The mother of 9-year-old Melina Frattolin testified on Tuesday, July 29th, 2026, that her daughter did not want to travel overseas with her father months before prosecutors say he killed her during a summer trip to New York.

Kali Galanis told jurors in Essex County Court that her ex-partner, Luciano Frattolin, wanted to take Melina to his native Ethiopia for two weeks in January 2025. However, Galanis said the trip never happened because Melina objected, stating, "She didn't want to go." Galanis also expressed growing unease about the proposed trip.

Galanis shared concerns about allowing Melina to travel internationally with Frattolin after the couple separated in 2019. The testimony highlighted family disagreements over Melina's travel arrangements and Galanis' worries about Frattolin's plans with their daughter months before Melina's death near Lake George, New York.

Luciano Frattolin is currently on trial in Essex County, New York, having pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of concealment of a human corpse in connection with Melina's death.

The trial also included testimony from New York State Police investigator Daniel Mauro, who said Frattolin remarked during questioning that "it would've been easier" to kill his daughter overseas, including in Italy or Ethiopia.

Sources