ADAM FRAVEL MURDER TRIAL: State wraps up witness testimonies

THURSDAY, OCT. 31 UPDATE: The state would wrap up its witness testimonies Thursday, with Sergeant Adam Brommerich with the Winona Police Department returning for further testimony. Brommerich previously testified Monday.

During Brommerich‘s testimony, videos were provided to the jury that showed Madeline Kingsbury’s van driving past several residences and businesses. These videos were taken on Mar. 31 of 2023, the day Kingsbury disappeared.

The videos show the van heading to the daycare where Kingsbury and Adam Fravel dropped off the kids. Another video that followed shows Fravel and Kingsbury walking up to the daycare with the children, as well as the two leaving the daycare after the children were dropped off.

The video after shows the van driving down Kerry Drive, the street Kingsbury and Fravel lived on.

Also, during Brommerich‘s testimony, videos were presented showing Kingsbury‘s phone activity. A few minutes after the children were dropped off at daycare, a text message was sent to Kingsbury‘s sister, Megan. A moment later, evidence shows that Kingsbury sent Fravel a cash transfer of $20. Two minutes later, Kingsbury’s phone locked, remaining that way until the evening of Apr. 1, when the phone died.

Only a few minutes after the phone locked, Megan responded to Madeline’s text message, though Madeline would never reply back.

An hour later, someone can be seen crouching in front of the van at the townhome Kingsbury and Fravel shared. That same person can then be seen walking to behind the van. A few minutes later, the headlights are seen turning on and off. Following that video, the van would begin to make its way to KwikTrip, with some surveillance footage catching the van stopping at the KwikTrip, and someone getting out and paying for gas at a pump.

After the van leaves KwikTrip, Fravel texted Kingsbury, saying that he just loaded the car up with gas. That text never received a response. The van would stop at the townhome one last time, before more surveillance cameras caught the van leaving the townhome and beginning to make its way out of Winona. More cameras at businesses outside of Winona would catch the van making its way towards Rushford. One camera was dashcam footage from inside of a truck, which caught the van driving past, heading in the opposite direction.

At some point around Rushford, the van would begin to be seen on surveillance footage driving northbound, heading towards Winona.

Later that afternoon, surveillance footage from a residence caught the van backed into the townhome driveway. Fravel then sent more texts to Kingsbury, one asking what was for supper, and another stating he might take the children to grandpa‘s after picking them up from daycare.

Later, a video is shown of Fravel arriving at the daycare to pick the children. This was the final video shown to the jury during Brommerich’s testimony.

Brommerich was the 68th and final witness to testify for the state. On Friday, the defense will begin its testimonies.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30 UPDATE: Wednesday would welcome more witnesses to the stand in the Adam Fravel murder trial, with Katie Kolka being the first witness to testify. Kolka was a good friend of Madeline Kingsbury and was the one who made the concerned person call when neither friends nor family had heard from Kingsbury all day on Mar. 31.

Kolka said she knew Fravel back when the two worked in retail together, and that Fravel was very good friends with her husband, Sterling. Kolka said she first met Kingsbury when Kingsbury attended her wedding. She said her and Kingsbury would become very close friends and would talk almost daily.

Kolka said she was familiar with the relationship of Kingsbury and Fravel, and “many times” Kingsbury would voice her frustrations about the relationship to Kolka. Kolka noted the problems Kingsbury was having included being the “sole caretaker” of the children, and Fravel’s overall lack of responsibility around the house.

Kolka described one day, while at Kingsbury’s house, she was poking fun at Kingsbury for wearing a turtleneck and leggings. She added it was too hot outside to be wearing an outfit like that. Eventually, Kingsbury would send the kids upstairs to play, before pulling down the turtleneck, revealing a mark on her neck. Kolka said that Kingsbury told her she was choked by Fravel.

Kolka also saw Kingsbury on Mar. 30, the day before Kingsbury went missing. Sometime that afternoon, Kolka said Kingsbury did not feel comfortable at the townhome and she stayed at Kolka‘s residence for around an hour.

The next day, Kolka went over to Kingsbury‘s house after not hearing from her all day. She noted that Kingsbury’s van was backed in, which was unusual. After several unsuccessful attempts to get Kingsbury to answer the door, including kicking the door, she called the police.

Following Kolka’s testimony, Hailey Scott took the stand. Scott said she met Kingsbury in August 2014 when they were in the same sorority together. Scott said even after she graduated college, she remained in contact with Kingsbury, and the two remained close friends. Scott added she was still good friends with Kingsbury all the way up to the day of her disappearance.

Scott said she was familiar with the relationship between Fravel and Kingsbury, and also heard frustrations from Kingsbury about Fravel’s lack of responsibility around the house. Scott noted this was just after the birth of their first child.

Scott also saw an incident from February 2021 through FaceTime. Scott said it appeared Kingsbury was making dinner in the kitchen of her house when she could hear Fravel yelling in the background about the house being a mess. Scott then said Kingsbury told Fravel if she just had some help, it wouldn’t be such a mess. Scott said Fravel then slapped Kingsbury. Scott responded to seeing this by yelling at Fravel over the FaceTime call, telling him if he put his hands on her again “he would regret it.” Following that, Scott said Fravel then left the room.

The next witness to testify was Lauren Debois. Debois says she attended Winona State from the fall of 2013 to the spring of 2016. Debois said she met Kingsbury in late 2014 to early 2015 and became friends with her through mutual friends. Debois said her and Kingsbury would continue to stay in touch and occasionally see each other, even after Debois left Winona State.

Debois described a FaceTime call she had with Kingsbury, which she believed took place in the fall of 2022. Debois said Kingsbury was cooking dinner, while holding her and Fravel‘s infant son. Debois said in this call, Fravel came in, once again yelling, demanding to know why dinner wasn’t ready and why the house was a mess. Debois said that Kingsbury told Fravel she was working on it, before Fravel shoved her into a fridge. After that, Debois said Kingsbury would hang up the phone, saying she “had to go.”

Later Wednesday afternoon, Holly Stamschror gave her testimony. Stamschror also met Kingsbury while the two were students at Winona State. Stamschror said that Kingsbury was her best friend, and that her and Kingsbury were very close.

During Stamschror‘s testimony, she talked about a time when she saw marks around Kingsbury’s throat and asked her about it. However, Stamschror said that Kingsbury laughed and said it had to do with things getting “out of hand in the bedroom.”

Following Stamschror, Michaela Shaw was called on to give her testimony. Shaw also attended Winona State, where she would meet Kingsbury and became a friend of hers. Shaw learned of Kingsbury and Fravel’s relationship when Shaw was still a student at Winona State, and she said as far as she knew, that relationship continued after she left Winona State.

Shaw recalled a phone conversation she had with Kingsbury in the fall of 2021. Shaw said Kingsbury had an incident with Fravel, where the two were watching a story on TV about Gabby Petito, a woman who was murdered by her fiancé earlier that year. Shaw said during the phone call, Kingsbury told her that Fravel had pushed her down on the couch, with his hands around her neck, and told her that would be her if she wasn’t careful.

Shaw said she also remembered Fravel calling Kingsbury derogatory terms on more than one occasion.

Sterling Kolka would also give his testimony on Wednesday. Kolka said he became good friends with Fravel while the two attended high school together. Kolka noted that there was a time where he had Fravel live at his place for a while, though Kolka said it was not because Fravel and Kingsbury were having issues in their relationship. Kolka said he was under the impression that Fravel and Kingsbury had broken up by that time.

The state expects one more witness to testify Thursday morning. The defense then expects to bring its own witnesses on to testify Friday, leading to closing arguments expected to take place Monday. Following closing arguments, deliberations will be underway.

TUESDAY, OCT. 29 UPDATE: The murder trial of Adam Fravel reached a milestone moment Tuesday when the family of Madeline Kingsbury would begin to testify.

Krista Hultgren, the biological mother of Kingsbury, was the first to take the stand Tuesday. Hultgren says that her and David Kingsbury, Madeline’s father, were married for about 10 years before splitting up. Hultgren described Kingsbury as a child as “adventurous,” and “a bit of a daredevil.” In school, Hultgren says Kingsbury was involved in the school choir, and also participated in musicals. Madeline continued this into her teenage years.

Hultgren also noted Kingsbury‘s relationship with her children, describing it as “loving” and “playful.” During Hultgren’s testimony, an image of Kingsbury would be shown with both the children. Other images of Kingsbury would be shown during Hultgren’s testimony, this time both were of just herself. One appeared to be of her standing by the side of a lake, and the other appeared to be a selfie inside a car.

Hultgren then noted the first time she met Fravel. She said she met him for the first time when Kingsbury came home one day with him, while Kingsbury was in college. Hultgren said she was aware that Kingsbury and Fravel were involved in a relationship at that point and that they both appeared to be happy and enjoyed each other‘s company. However, Hultgren would notice changes in the relationship, which occurred after the birth of the couple’s first child. Hultgren said that Kingsbury was having concerns about how much help she was getting with the care of the baby, and expressed frustrations to Hultgren about it. Hultgren went on to say Kingsbury was having a hard time balancing her work and the management of life at home.

Hultgren also described an incident in September 2021 that Kingsbury told her about, via phone call. Hultgren said Kingsbury told her that Fravel had pushed her down on the couch and told her he could make her disappear “like Gabby Petito.” Hultgren said Kingsbury sounded “frantic” during the phone call. Hultgren said the next thing she did was call Madeline’s father, David, who told her that he knew what was going on and was going to pick her up from the home her and Fravel shared. After a number of days, Hultgren said Kingsbury would eventually return back to the house and continued her relationship with Fravel.

However, Hultgren said that eventually she was aware of Kingsbury ending the relationship with Fravel, and was looking to move out of the townhome, to which Hultgren said she was “supportive” of that decision.

Hultgren added she knew about the relationship with Kingsbury and Spencer Sullivan, who Kingsbury had known from college. Hultgren said Kingsbury was interested in pursuing some kind of relationship with Sullivan, which prompted Hultgren to tell her just to be “cautious,” and advised her to also be sure to “take some time for herself.” Hultgren said Kingsbury was receptive to that response.

In the days leading up to Kingsbury’s disappearance, Hultgren said that Kingsbury said Fravel was “making her uncomfortable” and “following her around the house.” Hultgren added that when Kingsbury would get a phone call, Fravel would ask Kingsbury if it was Sullivan that was calling.

On the day of Kingsbury’s disappearance, Hultgren said she tried to get ahold of Kingsbury about four times via text. She said Kingsbury never responded to those texts, which was “not very common” and that she usually responded, “fairly quickly.”

During cross-examination, Hultgren said that Fravel was still a very good dad to the children and had never witnessed any abuse from Fravel to Kingsbury firsthand.

Following Hultgren‘s testimony, Madeline’s father, David, would give his testimony. David is a licensed attorney and says he has been self-employed for the last 30 years.

David said he first met Fravel at a family gathering, where Madeline brought Fravel with. David said the relationship seemed “pretty neutral,” but said he wished he had more contact with him initially, and that he didn’t know much about him. David would add, though, that Madeline seemed pretty happy.

Like Hultgren, David would notice changes in the relationship, also after the birth of Madeline and Fravel’s first child. David said he interpreted Madeline as doing the “heavy lifting” in the relationship, and that Adam was more of a “burden than a benefit.” David added that he tried to give Madeline some “fatherly advice,” telling her that he felt she “deserved better.” David said he offered to help Madeline with anything she needed and was willing to help her in any way.

David also said Madeline had told him about the incident in September 2021, also saying that Madeline told him Fravel “put his hands around her neck.” David said he couldn’t understand what she was saying at first because of the tone of her voice and how fast she was talking, but once he could understand, he said he was angry about what he was told. David said he told Madeline he was coming to pick her up right away and that she seemed “relieved” he was going to do that. David added he had no contact with Fravel when he arrived to pick up Madeline.

Once Madeline was home, David said he gave her some advice, and told her this couldn‘t go on, and that “this was it.” He said she agreed, but that “as far as he knew,” she still continued the relationship.

In the middle of March 2023, David said Madeline told him the relationship with Fravel was over. He said she was looking at townhomes not far from Winona, but did not tell him where Fravel would be going.

David was also aware of Madeline’s relationship with Sullivan. He said the two developed an “emotional attachment,” and Madeline had “newfound interest” in him. This started about the same time Madeline and Fravel broke it off.

During cross-examination, David added he did not have a good relationship with Fravel. The last time he talked to Fravel was through text while Fravel was staying at his residence with Madeline, calling him a “narcissist” and “arrogant.” He subsequently kicked Fravel out of his house, while Madeline stayed at the residence.

After David Kingsbury’s testimony, his current wife, Catherine, gave her testimony. Catherine said the first time she met Madeline, she was 11 years old. Catherine said, since David worked often, she did a lot of things for Madeline while she grew up, including buying her prom dress and taking her to after-school activities.

Catherine said in the first couple years of Madeline’s relationship with Fravel, the two were in college, so there was only a lot of “fun” involved. Catherine, however, says things began to change between the two when they moved in together, and Madeline was still pregnant with their first child. Like Hultgren, and her father David, Madeline would express her frustrations with Fravel’s lack of responsibility around the house to Catherine as well.

After the September 2021 incident, Catherine said that she could hear Madeline over the phone, sobbing, while talking to her father following the incident. She could not make out anything she was saying, however. Catherine added that Hultgren told her about the same incident that just transpired. After the phone conversation between David and Madeline ended, Catherine went with David to pick Madeline up from the Winona townhome residence. Once Madeline was picked up, Catherine said she noticed a mark around her neck, and it was decided that Madeline would stay with her and David for a while.

Catherine would also say during her testimony that she believed once Madeline left her and David’s residence, she returned back to the Winona townhome.

Catherine also added that she did not like Fravel “from day one.”

The next witness was Megan Hancock, formerly Megan Kingsbury, who was Madeline‘s older sister. While Kingsbury was in school, Hancock said she would often visit Kingsbury at her college apartment, and Kingsbury would come visit her. While Kingsbury was in college, Hancock began to learn of the relationship Kingsbury had with Fravel. She said everything seemed normal in the relationship’s early days, while the couple were still in school.

Hancock would also say that the relationship began to change after the birth of Fravel and Kingsbury’s first child. Kingsbury would “air out frustrations” to Hancock, with Hancock saying Kingsbury felt like she was “doing a lot of things on her own.”

Hancock also spoke about the September 2021 incident, with Kingsbury telling her about it via text. Hancock said Kingsbury texted her saying that their father and Catherine were going to pick her up. Hancock said she told Kingsbury not to return to the Winona residence, but despite that, Hancock said she believed she did go back.

Hancock had also tried to get ahold of Kingsbury on the day she went missing, but she got no response to any of her texts or calls.

During cross-examination, Hancock said she did not witness any abuse from Fravel to Kingsbury firsthand.

Next, Sullivan took the stand to give his testimony. Sullivan says he joined the army in 2009 and was previously deployed to Afghanistan and Kuwait. Once he left the army, he went to Winona State to study computer science. Sullivan said he met Kingsbury while the two were students at Winona State. However, he says him and Kingsbury never hung out alone.

Sullivan said him and Kingsbury met once again through a dating app in December 2021, but she stopped talking to him by the end of the month because she wanted to work on her relationship with Fravel. However, in the summer of 2022, they began talking to each other again through messaging on Instagram.

In the early fall of 2022, Sullivan said he saw Kingsbury in-person once again, but did not talk too much to her initially. Sullivan says that later on, him and Kingsbury would eventually start doing things together like “grabbing a coffee” or “taking a walk around the lake.” Sullivan did say while this was going on, Kingsbury was trying to fix her relationship with Fravel.

However, Sullivan said by the end of 2022, Kingsbury had ended things with Fravel. Sullivan admitted that while he felt bad for her, he still felt excited that him and her could explore a relationship with each other. Sullivan said it would be “safe to say” that he was falling in love with Kingsbury, and that not long after Fravel and Kingsbury ended things, him and Kingsbury became more romantically involved.

Sullivan added that on Mar. 30, 2023, the day before Kingsbury went missing, the two celebrated Sullivan’s birthday together. Sullivan said Kingsbury texted him “good night,” which was the last time he had heard from her.

Sullivan said that on Mar. 31, Kingsbury’s friend, Katie Kolka, texted him to ask if he had heard from Kingsbury at all, to which he said he did not. Once Kingsbury was declared missing, Sullivan said law enforcement asked him for samples, such as a cheek swab, to which Sullivan said he was cooperative. Sullivan also added he helped participate in the searches for Kingsbury while she was missing.

More witnesses will continue to be welcomed in for testimony Wednesday, with Kolka still having yet to testify. Kolka was the one that first made the concerned person call on Mar. 31 and had also been with Kingsbury on the day before her disappearance.

Monday, Oct. 28

MANKATO, Minn. (KTTC) – Monday would see the prosecution present evidence inside the garage of the townhome Adam Fravel and Madeline Kingsbury shared, as well as DNA that was tested that seems to link to Fravel.

Agent Joe Swenson would be the first to testify Monday. Swenson is an agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). He was called in to assist with the case by investigator Andy Mohan and was a part of the crew that helped to recover Kingsbury’s body in June 2023.

Swenson said that Sergeant Dan Dornink was the one who called him on to assist with the finding of Kingsbury‘s remains. Swenson said that he initially could not see the fitted sheet Kingsbury was in, only seeing “significant” fly activity. Swenson would describe moving logs off of the fitted sheet, before beginning to open the sheet, first seeing the back of Kingsbury’s head. Swenson says the crew determined there was a body, and the scene was closed off before the process of removing her body began. Swenson noted how before removing the logs, the logs seemed to be placed in a strategic way, and there was no way they could have gotten that way naturally over time.

Swenson added he transferred bedding that was at Kingsbury‘s friend, Katie Kolka‘s, home. This bedding was used as a comparison to the fitted sheet found around Kingsbury‘s body. Images were also shown during Swenson‘s testimony, these images having been taken during an investigation of the shared townhome between Fravel and Kingsbury. Swenson noted how in one of the pictures, there is duct tape on a shelf in the garage. This was the same kind of tape that was used to help wrap Kingsbury’s body inside the fitted sheet.

Cameras could also be seen in the images. These were the same cameras that had recorded footage from around the townhome and the outside area. The images shown to the jury indicated the cameras had been taken down and left in the garage. Prior testimonies from investigators said that these cameras were in operation until Mar. 29, two days before Kingsbury went missing.

Following Swenson‘s testimony, Sergeant Adam Brommerich with the Winona Police Department would give his testimony. Brommerich received a call on the afternoon of Apr. 1 to help assist with the investigation, following the disappearance of Kingsbury.

During Brommerich’s testimony, images were shown to the jury which show Fravel with faint scratches on his face, arm and chest. Yellow bruises could also be seen. These pictures were taken Apr. 6, almost a week after Kingsbury went missing. Investigators say the images align with signs of struggle.

Danielle Smith, a forensic scientist with the BCA, was the next to testify in the trial. Smith had examined the fitted sheet and the tape that was used to wrap Kingsbury’s body. Smith also examined fingernails that belonged to Kingsbury.

Colette Celichowski, another forensic scientist with the BCA, took the stand after Smith. Celichowski says that she specializes in identifying fingerprints. Once Smith was finished with her examination, Celichowski was in possession of what she described as a piece of cloth with tape attached to it. She took the cloth and tape and examined them for fingerprints.

Celichowski added that multiple hairs were collected from the tape during her examination.

Clair Beyer, also a forensic scientist with the BCA, followed Celichowski in giving her testimony. Beyer says she specializes in handling DNA samples. Beyer said she had tested multiple items, including a towel that brought back DNA likely belonging to both Kingsbury and Fravel. Beyer said that the hairs that were found during Celichowski’s examination were also tested but brought back “insufficient DNA.”

Before testimonies began Monday, Kingsbury’s journal was brought up by the state and defense. The defense felt there was no valuable evidence in the journal that would benefit the course of the trial. In the journal, it is said that Kingsbury talked about her relationship with Fravel and expressed feelings of jealousy of those in loving relationships. The judge ultimately decided the journal will not be presented in court.

On Tuesday, Brommerich is expected to be welcomed back into court to continue his testimony. It is also expected that Kingsbury’s family will begin testimonies sometime this week.

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