Adam Fravel was found guilty in the death of Madeline Kingsbury – InForum

MANKATO, Minn. — A jury found Adam Fravel guilty of four counts related to the death of Madeline Kingsbury after deliberating for nearly 10 hours over two days.

He was charged with first-degree murder in the commission of domestic violence, as well as first-degree premeditated murder and two counts of second-degree murder.

A jury of five women and seven men found him guilty of all four murder charges on Thursday morning, November 7.

The trial, which began Oct. 7, lasted 22 days: eight days of jury selection, 12 days of testimony, just over one day of closing arguments and two days of deliberations. The jury began deliberations on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 6, and concluded its deliberations on Thursday.

The jury returned its verdict around 10:40 a.m. Kingsbury’s family and friends, many of whom were dressed in blue.

in honor of Kingsbury

filed in the courtroom. Fravel’s family walked behind them, sitting behind the defendant. The courtroom is seated shoulder to shoulder in the main courtroom, and the annex room is nearly full.

The trial took place in Mankato due to a court order to change venue.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Dec. 17 in Winona County Circuit Court.

The state represented by Philip Prokopovich and Christina Galewski.

called 68 witnesses to testify

. 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 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, while a conviction for second-degree murder carries a possible sentence of 40 years in prison.

During closing arguments Wednesday

the prosecution argued that Fravel was the only person who had the motive, means and opportunity to get into Kingsbury. The defense argued that law enforcement focused on Fravel as a suspect, and Kingsbury’s friends and family retold stories of domestic violence through “revisionist history.”

Fravel, 30, was arrested June 9, 2023, in connection with the death of Kingsbury, the mother of his two children, after her body was found near Mabel following a months-long search. He was originally charged with two counts of second-degree murder. Following his arrest, a grand jury was convened and recommended that Fravel be charged with first-degree murder in the commission of domestic violence, as well as a charge of first-degree premeditated murder.

Jurors asked the court two questions Wednesday night about Fravel’s charges. Under Minnesota law, the definition of second-degree murder includes causing someone’s death “unintentionally.” The jury asked whether Fravel could be convicted if the jury had already found premeditation.

The second question asked was whether Fravel could be found guilty on all four counts. The court advised them to consider each offense “separately and in any order.”

The jury completed deliberations around 9:30 pm on Wednesday and the verdict was returned on Thursday morning.