Defense drops Fravel murder case

Story provided by sister station WDIO, KAAL.

On Friday, November 1, the defense concluded its case in the murder of Adam Fravel. The defense called five witnesses to testify, including two law enforcement officers, Fravel’s brother, a neighbor in the building where Kingsbury and Fravel lived, and a neighbor where Fravel’s parents lived.

Lt. Stephen Garrett testified that he participated in the search for Kingsbury on April 2 and 3, 2023, both on foot and on ATVs. On April 3, 2023, he searched four dead-end roads on an ATV, including the road where Kingsbury’s body was later found. When given a map of the area, he said he did not search everything because he came to a gate that he believed was private property. He testified that he didn’t see anything unusual in the ditches and culverts along the road, adding that overgrowth sometimes made things less noticeable.

Raymond Curtis lived two doors down from Kingsbury and Fravel in Winona and testified for the defense Friday. On March 31, 2023, Curtis was outside his home when he saw a man outside their home walking around a blue van in the driveway. Curtis described the man as “slim” and he had never seen him before.

Curtis could not remember what time of day the event occurred, and the court went into recess so that the defense could remind him of his previous testimony at the grand jury hearing in the Fravel case. When the trial returned, Curtis testified that it was late in the morning when he witnessed the man. He also stated that the man brushed him off. The prosecution asked whether Curtis actually remembered the incidents he testified about, and he responded that he remembered some of the events, but not all.

Fravel’s brother, Ryan Fravel, took the stand Friday and said Kingsbury and Fravel’s relationship had its ups and downs, but he never saw bruises on Kingsbury or heard any screaming between them. He previously told investigators his brother was an “emotional guy” but never saw him get angry.

On Friday, Fravel waived his right to testify in his own defense.

Closing arguments are currently scheduled for Wednesday, November 6th. Closing arguments were originally scheduled for Monday but were pushed back to allow jurors to vote. Jury instructions and deliberations will follow immediately after closing arguments.