His 9-Year-Old Daughter Was the 'Light of His Life.' He's Now Accused of Murdering Her and Dumping Her Body: Police By Liam Quinn

The Canadian father accused of murdering his 9-year-old daughter while on vacation in upstate New York was reportedly the founder of a coffee company and touted his relationship with his daughter on its website.

Luciano Frattolin, 45, was charged with murder and concealment of a corpse after New York State Police said he murdered his daughter, Melina, and dumped her body in a remote area.

Authorities said that Frattolin, who was visiting the Lake George area in upstate New York from Montreal, Canada with Melina, reported his daughter missing on July 19. The next day, an Amber Alert was put out after police said Frattolin believed his daughter had been abducted.

But later on July 20, Melina’s body was found and police said they found “inconsistencies” in Frattolin’s story.

The Associated Press, WRGB and The Montreal Gazette reported, citing the company’s website, that Frattolin was listed as the founder of Gambella Coffee. The company’s website has subsequently been taken down.

WRGB reported that Frattolin’s bio page on Gambella’s now-defunct website said he “spends as much time as he can in Montreal, Canada, with his beautiful daughter Melina.”

“As the light of his life, she is the inspiration for well, everything,” the page reportedly said. “His pursuits for building a more equitable and just world are deeply guided by his determination that she will not have to endure the same social injustices that he encountered throughout his childhood.”

The reported page also mentioned that Melina taught Frattolin how to let go of his “rigid tendencies.”

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State police said that Frattolin and Melina had legally entered the United States while on vacation, and that they were expected to return to Canada on July 20.

Frattolin and his wife, Melina’s mother, have been separated for several years, state police said, noting that the girl’s mother maintained custody.

The AP reported that Frattolin appeared in court on Monday, July 21 and pleaded not guilty to the charges.