

As an aside, we visited our son in Montreal a couple of months ago. We stayed at a newer listed Airbnb with only a couple of reviews. We knew it was a risk, but it was only 2 blocks from our son's apartment.
It became clear that the new "hosts" were new. The place had a bare minimum of kitchen ware and the place was very simplistically furnished. We arrived later in the evening. When we went to go to bed late at night we realized that the bed didn't have a top sheet; just a fitted sheet and a comforter. The next day they provided a top sheet after we complained. Again we got back to the apartment fairly late at night and we stripped off the comforter to place the top sheet and, to our horror, the bottom sheet was very stained! Ewww! So we again reached out to the host. It was late at night. We said we would not sleep in the bed. So they had to deliver a complete new sheet set at 12:30 at night. I'm guessing they hadn't counted on that. It's not as simple as it seems being an AirBnB host. We were very polite in dealing with them as we understood that they were new to the game and they were always responsive. We didn't complain when the building's front door lock failed (not our host's fault) and was out of service for over a day. We informed them though so that they could give a heads up to the next guests.
I say all of this as so many people think it's easy to have an investment apartment and that things will be smooth. Because they often aren't smooth.

And, no, we didn't go to Gambel coffee, even though my son took us to many cafes in town.

 

[mickey2942]

Sickening place 'killer dad' hid daughter Melina Frattolin's body

New York State Police gave more heartbreaking details about the little girl's death in a press conference on Monday, after charging her father Luciano Frattolin with second-degree murder.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[borndem]

Keep in mind that the charge could be upgraded to first degree if evidence is found that it was planned and premeditated.
Her age and the situation would be considered aggravating factors that would influence harsher sentencing.

Agreed -- and hoping the charge will be 1st Degree.

 

[craftybatchy]

LE went for 2nd degree murder, hence no premeditation. Interesting. I also wonder if he ever had the intention at all to get her back to her mum.
But if accidental, why all the kidnapping 2 men plus white van nonsense and hiding her under a log in a pond in a forest. Just call 911 and get help.
Does not make much sense. Looks intentional to me.
Jmo

2nd degree straight out of the gate has me thinking along the lines of 'crime of passion'. It's early days investigation wise. 2nd degree could be upgraded to 1st degree if evidence of premeditation comes forward.

 

[borndem]

Dear Lord...when will this stop?!

Rest in Peace, Melina. You're in a much better place...

You said it, JoeFromLB.

Fly high and happy, young Melina.

 

[snideremarks]

I have to say, the fact that he claimed she’d been abducted after he pulled over so she could go relieve herself in the woods makes me wonder if perhaps the poor child had an accident and unintentionally soiled the seat of his vehicle. That might’ve enraged him enough to kill her, narcissistic control freak that he is.

You read it wrong. It was LF who was relieving himself in the woods when Melina got "kidnapped", according to the press release.

 

[angelainwi]

2nd degree straight out of the gate has me thinking along the lines of 'crime of passion'. It's early days investigation wise. 2nd degree could be upgraded to 1st degree if evidence of premeditation comes forward.

NYS has a wonky way of charging murders. It is VERY hard to reach the level of 1st degree in NYS. It has nothing to do with pre-meditation.

ETA: Look at how they charged Luigi Mangione. So many were furious it was not 1st degree to start with. They only were able to go from 2nd to 1st degree because they used terrorism as an enhancer.

 

[angelainwi]

Nothing about this case leads me to believed they will get 1st degree. But, I could definitely be wrong.

 

[borndem]

...

 

[borndem]

Welcome to Websleuths,
snideremarks !!​

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[sunflowermomma]

Is there a reason he would do this in the US instead of Canada? Or New York in particular - are there any legal situations that would be in his benefit in US/NY vs Montreal?

 

[Inthedetails]

Is there a reason he would do this in the US instead of Canada? Or New York in particular - are there any legal situations that would be in his benefit in US/NY vs Montreal?

He didn't expect to be caught. No idea why he thought NY police wouldn't catch his wonky story.

jmo

 

[katydid23]

Do we have a link to his "b'n'b" business?

As an aside, we visited our son in Montreal a couple of months ago. We stayed at a newer listed Airbnb with only a couple of reviews. We knew it was a risk, but it was only 2 blocks from our son's apartment.
It became clear that the new "hosts" were new. The place had a bare minimum of kitchen ware and the place was very simplistically furnished. We arrived later in the evening. When we went to go to bed late at night we realized that the bed didn't have a top sheet; just a fitted sheet and a comforter. The next day they provided a top sheet after we complained. Again we got back to the apartment fairly late at night and we stripped off the comforter to place the top sheet and, to our horror, the bottom sheet was very stained! Ewww! So we again reached out to the host. It was late at night. We said we would not sleep in the bed. So they had to deliver a complete new sheet set at 12:30 at night. I'm guessing they hadn't counted on that. It's not as simple as it seems being an AirBnB host. We were very polite in dealing with them as we understood that they were new to the game and they were always responsive. We didn't complain when the building's front door lock failed (not our host's fault) and was out of service for over a day. We informed them though so that they could give a heads up to the next guests.
I say all of this as so many people think it's easy to have an investment apartment and that things will be smooth. Because they often aren't smooth.

And, no, we didn't go to Gambel coffee, even though my son took us to many cafes in town.

Cops said at a press conference Monday he became estranged from his former wife that year.
In addition to grappling with past demons and a strained relationship with his ex, Frattolin was more than $200,000 in debt stemming from business dealings in Montreal.

The flailing entrepreneur had rented a property in the hip Montreal enclave of Mile End since 2020, which he sublet as an Airbnb, according to a report in La Presse.

He hired two property managers to run the venture, including having them make the rent payments he owed — enabling him to pay his daughter’s child support with what he netted afterward, he said in court documents obtained by the outlet.

But his lease was terminated by the landlord in August 2024 when he fell $26,000 behind in rent.

He was also being denied access to the property, where he said he stored his daughter’s winter clothing and toys.

He is currently suing the managers for more than $115,000, claiming they exploited the property without his knowledge and never made the rent payments as promised, according to Le Devoir.

Accused killer dad Luciano Frattolin may have been struggling to pay dead daughter Melina’s child support as staggering debt is revealed

Accused killer dad Luciano Frattolin may have been struggling to cover child support for his daughter, owing hundreds of thousands of dollars to creditors despite depicting a high-flying lifestyle …

nypost.com

So it sounds like he did not run his 'bed n breakfast ' at all like the one you mentioned. He really had no engagement with the daily routine of the business. It was kind of a scam, IMO.