Investigators have confirmed that blood on Melina Frattolin’s jacket was discovered after testing the clothing the nine-year-old Montreal girl wore when she died. A forensic scientist shared this finding on Tuesday during the ongoing murder trial in New York state. The testimony has added a disturbing new layer to a case that has already gripped communities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.

Luciano Frattolin, the girl’s 46-year-old father, faces charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. He has pleaded not guilty to both counts. Since his arrest in July 2025, he has remained in custody without bail. Meanwhile, the trial continues to unfold with new forensic details each day.

Forensic Scientist Details Blood Stains Found on the Jacket

Kimberly Stoddard, a forensic scientist with the New York State Police, examined the items Melina wore when officers found her body. She tested each piece for traces of blood. However, most results came back inconclusive because dirt covered the clothing.

When shown to the jury, Melina’s pink and purple garments carried a thick layer of muck. She had drowned in a rural marsh in New York during a trip with her father. As a result, testing the soiled fabric proved difficult for investigators.

One item stood out from the rest. Stoddard found blood in multiple spots on Melina’s jacket, including the cuff and the hood. She described this discovery clearly to the courtroom.

“There was visible, reddish staining in that area,” she told the jury.

Stoddard also tested other evidence gathered near the scene. Investigators had recovered a pair of white Adidas sneakers, clothing found inside Frattolin’s car, and items pulled from a white garbage bag nearby. Despite visible dirt on many of these pieces, they tested negative or inconclusive for blood.

Blood Traces Also Appear on a Confession Document

Stoddard’s testing did not stop at the jacket. She additionally found blood on a document recovered from Frattolin’s vehicle. This document contained a three-page dialogue between Frattolin and Melina’s mother, which a witness had read aloud to jurors the previous week.

The written exchange includes accusations and critical remarks aimed at the girl’s mother. At this point, it remains unclear whether the dialogue reflects an actual conversation or a fictional one. The uncertainty has become a key discussion point during proceedings.

Stoddard specifically tested a red stain located near the document’s title, “Closure/Confession.” She explained exactly where she found it.

“The visible stain area is on the slash between those two words,” Stoddard said.

Following her physical testing, Stoddard sent all the items for DNA analysis. She did not reveal during her testimony whose blood appeared on either the jacket or the document. This detail may surface later as the trial progresses.

Father Denies Charges Amid Ongoing Trial

Frattolin has claimed that two men abducted his daughter and fled the scene in a white van. Prosecutors, on the other hand, argue that he invented this kidnapping story. This conflict sits at the heart of the case.

The tragedy has sparked strong emotional reactions across the border region. Residents near the New York area where Melina died organized candlelight vigils and tributes in her memory. Similarly, many in Montreal have followed the case closely since her disappearance last summer.

Ultimately, jurors will need to weigh the forensic evidence, witness testimony, and Frattolin’s own account before reaching a verdict. The trial is scheduled to resume Wednesday, when further testimony is expected to build on this week’s forensic findings.