The 9-year-old, whose body was found in a New York pond, was on a pre-arranged custodial visit with her dad at the time of her death on July 19, 2025.

Police allege that Luciano Frattolin murdered his 9-year-old daughter Melina in upstate New York. Her cause of death has now been revealed.

Melina's father, Luciano Frattolin, was arrested Monday and faces charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse.