Family: ‘Relieved that Madeline has been found’; Father of children in custody

WINONA, Minn. – During a press conference on Thursday, authorities confirm that remains located in some brush off of Highway 43 north of Mabel, Minnesota are those of Madeline Kingsbury. The Kingsbury family had released a statement earlier Thursday, confirming her body has been found.

“We’re relieved that Madeline has been found after months of intensive searching and grateful for the extraordinary efforts by law enforcement, other first responders and volunteers. We’re certain that the correct person has been arrested, will be appropriately charged, and convicted of his crimes. Things are moving in the right direction there and we look forward to getting justice for Madeline. For right now we will mourn as a family and properly and respectfully lay her to rest.”
David Kingsbury, father of Madeline Kingsbury

Adam Taylor Fravel, 29, was taken into custody on Wednesday evening. No formal charges have been filed at this time. Fravel is the ex-boyfriend of Madeline, and the father to her children.

Winona Police Chief Tom Williams said the land where her body was found had been searched before but her body was concealed and wasn’t visible. He added that the land was not owned by Fravel’s family or any relatives, and an autopsy confirmed the body was Kingsbury.

“To say the least, the last 69 days have been frustrating, full of heartache and pain for the family, law enforcement and the community, but during this time, the family never gave up, law enforcement never gave up, the community never gave up,” Williams said.

Madeline Kingsbury, whose 27th birthday was June 1, was last seen on March 31 after dropping off her two young children at daycare in Winona, a southern Minnesota town of about 26,000 residents.

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In April, Fravel released a statement through his attorney proclaiming his innocence.

“I did not have anything to do with Maddi’s disappearance,” 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.”

During the press conference on Thursday, police said a deputy found human remains Wednesday afternoon in brush along a highway near Mabel, about 46 miles (74 kilometers) south of Winona, and the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office identified the remains. A news release from Winona police said the body was discovered “using information generated during the Madeline Kingsbury investigation.”

Later Wednesday, police arrested Adam Fravel, who is the father of Kingsbury’s two children. Jail logs show that he was being held on suspicion of second-degree murder. As of Thursday morning, charges have not been filed.

Kingsbury’s children, ages 2 and 5, have been in the custody of her parents since she went missing.