Police have charged Melina's father Luciano Frattolin with murder in the case. The medical examiner said her death was a homicide and caused by drowning.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case before the State Police took over. Law enforcement identified “inconsistencies” in the father’s account of events and the timeline he provided, O’Neil said.

Police sent an alert to people's phones saying Melina Galanis Frattolin was last seen southbound in a white van on I-87 near exit 22 at 9:40 p.m. Saturday.