The Minnesota man accused of killing his children’s mother after telling her she would ‘end up like Gabby Petito’ now faces a life sentence.
Adam Fravel, 30, was found guilty of the 2023 killing of his ex-girlfriend Madeline Kingsbury, 26.
The mother-of-two went missing from the small town of Winona last year on March 31 after dropping her kids off at daycare. Fravel was immediately suspected in connection to her disappearance.
After an extensive search, Kingsbury’s body was discovered wrapped in a gray sheet sealed with Gorilla tape on the side of a highway on June 7, 2023.
Fravel and Kingsbury had split up but were still living together at the time of her disappearance. He was the last person to see her alive and was arrested on murder charges when her body was found.
Madeline Kingsbury, 26, was murdered by her jealous ex-boyfriend and father of her children last year
Adam Fravel, 30, was found guilty of Kingbury’s death on Thursday and now faces a life sentence
The Winona County jury speculated for about 10 hours before making their final decision in court on Thursday. He was charged with four counts of murder, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported.
‘It’s a pyrrhic victory, Kingsbury’s father David said after the verdict. ‘We’re not going to get Madeline back. Fravel can’t be punished enough.’
Prosecutors said Fravel was jealous because Kingsbury was leaving him for another man.
When she was killed, she was in the process of looking for a new place to live. The murderer was believed to be concerned because he was financially dependent on her.
The late mother’s family and friends testified against Fravel, citing his track record of domestic abuse – including the time he grabbed her neck and said he could make her suffer the same tragic fate of Petito, who was killed by her fiancé Brian Laundrie in 2021.
Fravel’s trial started on October 7 and he maintained his innocence throughout
Soon after Kingsbury went missing Fravel was immediately suspected to have been involved as he was the last to see her alive
In the criminal complaint, Fravel – who has maintained his innocence throughout the trial – also admitted to being ‘infatuated’ with Petito’s case.
Fravel’s attorney Zach Bauer tried to play this threat off as a joke, but the prosecutor said it demonstrated his violent habits.
Kingsbury’s father told the court he encouraged his daughter to report the Petito incident to the police, but she never did. After it happened, Kingsbury and her children stayed with her parents.
The criminal complaint also revealed video evidence of Fravel switching out the license plate on Kingsbury’s van the day she disappeared.
The video reportedly shows the van pulling out of the home and driving away with plates typically attached to a vehicle Fravel drives.
The mother-of-two’s March 2023 disappearance shocked her small Minnesota community
Kingsbury reportedly endured several instances of domestic violence from her ex-boyfriend
The van was next caught driving on Highway 43 in the same area where Kingsbury’s body was found two months later.
Police say there was a 45-minute gap in Fravel’s timeline and that they believe that is the time the ex-boyfriend used to dump the body.
Tears were shed from the loved ones of Fravel and Kingsbury when Winona County District Judge Nancy Buytendorp read the final verdict.
Bauer told The Minnesota Star Tribune, ‘it’s been a disappointing day,’ adding he believes Fravel will appeal the verdict.
Kingbury’s two children, aged two and five, now live with their grandparents.
Fravel will be officially sentenced on December 18.
Kingsbury’s body was found on the side of a highway about two months after she went missing
Fravel’s lawyer requested the trial be held outside of Winona County due to the public’s interest in the case
His trial kicked off on October 7 at the Blue Earth County Justice Center after Bauer argued to have the trial held outside of Winona County due to the public’s interest in the case.
There were more than 150 witnesses involved in the case, including Kingsbury’s family members. They were not allowed in the courtroom until they were called to testify.
To honor Kingsbury, her family started a foundation in her name to continue to sharing her story.