Adam Fravel found guilty in the death of Madeline Kingsbury
Nov. 7—MANKATO, Minn. — A jury has found Adam Fravel guilty on four counts related to the death of Madeline Kingsbury after nearly 10 hours of deliberation over two days.
He was charged with first-degree murder while committing domestic abuse with a past pattern of domestic abuse, first-degree premeditated murder and two counts of second-degree murder.
The jury, made of five women and seven men, found him guilty of all four murder charges on Thursday morning, Nov. 7.
The trial, which began on Oct. 7, lasted 22 days with eight days of jury selection, 12 days of testimony and a little over one day for closing arguments and two days of deliberation. The jury began deliberating on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 6 and finished on Thursday.
The jury reached a verdict around 10:40 a.m. Kingsbury's family and friends, many wearing blue clothing to honor Kingsbury , filed into the courtroom. Fravel's family filed in behind, sitting behind the defendant. Seating was shoulder-to-shoulder in the main courtroom with the overflow room nearly full.
The trial was held in Mankato due to a change of venue decision from the court.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Dec. 17 in Winona County District Court.
The state, represented by Phillip Prokopowicz and Christina Galewski, called 68 witnesses to the stand . The state's case included testimony from law enforcement officers, Kingsbury's family and friends over 11 days.
The defense, represented by Zachary Bauer and Grace Dokken, called up five witnesses, including two law enforcement officers, Fravel's brother and neighbors.
The presumptive sentence for a defendant convicted of first-degree murder is life with second-degree murder convictions leading to a possible 40-year sentence.
During closing arguments on Wednesday , the prosecution argued that Fravel was the only person with the motive, means and opportunity to Kingsbury. The defense argued that law enforcement zeroed in on Fravel as a suspect and Kingsbury's friends and family retold stories of domestic abuse through "revisionist history."
Fravel, 30, was arrested on June 9, 2023, in connection to the death of Kingsbury, the mother of his two children, after her body was found near Mabel following months of searching. He was initially charged with two counts of second-degree murder. Following his arrest, a grand jury was convened and recommended a first-degree murder charge while committing domestic abuse with a past pattern of domestic abuse and a premeditated first-degree murder charge against Fravel.
Wednesday evening, the jurors asked the court two questions regarding Fravel's charges. According to Minnesota statutes, the definition for second-degree murder with intent includes causing someone's death "without premeditation." The jury asked whether Fravel could be convicted if the jury already established premeditation.
The second question asked was whether Fravel could be convicted of all four charges. The court told them to consider each offense "separately and in any order."
The jury concluded deliberations around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday and the verdict was returned on Thursday morning.
