New York State Police arrested a Canadian man after his 9-year-old daughter was found dead in a pond in upstate New York, authorities announced Monday.

Luciano Frattolin, 45, called 911 Saturday night from Lake George to report his daughter, Melina, missing and possibly abducted, New York State Police Capt. Robert McConnell said at a Monday press conference. State forest rangers found Melina dead the next morning in the shallow water of a pond near Ticonderoga, about 30 miles from where her father claimed she was last seen. (RELATED: Dog The Bounty Hunter Mourns After Step-Grandson Killed By His Own Father)

Frattolin and Melina, who lived in Montreal, had entered the U.S. for vacation July 11 and visited Connecticut, New York City and Lake George before her death. They were scheduled to return to Canada on Sunday so Melina could be returned to her mother, who has full custody, according to McConnell. Frattolin and his wife separated in 2019. Though his ex-wife retained full custody, officials said Frattolin was authorized to take Melina on vacation.

Melina was last seen on surveillance video with her father at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, McConnell said. About an hour later, she spoke to her mother by phone and “did not indicate she was under any duress” during the call, according to investigators.

“Sometime after Melina’s phone call with her mother and before Frattolin’s 911 call, he allegedly murdered Melina and left her body in a remote area where she was later discovered by law enforcement,” McConnell said.

The cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy conducted Monday.

Investigators grew suspicious of Frattolin after inconsistencies emerged in his statements to police, McConnell said.

“The suspect’s initial account is that he had pulled over in the area of exit 22 in Lake George in a parking lot to urinate. His initial report is that he steps away to a wooded area, returns to the vehicle, and at that point his child is gone from the vehicle. He reports a suspicious white van fleeing the scene southbound,” McConnell said. “During a subsequent interview, he then reports two unknown males forced her into a white van. That lead was thoroughly investigated and disproven.”

Frattolin is charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse, McConnell said.

Frattolin has no prior criminal record or history of domestic violence, and officials found no immediate concerns about his mental health, McConnell said.

An Amber Alert was issued for Melina early Sunday, about four hours after she was reported missing, stating she had been taken “under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death.” The alert was cancelled around 4:15 p.m. after her body was found.

“In this case, it was difficult to confirm some of the initial information provided by the suspect,” McConnell said when asked about the decision to issue the alert.

Frattolin is reportedly the founder of Montreal-based Gambella Coffee and previously described Melina as “the light” of his life and his “inspiration” in his now-deleted company biography.

“Melina has also taught Luciano to let go of his rigid tendencies to keep everything in ‘perfect order’ — his love for Melina’s messy art projects and chaotic ensemble of toys supersedes his love for a meticulously spotless home,” the bio read.

Frattolin appeared in court for arraignment Monday.