Global Courant 2023-05-20 21:36:08
A special prosecutor, who is “arguably one of the best in the business,” a law enforcement source told Madeline Kingsbury’s family, is now part of Kingsbury’s “suspicious” disappearance, Fox News Digital has learned.
The 26-year-old mother has not been seen or heard from since she dropped her children off at the children’s father’s daycare around 8:00 a.m. on March 31, and she sent her sister a “crazy” text message around 8:15 a.m. the same day.
Phil Prokopowicz, who served as chief attorney in Dakota County, Minnesota, before his retirement in 2019, is consulting the Winona County Attorney’s office, said Bonne Bowman, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
“The Winona County Attorney’s Office has brought on Mr. Prokopowicz as a consultant, as they often do on potentially complex cases,” Bowman told Fox News Digital in an email.
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Madeline Kingsbury, 26, a Minnesota mom, was last seen around 8 a.m. on March 31, dropping off her kids at day care. (madeline kingsbury/Facebook)
To date, dozens of targeted law enforcement and volunteer-led searches in and around Kingsbury’s home in Winona County have turned up nothing, but her family continues to keep hope alive.
Her brother, Stephen, who has been in military service for 14 years, returned from surveillance to help search, and her sister, Megan, shares daily check-ins and updates on her TikTok.
MADELINE KINGSBURY: LAW DOCUMENTS, MINNESOTA POLICE FIGHT DECISIONS OF FATHER OF MISSING WOMAN CHILDREN AGAINST
This week, the Kingsbury’s family shared a 2022 video with Fox News Digital of the beloved mom laughing and playing with her kids.
They continue to keep hope alive, but the situation is getting hazier as the days go by.
WATCH VIDEO SHARED WITH FOX NEWS DIGITAL:
Bowman reiterated that there is still no suspect in this case, although foul play is suspected, and there is speculation about the last person to see her alive: Adam Fravel, the father of Kingsbury’s two young children.
He currently has no custody of the children and is fighting Kingsbury’s family for parental rights in court.
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Twelve days after Kingsbury’s disappearance, Fravel said in a prepared statement through his attorney, Zach Bauer, that 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.
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)
At a custody hearing earlier this week, lawyers “addressed the elephant in the room” – that Fravel, according to police, was the last person to see Kingsbury’s before she “involuntarily” disappeared.
The judge ruled that the children will remain with Madeline’s father and stepmother. Kingsbury’s sister, Megan, said: “That’s the result we wanted, so we’re happy with that.”
MADELINE KINGSBURY: LAW DOCUMENTS, MINNESOTA POLICE FIGHT DECISIONS OF FATHER OF MISSING WOMAN CHILDREN AGAINST
Technically, the children are in the care of Winona County and no parental rights trial has been scheduled as of late Thursday.
Fox News Digital obtained a wealth of court documents as part of the freedom struggle, including a May 5 letter from the Kingsbury family’s attorney claiming Fravel “withheld the children of Ms. Kingsbury’s family at this very emotional time.”
MEGAN KINGSBURY, MADELINE’S SISTER, RESPONDS TO AN HEARING FOR MADELINE’S CHILDREN:
Megan Kingsbury and her brother after learning about Madeline’s “suspicious disappearance” (Megan Kingsbury)
“While law enforcement officials have stated they have no suspects at this time, we know that Mr. Fravel was the last person to see Ms. Kingsbury,” the lawyers argued.
“Mrs Kingsbury’s family are deeply concerned, based on their knowledge of Ms Kingsbury and Mr Fravel’s relationship, that Mr Fravel knows more about Ms Kingsbury’s disappearance than he lets on.”
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Four days before the letter was filed, on May 1, the Minnesota Department of Human Services Out of Home Placement Plan said the investigation into Madeline’s disappearance, coupled with Fravel’s lack of custodial rights, does not create a safe home for the children with Fravel.
Winona County will meet with Fravel and his attorneys to “establish necessary/appropriate services to assess his ability to provide day-to-day care for the children and ensure safety and well-being,” according to the May 1 filing .
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)
Madeline Kingsbury’s family wore custom sweatshirts during their search with her description and contact information for tips (Megan Kingsbury)
Megan told Fox News Digital in a previous interview that there is radio silence from Fravel and his family, despite several attempts by Megan and her family to talk to them.
On April 4, there was reportedly a tense, volatile standoff between Fravel and social workers and police, who were trying to gain custody of the children.
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“At one point (Fravel) took the youngest child to the residence and locked the door, despite being told the children were in the care and custody of Winona County,” claims a petition from Winona County Health and Human Services.
Law enforcement officials have remained silent on the matter, saying providing details would “compromise our ability” to locate Kingsbury and, if warranted, hold the person or persons responsible accountable.
Madeline Kingsbury, 26, a Minnesota mom, was last seen around 8 a.m. on March 31, dropping off her kids at day care. (madeline kingsbury/ffacebook)
Her disappearance was described as “suspicious” and “involuntary,” according to Winona Police Chief Tom Williams.
Located near the Mississippi River, the area in and around Winona County, Minnesota includes hundreds of thousands of acres of swamps, flatlands, forests, and bluffs, as well as several bodies of water.
MISSING MINNESOTA MOTHER MADELINE KINGSBURY’S FAMILY FEAR OF Foul Play WHEN THEY DISAPPEARED AFTER DAY CARE
That will be invaluable as several law enforcement agencies and thousands of volunteers have combed more than 120,000 acres near the Mississippi River, including several bodies of water, wetlands, flat farmlands, forests and bluffs.
Hundreds to over 1,000 volunteers helped police search for Kingsbury. Stephen Kingsbury told Fox News Digital in an email: “It’s hard to imagine how this could ever be answered. Our gratitude to everyone involved in our efforts to bring our sister/daughter/mother home will never fade. fade away.”
Law enforcement and first responders in and around Winona, Minnesota continue their search for Madeline Kingsbury. (Winona County Emergency Management)
“I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude,” said Stephen.
“We have rallied for Madeline in a short amount of time and created/maintained a group of passionate and motivated people from all over the state who care for and love Madeline with such intensity that I have no doubt about the steadfastness of our mission. “
Police said tips from the public are an integral part of the investigation. People can call 1-800-222-TIPS or go to crimestoppersmn.org.
Police have also asked everyone in the area to check their security cameras and search their properties, many of which are large areas, to look for “anything unusual or out of place”.
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“Even if you’ve already done this, please do it again,” police said in an April 17 press release. “Changing weather conditions may reveal new signs that weren’t there before. If you find anything, call your local law enforcement agency.”
The police have also asked that all surveillance footage from March 31 and April 1 be preserved, even if it appears to be empty.
Chris Eberhart is a crime and American news reporter for Fox News Digital. Email tips to chris.eberhart@fox.com or on twitter @ChrisEberhart48
