Canada Man Arrested For Killing Daughter Had Affair, Almost Lost One Eye In Ethiopia Attack

Last Updated:July 24, 2025, 07:53 IST

Besides his daughter Melina, Luciano had no ties to Montreal, with his primary base of operations located in Ethiopia.

Luciano Frattolin with his nine-year-old. (Credits: X)

Luciano Frattolin, a 45-year-old Canadian man, has been arrested for the alleged murder of his nine-year-old daughter while on vacation in the United States. According to reports, Frattolin—an Ethiopian-born businessman—was said to have loved his daughter deeply but did not want the responsibilities of raising a child.

“He loved his daughter, but he didn’t like the idea of being tied down," a former friend of Luciano told the Montreal Gazette. Reportedly, Melina’s mother was granted full custody following her divorce from Luciano, with the father permitted to visit his daughter only once a year.

Besides his daughter Melina, Luciano had no ties to Montreal, with his primary base of operations located in Ethiopia. Reports also indicate that Luciano had an extramarital affair while living in Ethiopia, which came to light when his wife travelled there to visit him.

The revelation reportedly surfaced around the time Luciano discovered a mine in partnership with a Beijing-based company. In 2019, the venture secured a 20-year concession to extract iron ore.

However, just days after the deal was finalised, Luciano was assaulted—a violent attack that, according to a friend quoted by the Montreal Gazette, left him with permanent damage to one of his eyes.

His wife visited him in Ethiopia after the assault, and got to know about her husband’s affair with another woman. The couple got a divorce after this, with the mother getting full custody of the daughter.

On Saturday, Luciano called 911 to report the alleged kidnapping of his daughter, claiming she had disappeared after he stopped his car to urinate. However, as the investigation unfolded, authorities determined that Luciano had misled them.

The following day, the body of the nine-year-old girl was discovered. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was drowning.

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