Trial for Man Charged in Madeline Kingsbury’s Murder Moved of Winona County

Winona, MN (KROC-AM News)- The trial for the man accused of killing Madeline Kingsbury will not occur in Winona County. 

Read More: Judge Considers Change of Venue Request in Maddy Kingsbury Case

30-year-old Adam Fravel, who is facing first and second-degree murder charges connected to the death of the 27-year-old Kingsbury, requested the venue change earlier this year. 

A grand jury indicted the Winona man with two counts of first-degree murder last October. He was charged with two counts of second-degree murder last June. 

The Winona County Attorney’s Office filed the charges against Fravel days after the discovery of Kingsbury's body in some brush in the vicinity of a gravel road just north of Mabel, near the home of Fravel's parents. 

Judge Grants Motion to Move Madeline Kingsbury Murder Trial Out of Winona County

On Wednesday a Winona County Judge granted the defense’s motion for a change of venue. 

Get our free mobile app

Fravel’s attorney argued that media coverage and social media posts surrounding the case would make it difficult for Fravel to receive a fair trial. 

Also included in the order are results collected by a professional telephone survey that polled 100 Winona County residents and found a majority of respondents had accessed a news story about the case and had formed the opinion that Fravel was responsible for Kingsbury’s death. 

The order also cites the hundreds of volunteers who took part in searches for Kingsbury when she disappeared in March of 2023. A new venue to host the murder trial has not yet been determined. 

The defense also filed a motions to suppress statements Fravel made to law enforcement prior to his arrest and to dismiss the first-degree murder indictment. Those motions were denied.

Madeline Kingsbury was last seen alive on the morning of March 31 in the company of Fravel as they dropped the children off at daycare. The mother of two was supposed to report for work in Rochester at the Mayo Clinic but never showed up.

Fravel told investigators that the couple had returned to their home in Winona and that he left later that morning to take care of some errands and that Maddi was gone when he returned that afternoon.

The criminal complaint says Fravel told investigators his relationship with Kingsbury was coming to an and and that they were preparing to move out of the residence in Winona. 

He also indicated that Maddi told him that she had started seeing someone else about two weeks before her disappearance, and that she was looking for an apartment for herself and her children.

More Minnesota News:

• Rochester Burglary Suspects Caught by Owner, Found With Weapons 
• Police: Teen Brandished BB Gun During Rochester Traffic Dispute 
• Rochester School Board Gets First Look at Transgender Student Policy