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Jurors see video of Maddi Kingsbury in final moments
A doorbell cam shows Maddi and her accused killer, Adam Fravel, dropping their children off at daycare. It was the last time she would be seen alive.
MANKATO, Minn. — Jurors in the murder trial of Adam Fravel Monday morning saw a video of Maddi Kingsbury dropping off her children at daycare on March 31, 2023, the last known time that anyone saw her… besides her killer.
In the doorbell video introduced by prosecutors, Maddi is seen walking into the daycare with her two young children and Fravel, whom she was no longer partners with but still lived with in Winona. In the video, Maddi wore a dark turtleneck sweater and a two-toned fluffy brown coat with lapels. “Sorry we’re late,” Kingsbury announced as they walked through the door at the daycare.
Video then shows Fravel hanging up the kids’ coats on hooks before he and Maddi walk out of the daycare together.
Daycare provider Brooke Pelowski took the stand and testified that it was not unusual for Maddi and Fravel to drop off the kids together. She did, however, tell the jury panel that she noticed something different when Fravel came back to pick up the kids later that afternoon.
Pelowski testified that on the rare occasions that Fravel would pick up the kids alone, his daughter would immediately ask, “Where’s Mommy?”
“He would always reply, ‘She’s on her way back home from work, honey, we’ll see her soon,’” Pelowski explained.
But at 4:21 p.m. on the day Maddi disappeared, Pelowski observed a different response when Fravel showed up alone.
“On that day, [the daughter] asked, of course, ‘Where’s Mommy?’ And he (Fravel) answered, ‘Let’s go to Grandma’s,’ which he’s never answered that way,” Pelowski testified.
Next on the stand Monday morning was Winona Police Sgt. Steven Rysted, who answered questions about the daycare video exhibits as well as what he observed about Maddi’s minivan when the investigation began.
Sgt. Rysted pointed out that in the daycare video, Fravel was wearing dark gray sweatpants, a white jacket, red hunter’s cap and white tennis shoes when he dropped off the kids with Maddi. Later when he picked them up alone, he wore the same outfit but with brown boots instead of white shoes.
While showing the jury photographs of Maddi’s minivan, Sgt. Rysted testified that he noticed mud on the driver’s side door handle.
In interviews with police, Fravel said that he used Maddi’s van that day to run errands after dropping off the kids at daycare.
After a break for lunch, prosecutors called Jeremy Loechler to the stand. Loechler, who lived next door to Fravel and Kingsbury’s Winona townhouse, testified that around 9:30 a.m. on the morning Maddi disappeared he noticed something out of the ordinary.
“I noticed the van, which was Madeline Kingsbury’s van, was backed into the driveway that day. And it was not typical for them to do so. They pulled in forward instead of backing in,” Loechler told the courtroom.
Fravel is charged with four counts of murder in Maddi’s death, two first-degree and two second-degree. His trial is being held in Mankato after Judge Nancy Buytendorp ruled the trial should be moved from Winona County due to extensive pre-trial publicity.
Kingsbury was last seen dropping her young son and daughter off at daycare in Winona the morning of March 31, 2023. She was reported missing by family and friends later that day. Maddi’s decomposing remains were found south of Winona 68 days later. The medical examiner eventually concluded she died of homicidal violence, likely asphyxiation.
KARE 11’s Lou Raguse was in the Blue Earth Country Courtroom for the third day of testimony in Fravel’s murder trial. He’ll have the latest on Monday evening’s broadcasts.
Within four months, two young boys with autism went missing in their communities. Two bodies were later found in open water near their homes.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — A tragic end to the search for a missing boy with autism.
Eden Prairie police say 11-year-old Mohamed Mohamed went missing Sunday night.
Officials say the search was called off after a child’s body was found a few hours later in a pond near Mohamed’s home. It’s the second similar incident in just a few months.
Back in June, officials say a Hopkins boy with autism, 4-year-old Waeys Ali Mohamed, drowned in a creek.
Ellie Wilson with the Autism Society of Minnesota says children with autism are often drawn to water.
“There is a really important statistical connection between the existence of autism and the likelihood of accidents relating to drowning,” Wilson said.
“It is the most common cause of death among autistic children.”
Wilson says children with autism are drawn to water because of the visuals, the movement, and the way it makes them feel.
“Think of the last time you dove into a pool that that feeling of pressure you feel around your body is somewhat of a weighted blanket for someone with autism.”
Wilson says there is an even greater concern in the Somali community.
She says data suggests Somali children are more likely to be diagnosed with autism.
“Even as high some will say as one in sixteen, which is nearly double the rate it is in the mainstream group,” Wilson said.
Jaylani Hussein with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says the Somali community is deeply concerned after two drowning cases in just four months.
“The impact of autism on our community is extremely high,” Hussein said.
He says parent groups are already discussing ideas to improve safety, such as increased access to swimming lessons, signs that warn the community a child with autism lives nearby, and resources for parents so they can secure their homes.
“Basic home modifications, things like alarms or even locks on doors and windows are a very popular thing to talk about,” Wilson says.
Wilson agrees, that all communities need to have a serious discussion, so parents, leaders and law enforcement have the tools they need to keep children safe.
“One of the biggest things we have to do is just talk about is as a community.”
Charles McMillian was one of the first to observe George Floyd’s arrest and eventually his death on May 25, 2020.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — As most around the world saw the video of George Floyd‘s death, Charles McMillian witnessed it in-person. He went on to give an emotional testimony during the murder trial of former Minneapolis Police office Derek Chauvin.
He’s seeking $30,000 for emotional distress. On Monday, the Minneapolis City Council’s Administration and Enterprise Oversight Committee passed the settlement claim through to a full council vote.
“My client observed and experienced a very emotional, traumatic experience that changed his life,” McMillian’s attorney, William Walker said.
A spokesperson for the city said Monday it is not commenting.
McMillian isn’t the first resident to file a claim against the City for emotional distress from witnessing George Floyd’s murder. The City Council is expected to discuss McMillian’s claim at the next meeting.
University officials say the protestors entered the building and are causing property damage and restricting people from entering and exiting the building.
MINNEAPOLIS — Officials with the University of Minnesota are urging people to avoid the area around Morrill Hall after protestors entered the building and started damaging property, according to an alert sent to students.
The alert also says the protestors are restricting people from entering and exiting the building.
Multiple Palestinian flags were being flown outside the residence hall. A large sign being held in front of the doors says “Money for education not for bombs and occupation.”
University officials are asking people to avoid the area “until further notice.”
*This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
