NEED TO KNOW
- A 9-year-old girl was abducted from Lake George on Saturday, July 19, according to police
- Authorities in New York state have issued an Amber Alert and are asking locals to help find Melina Galanis Frattolin
- The child is described as being of Indian descent with brown hair and blue eyes
Authorities in New York are asking for the public’s assistance with locating a missing girl they believe is in “imminent danger” after being abducted from Lake George.
Melina Galanis Frattolin, 9, was last seen in a white van on Saturday, July 19, at 9:40 p.m. local time, going southbound on Interstate 87 near exit 22 in the area, New York State Police announced in an Amber Alert, as well as in a Facebook post, issued on Sunday, July 20.
According to authorities, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) is investigating the case as a child abduction.
“The child was taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death,” the state police announcement read. A suspect was unknown at the time of the Amber Alert, and authorities are encouraging anyone with information tied to the girl’s whereabouts to call the WCSO at 518-743-2501 or to dial 911.
Frattolin is described as being of Indian descent with brown hair and blue eyes. She is five feet tall, weighs 100 pounds and was last seen wearing a blue-and-white striped shirt, shorts and white Adidas sneakers.
State police and the WCSO did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for updated information on July 19.
The Times Union of Albany reported that the initial Amber Alert said Frattolin was last seen at 7:40 p.m., before the time was updated to 9:40 p.m.
The outlet reported that the alert did not elaborate on what the girl was doing at the time of the reported abduction, where she was or who she was with.
Per the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Frattolin’s case marks the third active Amber Alert issued in the U.S. Others currently active involve two teens who have been missing in Idaho since June.
Amber Alerts are activated in “the most serious child-abduction cases,” per the NCMEC, which reported that 1,268 children have been “recovered” as a result of them since the end of 2024 — 226 of which followed Wireless Emergency Alert messages. In New York, the state police administer the alerts.
“The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of a missing child. These alerts are broadcast through radio, TV, road signs, cellphones, and other data-enabled devices,” the nonprofit shared on its website, further explaining that the system is being used in all 50 states and beyond.
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