GUILTY MN - Madeline Jane Kingsbury, 26, mother of 2, Winona, 31 Mar 2023 *arrest* #2

[PommyMommy]

Testimony begins in Adam Fravel pre-trial hearings

The judge granted the request by the defense to sequester witnesses and is also considering whether or not to allow video and audio coverage of the trial.

www.kimt.com

Noting:

The judge granted the request by the defense to sequester witnesses and is also considering whether or not to allow video and audio coverage of the trial.

On the stand this morning was Kingsbury's mother, Krista Hultgren. She spoke about a phone conversation between her and Kingsbury from September of 2021. She testified Maddi was hysterical during the phone call. According to Hultgren, Kingsbury said Fravel put his hands around her throat and threatened she would "end up like Gabby Petito." Hultgren said she told Kingsbury to end the relationship, but Kingsbury did not want to.

David Kingsbury, Madeline's father, was the next to take the stand. He told the court the majority of his conversations with Maddi focused on her frustrations with Fravel after their first child was born. He said Maddi wasn't getting the help she needed from Fravel, and he seemed uncaring in the relationship. He described Fravel as aloof and mentioned how during a Thanksgiving gathering he never interacted with the family and stayed in a bedroom.

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 3, 2024

Fravel Pretrial Day 1: Family against cameras in court, witness sequestering order approved

(ABC 6 News) – On the first day of Adam Fravel’s pretrial hearing, Winona County judge Nancy Buytendorp agreed to sequester, or separate witnesses during the 3-to-4-week murder trial, and heard arguments about cameras in the courtroom. RELATED: “If anything happens to me, know Adam did it”; 64...

www.kaaltv.com

According to proceedings, the family of murder victim Madeline Kingsbury opposes having cameras in the Blue Earth County courtroom during the trial, scheduled to begin Oct. 7 and end in late October or early November.

[...]

Shortly before her death, the Kingsburys discussed a “permanent breakup” with Fravel, he added, as Madeline had begun seeing another man.

Fravel’s defense pointed out that Kingsbury had only dated the new individual for a couple of weeks before she went missing March 31.

 

[Knox]

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 3, 2024

Adam Fravel appears in court ahead of murder trial, key witnesses testify

Adam Fravel the man accused of murdering Madeline Kingsbury appeared in court Tuesday morning ahead of his trial.

www.kttc.com

• The murder trial is set to begin October 7 in Mankato.
• The state and defense agreed today that the trial would take a minimum of three weeks, possibly four.
• Both sides have requested five alternate jurors; typically there are three.
• The Kingsbury family has requested cameras not be allowed. Fravel’s defense agreed, stating testimony could be graphic.
• Maddie’s mom testified that the day before she went missing, Maddie told her she felt afraid and uncomfortable with Fravel.
• Maddie's boyfriend Spencer Sullivan also testified today that Maddie briefly mentioned violence by Fravel but didn’t note much else.
• The prosecution still has four to five witnesses to call to stand.

 

[Knox]

SEP 3, 2024

Adam Fravel appears in court ahead of murder trial, key witnesses testify

Adam Fravel the man accused of murdering Madeline Kingsbury appeared in court Tuesday morning ahead of his trial.

www.kttc.com

• The murder trial is set to begin October 7 in Mankato.
• The state and defense agreed today that the trial would take a minimum of three weeks, possibly four.
• Both sides have requested five alternate jurors; typically there are three.
• The Kingsbury family has requested cameras not be allowed. Fravel’s defense agreed, stating testimony could be graphic.
• Maddie’s mom testified that the day before she went missing, Maddie told her she felt afraid and uncomfortable with Fravel.
• Maddie's boyfriend Spencer Sullivan also testified today that Maddie briefly mentioned violence by Fravel but didn’t note much else.
• The prosecution still has four to five witnesses to call to stand.

I’ll be disappointed if cameras aren’t allowed, but am surprised a bit that the Kingsbury family requested this? Are they trying to protect the kids from seeing the trial when they are older?

 

[PommyMommy]

I’ll be disappointed if cameras aren’t allowed, but am surprised a bit that the Kingsbury family requested this? Are they trying to protect the kids from seeing the trial when they are older?

Very possible, I'd say.

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 4, 2024

Second day of pre-trial proceedings for man accused of killing Madeline Kingsbury to be held Wednesday

A Winona County man accused of killing the mother of his children last spring will be in court for the second time Wednesday in just as many days for ongoing pre-trial hearings.

kstp.com

In court on Tuesday, Kingsbury’s family testified in front of Fravel as part of an evidence hearing, where they recalled an incident from Sept. 2021. According to her family, that’s when he put his hands around her neck and threatened her.

Prosecutors also showed screenshots of text messages between Kingsbury and Fravel from that same month during Tuesday’s hearing. She wrote, “I’m not ok with you putting your hands around my neck and pushing me down in front of the kids.”

In his response, the screenshot showed Fravel saying, “you’ll adjust.”

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 4, 2024

Fravel Pretrial Day 2: Kingsbury's friends allege history of abuse in relationship

Katie Kolka and Hailey Scott both testified that Kingsbury confided in them that Fravel had choked her in front of the kids, and they each told her to leave the relationship and seek help.

www.kaaltv.com

[...]

Kolka claimed that in the fall of 2022, she noticed marks around the sides of Kingsbury’s neck under a turtleneck sweater.

“She started crying, said she wasn’t ready to talk about it yet,” Kolka said.

Scott, Kingsbury’s former sorority sister, told the court she saw Fravel slap her friend during a Facetime call–but that Kingsbury “very much downplayed” the issue afterward.

Kingsbury wanted the children to have a father in their lives, Scott said in the hearing, and avoided talking about bruising Scott said she saw during other Facetime calls.

However, in the days before Kingsbury’s 2023 disappearance, Scott told the court things escalated.

“She was afraid to be alone with him,” Scott said.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 4, 2024

Adam Fravel pre-trial day 2: key testimonies in the case

WINONA, Minn. - Adam Fravel, accused of killing Winona mother Madeline Kingsbury, is in court Wednesday for day two of his pre-trial hearing.

www.kimt.com

[...]

Katie Kolka's Account:

... The day before Kingsbury went missing, she had called Kolka, seeking refuge and expressing fear over Fravel’s possessiveness and his questions about a potential relationship with another person, Spencer Sullivan, who testified Tuesday. Kolka also mentioned an incident on March 26, 2023, involving a head injury to one of the Kingsbury and Fravel's children, which Kingsbury was reluctant to discuss.

[...]

Hailey Scott's Testimony:

Hailey Scott, a friend of Kingsbury's, recounted witnessing a threatening FaceTime call while Kingsbury was cooking. During the call, Scott said Fravel used expletives and slapped Kingsbury, causing her to hit the counter. ... 2022, which she dismissed as "just a shadow." On March 30, 2023, Kingsbury confided in Scott about Fravel’s fears regarding her leaving him for someone else and expressed her concerns about being alone with him.

Lauren Dubois's Testimony:

Lauren Dubois, a friend of Kingsbury's, testified about an incident she witnessed over FaceTime where she said Fravel shoved Kingsbury into the refrigerator after asking why the house wasn't *expletive* clean and why dinner wasn't done. A notable moment during her testimony came when she said that Kingsbury told her, "If anything happens to me, Adam [Fravel] did it."

[...]

 

[Mert]

Didn’t this creep/loser not even work?! Yet, has demands about cleaning and cooking. I hope he gets what is coming to him in prison, times 100.

*My opinions.

 

[Knox]

Didn’t this creep/loser not even work?! Yet, has demands about cleaning and cooking. I hope he gets what is coming to him in prison, times 100.

*My opinions.

He had an amazing woman/Mom who was educated and on track for another big career move once she completed her Masters. Maddie was the only bread winner in the family.

He on the other hand had nothing to offer. Didn’t work, she had to put the kids in daycare, even though he was sitting at home on his fat azz. Worthless!!! She was almost free of him, so close.

I’m so thankful Maddies family are raising the kids!

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 5, 2024

Cameras denied to be used in courtroom during Adam Fravel trial

The use of cameras in the courtroom during the trial for Adam Fravel has been denied, according to court documents filed Thursday.

www.kaaltv.com

The use of cameras in the courtroom during the trial for Adam Fravel, the man accused of killing Madeline Kingsbury, has been denied, according to court documents filed Thursday.

“Given the alleged victims’ desire for privacy, the requests for audio and video coverage of the trial are DENIED.”

Judge denies courtroom camera request for Fravel trial

A district judge has denied media’s request for cameras in the courtroom for the upcoming Adam Fravel murder trial.

www.keyc.com

In the order, the judge acknowledged that cameras in the courtroom increases transparency in the judicial process and stated court administration will facilitate media access by allowing media in the courtroom and/or by setting up a media room at the courthouse equipped with ITV for viewing the trial.

In the order, the judge stated if the family of the alleged victim should decide to change their position and request audio and visual coverage of the trial, the court will evaluate the media requests in accordance with the factors outlined in Rule 4.02 and issue an appropriate amended order.

 

[Knox]

SEP 5, 2024

Cameras denied to be used in courtroom during Adam Fravel trial

The use of cameras in the courtroom during the trial for Adam Fravel has been denied, according to court documents filed Thursday.

www.kaaltv.com

The use of cameras in the courtroom during the trial for Adam Fravel, the man accused of killing Madeline Kingsbury, has been denied, according to court documents filed Thursday.

“Given the alleged victims’ desire for privacy, the requests for audio and video coverage of the trial are DENIED.”

Judge denies courtroom camera request for Fravel trial

A district judge has denied media’s request for cameras in the courtroom for the upcoming Adam Fravel murder trial.

www.keyc.com

In the order, the judge acknowledged that cameras in the courtroom increases transparency in the judicial process and stated court administration will facilitate media access by allowing media in the courtroom and/or by setting up a media room at the courthouse equipped with ITV for viewing the trial.

In the order, the judge stated if the family of the alleged victim should decide to change their position and request audio and visual coverage of the trial, the court will evaluate the media requests in accordance with the factors outlined in Rule 4.02 and issue an appropriate amended order.

Thanks Pommy, I guess we’ll have to rely on the media. Hope they cover on X so we get real time coverage.

 

[Joe Friday]

Somewhat disappointing but expected regarding cameras not being allowed in the courtroom. Learn so much by watching the trials from the evidence and testimony presented.

Things you will never learn from a reporter sitting in the court room basically saying who is testifying next each time someone takes the stand and nothing else.

Hopefully a reporter with a little more ambition is assigned to cover this case, compared to some of the other cases I have followed where camera's were not allowed in the courtroom.

JMO

 

[Knox]

Two weeks and a day until the trial begins.
#JusticeforMaddie

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 24, 2024

More than 140 witnesses identified ahead of Adam Fravel’s murder trial, defense files several motions

According to court filings, the defense and prosecution have identified more than 140 potential witnesses.

www.kttc.com

According to court filings, the defense and prosecution have identified more than 140 potential witnesses. The witnesses include members of the Kingsbury family, Fravel family, friends, BCA investigators, and members of the Winona County Sheriff’s Office and Winona Police Department. While extensive, the prosecution says this list of witnesses could be reduced significantly.

The prosecution also has more than 180 exhibits to use during trial. These include interviews conducted by investigators, photo near 198th Street near Choice, photos of text messages, maps, body worn recordings, phone and other electronic data, and surveillance video.

 

[Knox]

Tick-Tock ...
The trial against Fravel is scheduled to start on Oct. 7 in Blue Earth County and go on for several weeks.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Judge issues several rulings ahead of Adam Fravel trial

Court documents filed Wednesday lay out the testimony that will be allowed in the trial.

www.kimt.com

The judge presiding over the Adam Fravel murder trial has made several rulings before the trial begins on Monday.

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 2, 2024

Judge rules on testimony regarding domestic violence, injuries, Gabby Petito and 'Adam did it' statements

Buytendorp concluded that while the evidence of alleged domestic violence is generally admissible in court, there are some exceptions in Fravel's case.

www.kaaltv.com

Inadmissible testimony

• Comments made by Spencer Sullivan were disallowed in part because of the time lapse between the incident and comments Sullivan said Maddie made much later.
• Generic statements that Fravel pushed, choked, mentally abused, and otherwise acted violent and controlling toward Kingsbury.
• Comments Kingsbury allegedly made about mental distress shortly before her disappearance.
• Attestations that shortly before Kingsbury died, she told an associate that if something happened to her, ‘Adam did it’ are also unfairly prejudicial.
• Vague statements that suggest, but do not confirm Fravel may have been abusive toward Kingsbury around their children, or that he may have gained access to her phone.

Admissible testimony

• Maddie's friends and family will be allowed to describe specific injuries they saw on her in the years before, the time they noted them, and the explanations she allegedly gave.
• The testimony that Fravel referenced Gabby Petito.
• Testimony about Fravel’s failure to help around the house, as well as testimony that Kingsbury planned to break up with Fravel permanently and worried about his reaction.
• Statements about Fravel’s actions and text messages to Kingsbury shortly before her disappearance.
• A friend of Maddie's who heard Fravel make demeaning comments to Kingsbury.

Other courtroom procedure

• Witnesses and spectators may not wear clothing, jewelry, or other “displays” like buttons or ribbons referencing Madeline Kingsbury, “Justice for Maddi,” or violence against women.
• Witnesses will be sequestered, or separated from one another, during proceedings.

 

[Megnut]

I understand why (no, I don't) but it always saddens me when a victim's own words are silenced at trial.

When IMO they should be loudest.

WE hear you, Maddi.

JMO