Madeline Kingsbury, Adam Fravel.Photo:Madeline Kingsbury/ Go fund me, Winona County Detention Center via AP
Madeline Kingsbury/ Go fund me, Winona County Detention Center via AP
The ex-boyfriend ofMadeline Kingsbury, a Minnesota mother of two who was found dead in June, has been indicted on murder charges.
On Monday, the Winona County Attorney’s Office announced that a grand jury returned an indictment for two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder for 29-year-old Adam Fravel, according toCBS News,FOX 9andWinona Daily News. Fravel was initially charged withtwo second-degree murder countson June 9.
Kingsbury, 26, went missing “under suspicious circumstances” in Minnesota on the morning of March 31 after dropping the pair’s two children off at daycare.Kingsbury’s remains were later foundon June 7 in a heavily wooded area off Highway 43 near Mabel, Minn., in Fillmore County. Fravel was arrested that same day “on probable cause” and charged two days later, authorities said.
Acriminal complaintstated that Fravel told police he and Kingsbury were newly separated and in theprocess of moving out of the Winona homethey shared with their 2-year-old and 5-year-old children after seven years of an “on-and-off relationship.”
At the time Kingsbury went missing, Fravel denied any involvement in her disappearance. In a statement toABC News, he said, “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.”
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The complaint also detailed a series of text messages between Kingsbury and Fravel from Sept. 21, 2021, in which Kingsbury spoke of an alleged physical altercation. “You know I am not really OK with or over the fact that you put your hand around my neck and pushed me down in front of the kids earlier," she wrote in a message.
Additionally, the complaint included testimony from a friend of Kingsbury’s who alleged they witnessed Fravel striking Kingsbury in the face while on a video call with her. During another video call, the friend observed bruises on Kingsbury’s face, which they said Kingsbury attempted to hide.
PEOPLE was not immediately able to reach a lawyer for Fravel.
Kingsbury’s father, David Kingsbury, spoke out about Fravel’s indictment in a statement to FOX 9.
“We are grateful beyond measure for the diligence, dedication and efforts of the Winona County Attorney’s Office, law enforcement agencies at every level, other first responders, and the multitude of many ordinary people in the community who’ve volunteered their resources, time and prayers,” he said.
“Our family realizes that this is a long and arduous process,” his statement continued. “The pursuit of justice for Madeline is worth every ounce of strength and effort we can muster. Not just for her alone, but also for every person suffering from domestic violence and abuse. You have not heard the last from her. Her voice will remain LOUD.”
If convicted, Fravel could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
source: people.com
