Montreal Father Faces Sentencing for Murder of Daughter in New York
Luciano Frattolin faces sentencing today in Essex County Court in Elizabethtown, New York, following his conviction for the murder of his nine-year-old daughter, Melina Frattolin, as reported by The Canadian Press.
Jury Finds Luciano Frattolin Guilty of Murder
On August 10, 2026, a jury in Elizabethtown took just one hour to find Luciano Frattolin guilty of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. The trial established that the Montreal girl was drowned in a marsh located in a rural area of Upstate New York. Judge Tatiana Coffinger presides over the case in Essex County Court.
Before proceeding with the sentencing, Judge Coffinger is expected to rule on a defence motion to set aside the verdict. District Attorney Michael Langey stated that Frattolin faces a potential life sentence, with parole eligibility set at a minimum of either 15 or 25 years.
Cell Phone Data Contradicts Kidnapping Claims
Throughout the courtroom proceedings, the defence argued that local law enforcement failed to thoroughly investigate Frattolin’s assertions that his daughter had been abducted. To counter this claim, the prosecution presented testimony from multiple police officers and technical experts.
Investigators utilized car location data, cellular phone records, and surveillance camera footage to map Frattolin’s movements on the day Melina died. The digital and physical tracking evidence was introduced to demonstrate that the father’s account of a kidnapping was fabricated.
Sentencing Hearing Details in Elizabethtown
The sentencing hearing takes place at the Essex County Court, bringing a legal conclusion to a case that drew attention following the summer trial.