After 69 days of searching, the authorities confirmed on Thursday that they have found the remains of Madeline “Maddi” Kingsbury.
The unidentified mother of two who had gone missing was conclusively recognized as the deceased body discovered by law enforcement officials on Wednesday afternoon in the adjacent Fillmore County. Chief Tom Williams disclosed this information while addressing the media at a press briefing held in Winona, Minnesota.
Williams said that we are hopeful and thankful to be able to bring Maddi home for her family, although unfortunately this discovery is not what we were hoping for.
Authorities had previously revealed that an arrest was made in the case following the discovery of Kingsbury’s ex-boyfriend, Adam Fravel, who was taken into custody on Friday morning in connection to her disappearance, with charges of probable cause announced.
Authorities stated that Fravel was anticipated to make an appearance in court regarding the charges in the lawsuit on Friday afternoon.
The community never gave up. Law enforcement never gave up. The family never gave up. But during this time. Both the community and law enforcement. The pain and heartache for the family. The last 69 days have been least to say, frustrating.
Here’s the current information we have regarding the case:
Since the morning of March in Winona, a 26-year-old clinical researcher named Kingsbury has been missing after dropping her children off at daycare, sparking a massive nationwide investigation and widespread searches for weeks.
Authorities repeatedly stated that Kingsbury’s disappearance was considered “involuntary” and “suspicious”. While there was no perceived danger to the public, law enforcement officials admitted their inability to identify a person of interest or a suspect in the investigation.
According to the interviews conducted by the police with the owner of the daycare, Kingsbury’s family stated that on the day she went missing, both Kingsbury and her former partner brought their kids to the daycare, which seemed to be a normal routine.
Speaking to KARE 11, Megan Kingsbury said she last heard from her sister in a text message the morning she went missing.
“I had forwarded her a humorous picture the previous evening,” she stated during the interview.
The picture was a recollection from a journey the pair had taken during the previous summer.
Megan Kingsbury expressed, “She didn’t notice it until that morning. She simply sent a reply back, ‘lol,'” “I had replied to it just casual conversation. That was around 8:15 when she messaged me and that was the final communication from her.”
The authorities stated that Kingsbury, who frequently worked remotely, did not show up for work that morning as per her usual routine.
When he returned home, the police in Kingsbury were informed that he drives a dark blue Country Town Chrysler 2014 minivan. Normally, she drives the minivan.
That identical van has been at the focal point of a significant portion of the investigation subsequently.
Police reported that a van was observed moving towards Winona County on Highway 43. The van proceeded southbound on Highway 43, passing through the eastern section of Fillmore County, and was sighted on County Road 12 and Highway 43 in Winona County. Authorities suspect that a comparable van was also spotted.
The vehicle was parked in Kingsbury’s driveway after 1:30 p.M. That afternoon. Although she went missing between 10 a.M. And 1:30 p.M. That day, the police did not report any sightings of the person driving the van.
“Nothing to date has indicated that Maddi left the residence on foot or in another vehicle,” Winona Police Chief Tom Williams said.
Authorities have stated that Kingsbury’s vehicle was confiscated and examined for evidentiary purposes.
“We have worked closely with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to identify and process any available forensic evidence,” the department said.
Kingsbury had ambitious aspirations for her future, including a potential promotion in her field and pursuing a graduate degree. According to her family members, they firmly believe that she would not have vanished voluntarily.
Where and in what manner was her corpse discovered?
Deputies from Fillmore County led investigators to the area where the remains were located, about 46 miles south of Winona and off Highway north of Mabel, in Minnesota, after collecting digital evidence, police said.
The police were unable to release many of the tragic details surrounding the discovery, as they declined to comment. It is believed that many people were involved and it is unclear what condition the body of Kingsbury had been in, if it had been moved.
However, they emphasized that her body was discovered off a public road, concealed and obscured.
Williams said, “Maddi’s body was concealed and covered in such a way that she was not visible, but the area had been searched previously.” “It should be noted that the location of Maddi’s body was off a public roadway, not owned by any relatives or the Fravel family, and it was a low-maintenance area.”
Despite the completion of an autopsy, the exact cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Who is Adam Fravel?
Fravel is the father of Kingsbury’s two children, although they were no longer in a relationship.
Megan Kingsbury said that her sister was in the process of trying to move out of the home they shared with Fravel at the time of her disappearance.
While searching for a new place to live, Kingsbury said her children could still see Dad in the Winona area.
“She didn’t necessarily want to remove them from anyone,” Megan Kingsbury stated.
Fravel, had formerly released a statement through his attorney while the search operations were underway, as reported by NBC affiliate station KARE 11.
Please safely bring her home and bless the Kingsbury family, God. I want Maddi to be able to be with our children at home, and I cannot find any further truth from the silence and non-attendance, which could be interpreted as a sign of apathy or something worse. However, during these last 12 days, I have cooperated with law enforcement, including multiple interviews with the Winona County law enforcement. The statement read that they would not recommend me attending the safety searches or press conferences. I have not done anything regarding Maddi’s disappearance. I want the mother of my children to be safely brought home and found. I want more than just that. Over the course of the last 12 days, my family and I have been subjected to numerous accusations.
According to the records, the station reported that authorities cited the potential for “exposure to criminal activity in the children’s home.” On April 4, the police and child protection workers removed the children from Fravel’s residence, and court documents indicated that Fravel does not possess custodial rights to the two children. Fravel was engaged in a legal battle regarding the child protection case and appeared in Winona County Court to seek custody of the two children he had with Madeline during her absence, as reported by KARE 11.
At the time, his lawyer Zach Bauer informed the station, “I hope that law enforcement is maintaining an unbiased perspective in the inquiry, and Adam has been collaborating with law enforcement and will continue to do so.”
The police said that Mabel Fravel, who was arrested in the case without Minnesota, mentioned that the body was found within the property of the Fravel family, where several minutes had passed.
Bauer could not be immediately contacted for comment regarding the arrest.
KARE 11 states that Kingsbury’s parents will persist in acting as the foster parents for her two children.
What is the response from Kingsbury’s family?
Megan Kingsbury uploaded a video on social networking sites Thursday afternoon confirming that her sibling’s remains had been recognized.
She said, “They publicly confirmed that remains were found to belong to my sister Madeline,” and added that “we still don’t know a lot yet.”
Megan Kingsbury had also previously shared a video on social platforms discussing Fravel’s apprehension.
She said, “The whirlwind is starting over all again.” He is no longer walking around as a free man, and we are glad he is in custody. This is definitely a silver lining.
Megan Kingsbury stated that her family “initially believed that Adam was involved in this.”
“We think that person in custody has the right and we’re confident that he will get the punishment he deserves.”