meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

SICKENING TWIST: 9 Y. O. MELINA VANISHES ON VACAY

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

True Crime, News

4.28.1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 July 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Authorities say they received a 911 call around 10 p.m. Saturday from a father who claimed his daughter, Melina, may have been abducted near Exit 22 on I-87.

New York State Police said Melina and her father legally entered the U.S. on July 11 for a vacation from Canada. They were scheduled to return to Montreal on Sunday, July 20.

Melina lives in another state with her mother. Her father and mother have been estranged since 2019, police said. Surveillance video shows Melina with her father in Saratoga Springs around 5:30 p.m., and she spoke with her mother on the phone around 6:30 p.m.

On Sunday morning, authorities searched an area in the upstate town of Ticonderoga—near the Vermont border—where the father was believed to have been with Melina.

The motive remains under investigation, officials said. Police noted that the father has no criminal record or history of domestic violence. They also said the vacation included stops in Connecticut and New York City.

Joining Nancy Grace today:

  • Jason Oshins - New York Defense Attorney    
  • Dr. Chloe Carmichael - Clinical Psychologist, Author: ‘Nervous Energy: Harness The Power of Your Anxiety;' X: @DrChloe, drchloe.com  
  • Dan Murphy-Former NYPD Detective-Sergeant, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Former Chief Security Officer, US Bancorp, Co-Host of "Gold Shields" Podcast, and Author: “Workplace Safety: Establishing an Effective Violence Prevention Program”
  • Dr. Kendall Crowns -  Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), NEW Podcast --- launching on April 7th, Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)
  • Laura Gemmett - Reporter, WRGB CBS 6 Albany; Instagram and Facebook: @laura.gemmettcbs6 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is an IHeart podcast.

0:04.9

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace.

0:09.8

A sickening twist.

0:12.3

After 9-year-old Molina, a beautiful little girl vanishes on a family vacation.

0:19.2

I'm Nancy Grace.

0:20.1

This is Crime Stories. I want to thank you for being with us.

0:23.6

A father-daughter trip ends in tragedy.

0:28.6

Nine-year-old little Molina on a family vacation. When dad stops for a travel break, she is abducted and tonight a disturbing and sickening twist

0:42.1

in her disappearance. Joining me an all-star panel, but first, straight out to investigative

0:48.1

reporter from WRGB, CBS 6 Albany. Laura Jemette is with us. Laura, thank you for being with us.

0:56.4

Where had the family, the dad and the little girl, been vacationing?

1:01.7

Didn't they stop at several beauty spots?

1:04.3

So Melina and her father did travel around to a couple different destinations.

1:09.2

They were on a vacation together.

1:10.8

Some of those locations being Connecticut, New York City, and right in upstate New York in Lake George.

1:17.2

And, you know, to Dr. Chloe Carmichael joining us in addition to Laura Jemette, Dr.

1:22.8

Chloe is clinical psychologist and author of Nervous Energy.

1:27.3

You can find her at Dr. Chloe.

1:30.1

Dr. Chloe, this was especially important to dad because he and the mom, I believe, have been

1:38.1

estranged since 2019. And mom has, you know, primary custody. But dad sees her quite often. And this was their

1:48.4

big bonding where they were going to have dad and daughter time. And that's really hard to get

1:56.6

when you have a busy family. I will never forget when Lucy, my daughter was growing up,

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.