Madeline Kingsbury case: What to know about the trial of Adam Fravel

BLUE EARTH COUNTY, Minn. (FOX 9) - The trial of Adam Fravel, who is accused of murdering Madeline Kingsbury in June 2023, is set to begin with jury selection in Blue Earth County Monday. 

Here’s everything you need to know as the trial gets underway.

Background

Fravel is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kingsbury, whose body was found in June 2023 in Fillmore County after a months-long search in southern Minnesota. He was arrested hours after the discovery and charged two days later, on June 9, 2023.
 

Kingsbury had been missing since March 31, 2024, when police said Fravel was the last person to see her alive.

On the day she went missing, Kingsbury and Fravel dropped her children off at daycare and returned home. Fravel says he left the home around 10 a.m. in a dark van, and when he came back Kingsbury was gone.

A van similar to Kingsbury's had been driven on County Road 12 and Highway 43 in Winona County and southbound on Highway 43 into Fillmore County, according to police.

In the following weeks, volunteers and law enforcement agencies conducted widespread searches along the route.

At the time, Fravel was the ex-partner of Kingsbury. He is also the father of her children.

READ MORE: Madeline Kingsbury: Timeline of her disappearance and death investigation

How long will the trial be? 

The trial will take place at the Blue Earth County Justice Center, and is expected to last at least three weeks. 

Venue change

In August, Fravel’s defense team successfully petitioned Winona County Judge Nancy Buytendorp to move his murder trial out of Winona County – a move said to further ensure an unbiased jury.

A court filing by Judge Buytendorp says that, "after careful consideration, the court finds that Blue Earth County is best positioned to ensure the impartiality required for a fair trial and is well-suited to accommodate this Winona County case."

Judge Buytendorp previously granted Fravel's motion to change his trial's venue, citing pre-trial publicity and community involvement in the case as reasons to move it out of Winona County, according to court documents.

In briefings filed in May, Fravel's legal team said it commissioned a survey that showed the vast majority of Winona County residents (89%) were aware of the case and, of that group, 74% had "formed an opinion that [Fravel] caused the death of Madeline Kingsbury."

"Considering the extensive pretrial publicity and the substantial involvement of the Winona community in this case, a change of venue is warranted. The Defendant's motion for such a change is hearby granted," Buytendrop wrote in her motion. "It is evident to this court that a fair trial cannot be ensured within this county."

In response, the prosecution has pointed to the decision in the Derek Chauvin trial for the murder of George Floyd – which was not moved out of Hennepin County.

Order on courtroom decorum 

Fravel's defense team filed a motion seeking an order to prohibit courtroom spectators and witnesses from wearing certain displays during the trial. 

Last week, Judge Buytendorp granted the motion, stating that courtroom spectators and witnesses are "prohibited from wearing displays such as clothing, ribbons, bracelets, and/or buttons which reference the alleged victim, violence against women, ‘Justice for Maddi’, or which might otherwise elicit an emotive response from jurors." 

In court filings, Judge Buytendorp cites the court's duty to protect Fravel's right to a fair trial, and ensure that spectator conduct doesn't impair that right, as one of the reasons for the decision. 

Another reason that is mentioned in the court document is the "significant" public interest in the case through "volunteer searches, numerous media and public coverage, and the creation of social media groups and forums discussing the case." 

The court filing goes on to say the involvement of the community has resulted in "blue items" being displayed at homes and businesses around town and the creation of various items that state "Justice for Maddi" and that campaign against gender-based violence. 

Judge Buytendorp says these items in the courtroom could be "highly prejudicial" to Fravel during trial, and could "compromise the jury's impartiality" and "threaten" Fravel's right to a fair trial. 

Witnesses sequestered

Another motion was also filed last week by Fravel's defense team, this time arguing to sequester the witnesses. Judge Buytendorp granted the motion, meaning that witnesses will be sequestered from the courtroom during the entirety of the trial until they testify. 

According to the court filing, witnesses will also be sequestered from accessing any audio, visual or print coverage for the entirety of the trial. 

The reasoning behind the sequestration is to remove "any possibility that a witness waiting to testify may be influenced consciously or subconsciously by the testimony of other witnesses," court documents read. 

Courtroom camera request denied

FOX 9's request to be able to have a camera in the courtroom during Fravel's trial was denied in September by Judge Buytendorp. 

According to court documents, the request was denied due to Kingsbury's family wanting privacy during the trial. 

Judge Buytendorp did acknowledge that cameras in the court adds transparency to the judicial process. The order also stated that the court would facilitate media access by allowing the media in the courtroom and/or setting up a media room at the courthouse with ITV for viewing the trial. 

The order continues to say if the family changes their position and ultimately does ask for camera coverage of the trial, the court will evaluate the camera requests and make a decision.