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The family of missing Minnesota mother Madeline Kingsbury say they believe “the right person has been taken into custody” after police confirmed the arrest of the father and former partner of the 26-year-old who mysteriously disappeared in March Fox News Digital found out.
“The family believes the right person is in custody and hopes we will find Madeline,” Rebecca Jacobson, Kingsbury’s aunt, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Winona police said the arrest of Kingsbury’s former partner and the father of her two children, Adam Fravel, came after human remains were found in Mable, Minnesota, on Wednesday, June 7.
“We have been informed that Adam is in custody,” Kingsbury’s father said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Adam Fravel (Winona County Detention Center)
Madeline Kingsbury, 26, a Minnesota mom, was last seen around 8 a.m. on March 31, dropping off her kids at day care. (Winona, Minnesota, Police Department)
Fravel, 29, was listed on the Winona County Sheriff’s Office prison lists page Wednesday, saying he is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder.
The department said in a Facebook post that a body was found in a thicket along Highway 43 and located using information generated during the investigation.
MADELINE KINGSBURY: LAW DOCUMENTS, MINNESOTA POLICE FIGHT DECISIONS OF FATHER OF MISSING WOMAN CHILDREN AGAINST
“As a result, law enforcement personnel have arrested Adam Fravel on probable grounds related to her disappearance.” Winona police wrote in a Facebook post.
Law enforcement agencies are working to positively identify the remains, police said.
Adam Fravel, the father of the children of missing Minnesota woman Madeline Kingsbury, said he was innocent in a statement 12 days after her “suspicious” and “involuntary” disappearance. (Adam Fravel/Facebook)
Winona police chief Tom Williams previously said Kingsbury’s disappearance was considered “involuntary” and “suspicious”, saying police were “concerned for her safety”.
FATHER OF A WOMAN’S MISSING CHILDREN IN MINNESOTA BREAK THE SILENCE 12 DAYS AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED
Fravel was the last person to see her alive on March 31. He previously claimed innocence and said he had “nothing to do with Maddi’s disappearance”.
“Over the course of the past 12 days, my family and I have been subject to a myriad of allegations related to the disappearance of my children’s mother,” Fravel said in an April statement. “I had nothing to do with Maddi’s disappearance.”
Adam Fravel, the father of the children of missing Minnesota woman Madeline Kingsbury, said he was innocent in a statement 12 days after her “suspicious” and “involuntary” disappearance. (Adam Fravel/Facebook)
Following Kingsbury’s disappearance, Fravel has been fighting in court for custody of his two children, a 5-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy.
Court documents previously obtained by Fox News Digital show that Fravel is not cooperating with child protective services as he tries to regain custody of them.
MADELINE KINGSBURY: LAW DOCUMENTS, MINNESOTA POLICE FIGHT DECISIONS OF FATHER OF MISSING WOMAN CHILDREN AGAINST
“At one point (Fravel) took the youngest child into the residence and locked the door, despite being told the children were in the care of Winona County,” alleges a petition filed April 4 by Winona County Health and Human Services.
“While (Fravel) was home with the youngest child, a social worker could hear (Fravel) yelling expletives.”
Madeline Kingsbury’s family wore custom sweatshirts during their search with her description and contact information for tips (Megan Kingsbury)
In the April 4 meeting, Fravel was reportedly “uncooperative” and would not allow social workers access to the children, according to the petition.
That was the day Fravel reportedly had a tense, volatile run-in with social workers and police trying to get custody of the children, ages two and five, because he has no liberty rights, the court said.
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During Kingsbury’s disappearance, her family gathered community members to continue the search for the missing mother.
Following Fravel’s arrest, Kingsbury’s family said they were “distraught” by news of the arrest and that “it all arrives at once”.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a writer on Fox News Digital’s breaking news team. You can reach her on Twitter at @s_rumpfwhiteten.
