Canadian Dad Accused of Killing Daughter Was Allegedly Overwhelmed by Debt

Luciano Frattolin, the Canadian father accused of murdering his 9-year-old daughter Melina while on vacation in upstate New York, is reportedly mired in financial hardship, with a troubling personal history and strained family relationships.

Frattolin, 45, who once presented himself as a successful entrepreneur through his Montreal-based Gabella Coffee business, appeared in court on Monday, July 21, claiming he was financially destitute and unable to afford legal representation.

Despite referring to Melina as “the light of his life” in his former company biography, the now-deleted page revealed unsettling details.

He described how he struggled to cope with the disorder created by his daughter’s toys and art due to his fixation on maintaining order at home. The bio also mentioned past hardships, including experiences with racism, isolation, and the death of his father during adolescence.

He referenced a traumatic event in 2019 that he claimed deeply affected his mental health. That same year, police noted, he became estranged from his ex-wife. Frattolin was also heavily in debt—over $200,000—due to failed business ventures in Montreal.

He had rented a property in the Mile End neighborhood in 2020 and sublet it via Airbnb, relying on hired managers to make rent payments, which he said allowed him to meet child support obligations.

However, by August 2024, he had defaulted on rent, falling $26,000 behind, resulting in eviction and loss of access to the property—where he said his daughter’s belongings were stored. Frattolin is currently suing the property managers for more than $115,000, accusing them of mismanaging the rental and withholding payments. They, in turn, accused him of plotting to empty his bank account and flee, a claim he denies.

Frattolin also owes the Bank of Nova Scotia approximately $83,000 for a failed business and an additional $97,000 in credit card debt linked to Café Gambella, named after his online coffee brand. Despite these debts, his social media portrayed a lavish lifestyle, with posts of luxury travel and sports cars, including a declaration of being “addicted to Porsche.”

Frattolin and Melina were vacationing in the Lake George area when the incident occurred. Police said he filed a false kidnapping report shortly after Melina had contacted her mother, claiming two men abducted her in a white van near I-87’s Exit 22—roughly an hour before her body was discovered 30 miles away.

Frattolin pleaded not guilty in court and faces charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. If convicted, he could face life in prison under New York law. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 25.