In a startling revelation, court documents have disclosed that a concerned individual expressed fears for Madeline Kingsbury’s safety, claiming her ex-boyfriend warned her that she would meet a fate akin to Gabby Petito if she did not comply, CrimeSpace can report.
The disclosure comes after authorities discovered Kingsbury’s body wrapped in a bedsheet along a secluded highway near the Minnesota-Iowa state line. The criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital indicates that a knotted towel was found around her neck.
Adam Fravel, 29, now faces charges of second-degree murder in connection with Kingsbury’s tragic demise. According to the complaint, Fravel exhibited a peculiar fascination with the case of Gabby Petito, whose own disappearance concluded with the discovery of her body in Wyoming. Brian Laundrie, Petito’s fiancé, claimed responsibility for her death in a suicide note and allegedly made the comment linking Kingsbury to Petito’s fate, although he insisted it was a joke.
One exchange from Sept. 21, 2021, contained the following conversation, according to the complaint:
Maddi – “You know I’m not really okay with or over the fact that you put your hand around my neck and pushed me down in front of the kids earlier so don’t.”
Maddi – “Not okay with it all but especially with them there.”
Fravel – “You’ll adjust”
Maddi – “The f*** I will”
Maddi – “You do that again without asking me and you can go somewhere else”
Fravel – “You got it mother”
Maddi – “Don’t patronize me that crossed a line.”
Fravel – “Then mind”
Maddi – “Stop.”
Friends and family members of Kingsbury, however, doubted Fravel’s explanation. They recounted instances of physical abuse, including an alleged incident of strangulation. The complaint further alleges that Kingsbury concealed her bruises with a sweater. One friend recalled being on a video call with Kingsbury in her Winona, Minnesota, home shared with Fravel, during which Fravel entered the room and berated Kingsbury. The friend witnessed Fravel striking Kingsbury in the face before he abruptly left upon realizing he was being observed.
Additionally, a family member informed the police about a previous incident in which Fravel allegedly choked Kingsbury, leaving a visible mark on her neck. Text messages and screenshots exchanged between Kingsbury and Fravel over the course of several years were also recovered as evidence.
Kingsbury and Fravel had a tumultuous relationship spanning approximately seven years, during which they shared a home in Winona and had two children together, aged 2 and 5. Kingsbury worked as a research coordinator at the Mayo Clinic, while Fravel was employed as a software engineer. Their relationship reached a breaking point, coinciding with Fravel’s plans to move out of the house when Kingsbury mysteriously disappeared on March 31.
On that fateful morning, Kingsbury and Fravel dropped off their children at daycare together. Kingsbury sent a lighthearted text to her sister at 8:15 a.m., which turned out to be her last known communication. From March 31 until June 7, law enforcement agencies, alongside dedicated family members, friends, and community volunteers, conducted an extensive search effort. Over 450 tips were received during this time.
Ultimately, on June 7, Kingsbury’s remains were discovered in a rural area near Highway 43, between Choice, Minnesota, and Mabel, Minnesota, where Fravel’s family resided. The complaint notes that the property had been regularly maintained by one or more of Fravel’s relatives. Kingsbury’s body was found wrapped in a gray fitted bedsheet, secured with “Gorilla” tape. Notably, investigators observed similarities between the fitted sheet and other bedding at the Winona residence. Furthermore, the air mattress from the same residence was missing a fitted sheet, and pillows with gray pillowcases were found atop the mattress.
Upon learning of Fravel’s arrest, Kingsbury’s family expressed confidence that “the right person is in custody.” Megan, Kingsbury’s sister, expressed gratitude for the remarkable efforts of law enforcement, first responders, and volunteers in a TikTok video. She remarked that they were relieved Fravel was no longer a free man.
Throughout the 69-day search for Kingsbury, Fravel released only one public statement through his lawyer, asserting that he had no involvement in her disappearance. He lamented the barrage of accusations aimed at him and his family.
Here are resources people can use if they are experiencing domestic violence or know someone who is:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
- Day One Crisis Hotline: 1-866-223-1111
- Violence Free Minnesota: https://www.vfmn.org/get-help
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs Resource Guide: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ojp/help-for-crime-victims/Pages/resource-list-victims.aspx
- Minnesota Attorney General’s Office Domestic Violence Resources: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/Publications/DomesticAbuse.asp
- Minnesota Secretary of State Safety Resources Page: https://www.sos.state.mn.us/safe-at-home/resources-for-safety/minnesota-safety-resources/
