Tragic Death of 9-Year-Old Canadian Girl in New York
On Sunday, a 9-year-old girl from Canada was found dead in upstate New York, following an Amber Alert issued the night before, according to the New York State Police (NYSP).
The body of Melina Galanis Fratlin was discovered in Ticonderoga, which is about 30 miles from Lake George.
Her father, Luciano Fratlin, called 911 just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, expressing concerns about his daughter possibly being lost or abducted.
Reportedly, Luciano last saw Melina around 9:40 p.m., roughly 20 minutes before his call to emergency services.
The initial Amber Alert was released Sunday morning, indicating that Melina was in “immediate danger,” raising fears for her safety.
“The children were filmed under circumstances that led police to believe they were in immediate danger of serious physical harm and death,” the alert stated.
However, the NYSP later noted that there were “contradictions in the accounts of his father’s events and the timeline he provided.”
The NYSP clarified that at this stage, there’s no evidence suggesting that Melina had been kidnapped.
“Melina had died in Ticonderoga, New York,” the NYSP confirmed. “There is no current indication of abduction, and there is no threat to the public.”
Details regarding Melina’s death remain unclear, and as of now, no suspects have been identified or arrests made.
A press briefing from the NYSP is planned for Monday to share further information.
