Adam Fravel’s trial was dismissed after 10 days of testimony

Olivia Straight, Publish a newsletter

On Thursday, October 31, after almost two weeks of testimony from state witnesses, the prosecution in the court of Adam Fravel ended.

Fravel is it Winona’s husband is accused of murdering Madeleine Kingsbury, the mother of his two children. He is on trial for first-degree murder in the commission of domestic violence with a prior pattern of domestic violence, first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of second-degree murder.

Throughout the state’s case, 68 witnesses, including law enforcement, Kingsbury’s family and her friends, took the stand. The defense will present its arguments on Friday, with closing arguments scheduled for Monday, November 4.

Thursday morning, Winona Police Department Sgt. Adam Brommerich, the lead investigator in Kingsbury’s disappearance, was called as the final witness.

Philip Prokopovich, a special prosecutor with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension handling the case, first questioned Brommerich about the pillowcases and sheets seized in the case.

Kingsbury went missing on March 31, 2023. Kingsbury’s body was found by an investigator along a remote road off Minnesota Highway 43 in Mabel around 1:30 p.m. on June 7, 2023. Her body was wrapped in gray sheets similar to those found in their home. Brommerich testified that he collected the gray pillowcases from Kingsbury and Fravel’s residence in Winona.

Prokopovich showed two photos of care labels found on the gray sheets, which attorney Zachary Bauer objected to. The photo on the left shows the care label from the sheets on which Kingsbury’s body was found, and the photo on the right shows the care label on the pillow case from their residence.

The care label on the sheets, although faded, matched the care label on the pillow case.

Prokopovich began entering dozens of surveillance photos and maps as Brommerich confirmed the location. On March 31, 2023, Kingsbury’s van, driven by Fravel, was caught on surveillance video driving into the town of Choice, Minnesota.

The 20-minute video, compiled by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, combined a timeline of surveillance footage showing the van, text messages and phone activity on Fravel’s and Kingsbury’s phones. Winona County Circuit Judge Nancy Buitendorp reminded jurors that computer-generated video cannot be taken as facts. Brommerich said the BCA created the video to “highlight key facts” for March 31, 2023.

“We were looking for the video along the route that Adam Fravel provided,” Brommerich stated.

Here is an overview of the schedule presented in court:

The video began at 8:01 a.m. on March 31, 2023, when Fravel and Kingsbury were driving together to drop off their children at daycare on S. Street. Four minutes later, surveillance cameras from the kindergarten showed Fravel wearing a white jacket, black pants and white shoes. Kingsbury entered kindergarten shortly after wearing a white and brown checkered jacket. in Prokopovich’s opening words, he said it was the last known shot of Kingsbury.

At 8:10 a.m., Fravel and Kingsbury arrived at their residence on Carey Drive. Three minutes later, the activity tracker on Madeline Kingsbury’s phone stopped and wouldn’t start again, the video said.

At 8:14 a.m., Apple Cash was transferred from Kingsbury’s phone to Fravel’s account. Two minutes later, her phone was locked and remained locked until April 1, 2023, when the battery died.

At 8:35 a.m., the van was parked in front of a Kerry Drive residence, according to surveillance footage from a storage facility across the street with a camera pointed at the residence. At 9:44 a person in a white coat was squatting in front of a van in the driveway. A few minutes later, the subject was seen walking toward the back of the van.

At 10 a.m., the van was spotted at a Kwik Trip. Fravel pumped gas into the van and, according to Kwik Trip surveillance footage, the license plates were altered. The number plates on the van belonged to another vehicle registered to Fravel.

At 10:29 a.m., Fravel texted Kingsbury. The van then pulled into the driveway of the Kerry Drive residence. Fravel texted Kingsbury again: “Are you just going to stay home?”

Between 11:26 a.m. and noon, the BCA video showed various surveillance footage of Fravel driving the van from Winona south to Rushford, Minnesota.

Brommerich testified that there was no video south of 28901 Highway 43, which was the farthest surveillance footage of Fravel driving the van. There was no video of Fravel between noon and 12:44 p.m.

BCA added the location of the Christmas Barn near Choise, which Fravel told police he returned to. Kingsbury’s body was found near the area.

At 12:44 p.m., Fravel was seen driving north on Highway 43. At 1:15 p.m., the van turned toward a Kerry Drive residence. At 1:28 p.m., the van was spotted parked in the driveway.

At 1:33 p.m., Fravel sent a text message to Kingsbury’s phone. It said, “Ummm, I’m back and my car is still here?” Are you getting a ride or something?” That evening, Fravel sent five more messages to Kingsbury.

At 4:21 p.m., Fravel picked up their children from daycare, wearing a white jacket and brown shoes.

The defense began cross-examining Brommerich, questioning the timing of the surveillance footage.

“Law enforcement is taught that when they see evidence, they gather evidence, right?” Bauer asked Brommerich.

Bauer continued to ask about how law enforcement was gathering evidence and whether Brommerich had checked to see if the surveillance was further south. Brommerich replied that he had not personally traveled that far south.

Bauer continued to question Brommerich about the surveillance footage and showed photos of survey maps of Choice and Mabel, Minnesota. He then questioned Kingsbury’s search team and the role of Preble’s town hall. Brommerich said City Hall has been a hub for search teams in the case.

Bauer then showed photos of texts between Fravel and Kingsbury in February and early March 2023.

“I’m pretty sure I want to finish, but we can talk about it and decide on permanent or temporary forms of birth control,” Kingsbury wrote to Fravel on February 9, 2023. Other texts revealed that Fravel and Kingsbury planned to look for new places to live in March 2023.

The state questioned Brommerich again, and Prokopovich asked about Preble’s mayor’s office.

The court was adjourned until 3:00 p.m. Bauer said the defense plans to call five witnesses Friday morning. He did not say whether Fravel plans to appear in court.