Frattolin Trial: Drowning or Misplaced Truth | Montpelier News

The trial of Luciano Frattolin for the drowning death of his nine-year-old daughter Melina has begun, with prosecutors alleging he staged her disappearance by hiding her body under water with a rock, while the defense paints a picture of a grieving father misled by law enforcement. Surveillance footage shows them leaving McDonald’s on July 19, 2025, and hours later, Frattolin reports her missing—wearing different clothes and with her phone turned off. The defense argues he was pressured and threatened during questioning, and claims he briefly turned away from Melina before she vanished. Witnesses say he cooperated fully in the search, but new evidence places him near exit 28 in Ticonderoga, conflicting with his initial statements. Two more witnesses are set to testify today as the jury watches a case built on conflicting narratives and unanswered questions. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d3a1d1d8d7c2b685