Minnesota police have confirmed they have found the body of missing mother Madeleine Kingsbury, and her ex-boyfriend and the father of her children were arrested Wednesday night on murder charges.
Winona Police Chief Tom Williams said the body was found in a wooded area along Highway 43 north of Mabel, Minnesota. It’s about 45 miles south of where Kingsbury, 26, was last seen alive after sending his two children to nursery school with his ex Adam. Flavel, 29 years old.
“This discovery was not what we had hoped for, but we are happy to be able to bring Maddie back to her family,” Williams said at a news conference Thursday, referring to Kingsbury’s loved ones. We could hear our sobs.
Police said a mountain of digital evidence, including cell phone and computer records, led them to the site where the body was “covered and concealed,” ending the 69-day Kingsbury search.
The Southern Minnesota Coroner’s Office is continuing an autopsy to determine the cause of death, and Williams said police had enough evidence to arrest Flavel on presumed grounds.
More than two months after Kingsbury disappeared after leaving his children, ages 5 and 2, on March 31, Flabel was arrested Wednesday in Mabel without incident.
Mr Fröbel, who had previously claimed he had nothing to do with the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend, told police he left the house at 10am and when he returned, Mr Kingsbury was gone, but his cell phone, He said he had a wallet and a jacket.
“The mother of a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old has been found and we want them to be brought home safely,” the statement said. “I want that more than anything else.”
Kingsbury’s sister, Megan, said she was relieved that police had finally made an arrest and said it was “a silver lining” for the grieving family.
“The whirlwind just started again,” Megan said in a TikTok post Wednesday. “We are happy that he has been taken into custody and that he is no longer roaming free.”
Kingsbury’s family is currently in a bitter custody battle over two children with Froebel. Ms Flabel had pleaded for her children to stay with him after her disappearance.
The two children, who now live with Kingsbury’s parents, are technically under Winona County custody.
Williams said more information about the cause of death and the incident against Flavel would come to light once prosecutors file formal charges against Flavel.
