Timeline: Madeline Kingsbury's disappearance and death — and Adam Fravel's conviction
WINONA, Minn. — Adam Fravel, the 30-year-old southern Minnesota man convicted of murdering 26-year-old Madeline Kingsbury last year, is set to be sentenced on Tuesday afternoon in Winona.
Kingsbury disappeared in March 2023 after dropping off the two young children she shared with Fravel at a Winona daycare.
Her remains were found two months later in the town of Mabel, south of Winona near the Iowa border, close to property belonging to Fravel's family. He was arrested soon after and charged with four counts of murder. He was convicted in early November.
Below is a timeline of the major events in the Kingsbury case.
Madeline Kingsbury goes missing: March 31, 2023
On April 1, the Winona Police Department put out a call for the public's help in finding Madeline Kingsbury, a 26-year-old mother who disappeared the day before after dropping her kids off at daycare.
Police call Kingsbury's disappearance "involuntary, suspicious": April 5
At a press conference, Winona Police Chief Tom Williams said Kingsbury's disappearance was "involuntary, suspicious and we are all concerned for her safety."
Megan Kingsbury, Madeline's sister, also called for help in finding her sister.
"The children need their mother, we need our daughter, our sister, our aunt and our best friend back," she said.
1,800 join search for Kingsbury: April 7
A massive crowd turned out for a two-day search for Kingsbury covering a large stretch of southeastern Minnesota, but the search proved unfruitful.
Adam Fravel, father of Kingsbury's children, denies involvement in disappearance: April 12
Nearly two weeks after Kingsbury vanished, Adam Fravel, the father of Kingsbury's two children, puts out a statement through his attorneys denying any involvement in her disppearance.
"During these last 12 days I have cooperated with law enforcement at every turn, including sitting down for multiple interviews with Winona County law enforcement. I did not have anything to do with Maddi's disappearance. I want the mother of my 5-year-old and 2-year-old to be found and brought home safely. I want that more than anything," Fravel's statement read.
Officials ask property owners to aid in search: April 27
Almost a month after Kingsbury's disappearance, Winona city officials ask property owners to report any old wells, homesteads, windmills, windmill bases and sinkholes. The city also asks property owners to mark their properties as searchable so volunteers can easily identify spots to check.
Community holds prayer vigil: May 5
Kingsbury's sorority sisters, family, friends and others packed inside First Congregational Church in Winona, keeping her memory alive, along with the hope someone would find her.
At the vigil, Kingsbury's father spoke publicly about the case for the first time.
"We know that Madeline is around here somewhere," he said. "She just didn't vanish. Someone knows something. Someone saw something. Make this your battle cry. Where's Madeline? Where is she? Make it loud, and don't stop until she's found."
Crews search Mississippi River as water levels recede: May 27
Hoping lower water levels along the Mississippi River may give them new leads, volunteers organized a shoreline search in Winona. The search again turns up nothing.
Judge denies Fravel's petition for custody: June 5
Fravel filed for custody of his two children with Kingsbury, ages 2 and 5. A Winona County judge denied his petition, ordering the children to stay with their maternal grandparents, who had been caring for them since the beginning of April.
Fravel arrested after discovery of human remains: June 7
Fravel was taken into custody and is being held at the Winona County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder. The Winona Police Department said human remains were found earlier in the day "in some brush off Highway 43" near the town of Mabel, which is about an hour south of Winona near the Iowa border. As early as April, investigators had zeroed in on that area.
Officials are working to identify the remains.
Officials confirm human remains are Madeline Kingsbury's: June 8
The Winona Police Department held a press conference Thursday to address the developments in the Kingsbury case.
There, Police Chief Tom Williams confirmed that the human remains found were of Madeline Kingsbury. Williams said the area was previously searched, but the body was not found due to how it was "covered and concealed."
Fravel charged with second-degree murder: June 9
Fravel was charged on Friday with two counts of second-degree murder in Kingsbury's death. The criminal complaint says Kingsbury's body was found wrapped in a bed sheet and closed with black tape.
Fravel found guilty of murder: Nov. 7
A jury found Fravel guilty of murder in the death of Kingsbury.
He was found guilty on all four counts:
- First-degree murder while engaging in domestic abuse and with a past pattern of domestic abuse
- First-degree murder with premeditation
- Second-degree murder without premeditation
- Second-degree murder, unintentional while committing a felony.
Fravel to be sentenced: Dec. 17
Fravel, who faces a possible life sentence, will learn his fate on Dec. 17 at 1:45 p.m. A southern Minnesota judge ruled to allow cameras in the courtroom.
WCCO will live stream Fravel's sentencing on CBS News Minnesota. Coverage will begin at 1:30 p.m., 15 minutes before Fravel's sentencing is scheduled to start.
You can watch the sentencing on CBS News Minnesota, on PlutoTV or via the CBS News app.