New York State Police have released the cause of death of the 9-year-old girl who was reported missing in Upstate New York over the weekend, sparking an Amber Alert. An autopsy determined Melina Frattolin's cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning,

Luciano Frattolin has been charged with murdering his 9-year-old daughter Melina Frattolin, New York State Police officials announced July 21. Melina Frattolin was found dead in Upstate New York on July 20 after Luciano Frattolin reported her abducted the previous night, NYSP said in a release.

Authorities say the father initially said his daughter had been kidnapped, triggering an Amber Alert and multi-state investigation.