Adam Fravel Sentenced for Killing Madeline Kingsbury, Hiding Body
Fravel at sentencing Dec. 17, 2024. via KSTP
Adam Fravel was sentenced Tuesday for murdering the mother of his two children and hiding her body, which sparked a widespread search and nationwide attention last year.
Fravel, 30, was found guilty in May of first-degree murder when a jury determined after two days of deliberations that he killed Madeline Kingsbury in March 2023.
The 26-year-old was last seen dropping her children off at daycare with Fravel in Winona before she disappeared. Her body was discovered about two months later in a rural area of Fillmore County, wrapped in a sheet and bound with duct tape.
Prosecutors argued Fravel acted with intent when he killed Kingsbury and concealed her body to delay the discovery. His defense team had denied he was responsible for her death, but the jury ultimately sided with the prosecution following a trial that lasted more than a week.
On Tuesday, Judge Nancy Buytendorp handed down the sentence in Winona County District Court, which included a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
PREVIOUSLY: Fravel Found Guilty in Death of Madeline Kingsbury
Kingsbury’s family spoke during the sentencing hearing, remembering her as a devoted mother and expressing their profound grief over her death.
“We are not broken. Madeline will forever be remembered and loved,” Kingsbury’s sister Megan said.
“(Fravel) ripped her from her children, her family, and her friends,” Kingsbury’s mother Krista said before urging the judge to impose the maximum sentence.
Fravel, who has remained in custody since his arrest in June 2023, made a brief statement maintaining his innocence. His attorneys indicated they plan to appeal the conviction.
The case drew significant public attention, with hundreds of volunteers assisting in searches for Kingsbury after she was reported missing. The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies including the Winona Police Department, Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
> See more of our latest coverage
