Melina Frattolin, the 9-year-old girl from Canada who police allege was killed by her father in Upstate New York, died in a drowning, an autopsy revealed. New York State Policeannounced on July 22 that Frattolin died from asphyxia due to drowning. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. The results of the autopsy, which was conducted at Glens Falls Hospital, are preliminary. A final determination and report are pending further laboratory testing, NYSP said. Frattolin was found dead in Ticonderoga on July 20, hours after her father, Luciano Frattolin, reported her abducted. He has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in her death. It's unclear if he has an attorney. Melina Frattolin death:Missing girl found dead in NY; father charged Luciano and Melina Frattolin, of Montreal, entered the United States on July 11 for a vacation and planned to return to Canada on July 20, police said at a press conference on July 21. On July 19 at around 5:30 p.m. local time, Luciano and Melina Frattolin were seen on video surveillance in Saratoga Springs. An hour later, the girl spoke to her mother on the phone and said she and her father were on route back to Canada, police said. Luciano Frattolin reported his daughter missing around 10 p.m. local time that night; he told authorities they were driving on I-87 in Lake George when he pulled over to urinate in a wooded area. When he returned to the vehicle, his daughter was missing, he said. The following morning, police activated an Amber Alert for the missing girl. Police later said, "there is no indication that an abduction occurred." At around 5 p.m. ET on Jul 20, police announced Melina Frattolin was found dead in Ticonderoga, New York, which is about 100 miles north of Albany by the Vermont border. Her body was found in the shallow portion of a pond in a wooded area, police said. Luciano Frattolin has been estranged from his daughter's mother since 2019. Melina Frattolin lived full-time with her mother in Canada, police said. According to hisLinkedIn, Luciano Frattolin is an entrepreneur. Before his arrest, he owned a coffee company, according to an archivedwebsite. He also owned a mining company, according to anEthiopian newspaper. He is Ethiopian and Italian, according to his website bio. On his since-archived website, Luciano Frattolin called his daughter "the light of his life." "Melina has also taught Luciano to let go of his rigid tendencies to keep everything in 'perfect order'—his love for Melina's messy art projects and chaotic ensemble of toys supersedes his love for a meticulously spotless home," the website said. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached atmelina.khan@usatoday.com. (This story was updated to include video.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Melina Frattolin, girl found dead in NY, drowned, autopsy reveals
