LATHAM, N.Y. — A Canadian man has been arrested and charged with murder following the death of his 9-year-old daughter, who he reported missing over the weekend. Luciano Frattolin, 45, was charged with second-degree murder and concealing a corpse after his daughter, Melina Frattolin, was found dead in a pond in Ticonderoga, New York, on Sunday.

Frattolin initially reported that Melina had been abducted from a parking lot near Lake George, prompting authorities to issue an Amber Alert. However, investigators quickly identified inconsistencies in his account, leading them to conclude that there was no evidence of an abduction. New York State Police Capt. Robert McConnell stated, "He fabricated the initial report of the abduction."

The girl's body was discovered approximately 30 miles north of Lake George, near the New York-Vermont border. Authorities indicated that Frattolin and his daughter had been traveling in the Northeast and were expected to return to Montreal on Sunday.

Frattolin did not respond to multiple requests for comment sent through social media and his business website. He had previously described himself as a "loving father" on his Instagram profile. A post on the website of a coffee company he founded referred to Melina as "the light of his life."

Police reported that Frattolin has no prior criminal record or history of domestic violence. Additionally, they noted that he and Melina's mother have been estranged since 2019. A not guilty plea was entered on Frattolin's behalf during his arraignment on Monday.