MANKATO, Minn. — Opening statements commenced on Thursday in the high-profile murder trial involving Adam Fravel, the former partner of Madeline Kingsbury, a Minnesota woman whose body was discovered in a secluded area of the state earlier this year.
Fravel, 30, faces charges of first-degree murder and was apprehended in June 2023, just days following the grim discovery of Kingsbury’s remains. According to authorities, her body was found wrapped in a gray fitted bed sheet secured with black Gorilla tape in a wooded vicinity close to Fravel’s parents’ property. A medical examination revealed that asphyxiation was likely the cause of Kingsbury’s death. The 26-year-old mother went missing in March 2023 after she had left her two young children at daycare in Winona, a town in southeastern Minnesota with a population of around 26,000.
The case captured national attention as thousands participated in the search for Kingsbury. Due to the involvement of many community members in the search efforts, a judge approved a request from the defense team to relocate the trial from Winona to Mankato, which is approximately 136 miles away.
In the Blue Earth County District Court, the prosecution and defense presented contrasting accounts of the couple’s relationship and the investigation that led to Fravel’s arrest. Special prosecutor Phil Prokopowicz, representing the Winona County Attorney’s Office, alleged that Fravel killed Kingsbury when she attempted to leave him. He painted Kingsbury as a successful working mother who had grown disillusioned with Fravel’s purported abusive behavior and lack of support for their family. Prokopowicz indicated that witnesses would testify to having seen Fravel physically assault Kingsbury and shout at her.
During his statement, Prokopowicz mentioned that Kingsbury had recently met another man through a dating app, which motivated her to end her relationship with Fravel. He further stated that she was in the process of terminating her lease and had found a new townhouse for her and their children to move into.
On the other hand, Zach Bauer, Fravel’s legal counsel, argued that investigators overlooked evidence that might demonstrate his client’s innocence. Bauer intends to challenge the prosecution’s narrative regarding the details of how and where Kingsbury’s remains were discovered, as well as who could have accessed the secluded area near Fravel’s parents’ property.
Police reported that they followed up on hundreds of tips and utilized digital evidence, including phone and computer records, which were crucial in the investigation leading to the discovery of Kingsbury’s body.
In response to claims of domestic abuse, Bauer asserted that the couple experienced typical disagreements. He plans to present jurors with text messages from Kingsbury to her sister, expressing her intent to marry Fravel. Although they had reached an agreement to separate, they were doing so amicably, he claimed.
The courtroom on Thursday was filled with spectators, including Kingsbury’s family, community supporters, and journalists. Fravel appeared before the court dressed in a gray suit and wearing glasses, as the proceedings unfolded.