Father accused of killing 9-year-old daughter in Upstate New York denied bail
Police say Frattolin fabricated story about daughter being abducted
Luciano Frattolin, the father accused of drowning his nine-year-old daughter and concealing her body, appeared in a U.S. courtroom on Wednesday to formally face charges.
Judge Tatiana Coffinger said Wednesday Frattolin will not receive bail. She said continued detention is necessary to ensure he will show up at court to answer the charges.
It was the second court appearance for Frattolin, 45, who was arrested on July 20 after New York State Police said he called 911 to report the abduction of his daughter, Melina.
Police said he fabricated that story and the authorities later found Melina's body in the shallow water of a pond near Ticonderoga, N.Y.
Frattolin arrived at the Essex County courthouse dressed in a grey suit, wearing glasses. He was handcuffed as he remains detained in the state.
The appearance was a formal arraignment on the charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse.
He pleaded not guilty.
Police in N.Y. had already accused Frattolin of the crimes, but the appearance on Wednesday marked the formal laying of charges that have now been approved by a grand jury in the state.
Police said Frattolin and his daughter, who lives with her mother in Montreal, were travelling in the U.S. before he reported her missing on the evening of July 19.
Police say he told investigators that he'd left his car to urinate in a wooded area and that his daughter was gone when he returned. He reported a white van fleeing the scene southbound.
In a subsequent interview, he mentioned two unknown men who forced Melina into the white van.
A state public defender is representing Frattolin. The case will next return to court on August 19.
Written by Matthew Lapierre