Crime, Law and Justice

Adam Fravel found guilty on all charges in Kingsbury murder

People hold a banner
On Thursday after a three-week trial at the Blue Earth County Justice Center in Mankato the jury found Adam Fravel guilty on all counts for the murder of Madeline Kingsbury. Friends of Kingsbury displayed banners and chanted her name outside the courthouse.
Hannah Yang | MPR News
A mug shot of a man.
Adam Fravel
Courtesy of Winona County Sheriff's Office

After a three-week trial, the jury in the trial of Adam Fravel found him guilty of four charges for the murder of Madeline Kingsbury.

Kingsbury was the mother of Fravel’s children. The case attracted national attention and was moved from Winona to Mankato as a result.

Before a packed court room, the jury foreperson announced guilty verdicts on charges of: premeditated first-degree murder; first-degree murder with a past pattern of domestic abuse; second-degree murder with intent; and second-degree murder while committing a felony.

A profile image of a woman.
Madeline Jane Kingsbury
Courtesy of Minnesota BCA

Kingsbury disappeared at the end of March 2023 and was the subject of a widespread search. Her body was found four months later in a culvert near Fravel’s parents home in Fillmore County in southeast Minnesota. Law enforcement then arrested Fravel.

Sentencing is set for Dec. 17 in Winona. Fravel faces a possible life sentence.

Members of the Kingsbury and Fravel families were present at the reading of the verdict. Some Fravel family members burst into tears when the guilty verdicts were handed down.

Speaking later to reporters outside the courthouse David Kingsbury, Madeline’s father, says justice has been served but it won’t bring his daughter back.

A man talks to the press
David Kingsbury, the father of Madeline Kingsbury, addresses the press after the jury found Adam Fravel guilty.
Hannah Yang | MPR News

“Fravel can’t be punished enough,” he said. “We’ve lost a daughter, mother, aunt, sister. Children are scarred ... not just Eliana and Noah, but the children in our extended family wonder why. His life is wasted, ruin and devastation to two families. There’s no joy here, but we’re glad at the result.”

Winona Police Chief Tom Williams, who was involved in the search for Kingsbury, welcomed the verdict.

“To say that this was a huge undertaking would be a great understatement,” he said. “The number of man hours that went into this by law enforcement from many different counties, state agencies and we cannot be forgetful of the number of citizens that also stepped up to the plate to help us with this investigation.”

A police chief speaks into microphones
Winona Police Chief Tom Williams tells media outside the Blue Earth County Justice Center that he's "extremely relieved" that Adam Fravel was found guilty on all counts for the murder of Madeline Kingsbury.
Hannah Yang | MPR News