Adam Fravel, father of Madeline Kingsbury's children, arrested after human remains discovered
WINONA, Minn. – More than two months after 27-year-old Madeline Kingsbury went missing in southern Minnesota, the father of her two children has been taken into custody following the discovery of human remains.
HOW TO WATCH: Authorities expected to provide new details on Madeline Kingsbury case Thursday
Adam Fravel, 29, was listed on the jail roster page of the Winona County Sheriff's Office Wednesday evening, which notes he is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder.
The Winona Police Department announced Wednesday evening that 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.
The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office is now working to identify the remains.
TIMELINE: Major developments in the case of missing Winona woman Madeline Kingsbury
Kingsbury went missing on March 31 after dropping off her children, ages 2 and 5, at their daycare. All of her belongings, including her phone and wallet, were found in her Winona home, and the van she drove was parked in the driveway.
Early on in the investigation, authorities called her disappearance "suspicious" and "involuntary."
On April 12, about two weeks after Kingsbury went missing, Fravel publicly denied any involvement. He said after the kids were dropped off, he left her home in a blue minivan, and she was gone when he returned.
"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 said in the statement.
MORE: Children of Madeline Kingsbury, missing Winona woman, to remain with maternal grandparents
On Monday, Fravel filed for custody of their children, who were first placed in the county's care until a court moved to have them placed in "relative foster care" with their grandparents. Fravel's request was denied.
Kingsbury's sister, Megan Kingsbury, released a video statement late Wednesday evening on social media, where she said in part: "The whirlwind is just starting all over again. This is definitely a silver lining. We're glad that [Fravel] is in custody and he's not walking around a free man anymore."
WCCO News legal analyst Joe Tamburino says real answers in this case may not come for some time.
"The complaint may give us a window into what the evidence might show. The complaint might list a DNA sample. It might list some statements. But basically, the bulk of the evidence really will remain unknown to the public until the case is well into trial," Tamburino said.
Kingsbury's 27th birthday was June 1. Her family asked people across Winona, and across the country, to put out blue lights to help "light her way home."
