Jury in Fravel case to announce decision

By Denise Lana,

Adam Fravel of Winona, Minnesota, stood trial in Mankato, Minnesota, for the murder of his ex-partner, 26-year-old Madeline Kingsbury, who went missing March 31, 2023. (Photo by Denise Lana)

UPDATE: Adam Fravel has been found guilty on all four counts. Fravel was charged with both first and second-degree murder as well as first and second-degree murder with a past history of domestic abuse.

Sentencing will be December 17 at the Winona County Courthouse.

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A verdict is has been reached in the case against a Minnesota man charged with murdering the mother of his two children.

Adam Fravel of Winona, Minnesota, stood trial in Mankato, Minnesota, for the murder of his ex-partner, 26-year-old Madeline Kingsbury, who went missing March 31, 2023. Her body was found in a culvert more than two months later. Fravel was charged with both first and second-degree murder as well as first and second-degree murder with a past history of domestic abuse. The couple had two young children together but, at the time of Kingsbury’s disappearance, they were in the process of moving out of the home they shared.

The jury began deliberations around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, asking for a dry erase board several hours later and seeking clarification on Minnesota’s definition of second-degree murder — specifically the statute which described the crime as “causing the death of another with intent to cause that person’s death but without premeditation.” The jury asked whether Fravel could be convicted if the jury already established premeditation and whether the 30-year-old could be convicted of all four charges. .

Presiding Judge Nancy Buytendorp informed them Fravel could be convicted of second-degree murder even with the jury having established premeditation.

Regarding the four charges, Buytendorp instructed the jury to consider at each charge individually, and not allow the ruling on one charge to affect their decision on any other charge.

The jury informed the court shortly after 9 p.m. that they were close to a decision but would need more time — the jury was to be sequestered if no verdict was reached by 9:30 p.m. that day. Buytendorf extended the jury’s time by a half-hour, but the jury deliberations ultimately required more time and the jurors were sequestered. The 12 jurors reconvened today at 8 a.m. and continued deliberations. They announced at 10:40 a.m. a verdict had been reached, which was expected to be announced shortly after 11 a.m. today.

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