New York trial of man accused of killing daughter enters fourth week

On Monday, Melina Frattolin's family members wept in a New York courthouse following a jury's verdict that convicted her father, Luciano Frattolin, 46, of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. The verdict came after a nine-year-old girl, Melina, was drowned and her body hidden in a marsh last summer. Frattolin's loved ones held each other as the jury read out "Guilty" and convicted him. Family members hugged and cried outside the courthouse once the trial concluded.

The family, including Melina's mother, Kali Galanis, expressed relief at the verdict, noting that they had to sit in the courtroom with the possibility of an acquittal. Galanis lost her only daughter when Melina died, having been discovered in a marsh in rural New York after her father reported her missing on July 19, 2025. An autopsy revealed Melina died from asphyxia due to drowning.

Electronic data, including Frattolin's phone and car location data, as well as text messages and call records, played a crucial role in the case. The prosecution called several police officers and experts who used this data to prove Frattolin's false story and recreate Melina's movements on the day of her death. The defense argued that Frattolin's inconsistent statements during the investigation were due to language barriers and stress, but the prosecution presented over two dozen witnesses to support their case.

The defense rested its case without Frattolin testifying. The jury deliberated for about an hour before delivering the verdict.