Winona community gathers at prayer vigil for missing mother Madeline Kingsbury
WINONA, Minn. -- A Minnesota community came together on Friday evening to pray for a missing mother.
Madeline Kingsbury, 26, disappeared at the end of March after dropping her kids off at daycare. Police say her disappearance is "involuntary" and "suspicious." The father of her children told police she left their house in a blue minivan soon after the dropoff, and when he came back, she was gone.
Winona Police found her phone and wallet, but say there's been no sign of her, despite a massive search and ongoing investigation.
Kingsbury's sorority sisters, family, friends and others packed inside First Congregational Church in Winona, keeping her memory alive, along with the hope someone will find her.
"She was the kindest, most beautiful soul. Even on the brightest days, it still feels dark and gloomy without her here. I wake up from nightmares and quickly realize they're not as terrifying as the nightmare I'm living through," one person at the vigil said.
For the first time, Kingsbury's father spoke publicly about the case.
"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."
Her family says finding her could bring closure.
Police haven't named a suspect, but say they'll continue searching until they bring Kingsbury home.
Police have asked property owners to search wells, homesteads, windmills, and sinkholes as they continue to investigate her disappearance.
RELATED: Father of Madeline Kingsbury's children denies involvement in her disappearance
There is a $50,000 reward for any information that leads to finding Kingsbury.
