WINONA, Minn.(NewsNation) — The Winona Police Department confirmed the remains discovered near Mabel, Minnesota, are those of Madeline Kingsbury in a press conference Thursday.
“While this discovery is not what we were hoping for, we are thankful to be able to bring Madi home for her family,” said Winona Police Department Chief Tom Williams.
The body was discovered by a Fillmore County deputy Wednesday off a low-maintenance public road. The area had been searched, but Williams said the body had been concealed in such a way that it was not easily visible.
Authorities said digital evidence led to the discovery of the body. Although the medical examiner conducted an examination, police said the cause of death had not yet been determined.
On Wednesday, law enforcement announced they arrested 29-year-old Adam Fravel, the father of Kingsbury’s children, on probable cause in connection with the 26-year-old’s disappearance. Authorities declined to comment on any charges during the press conference.
But according to the Winona County Detention Center custody report, Fravel is currently being held on a charge of second-degree murder with intent not premeditated. It is unclear if this charge is in connection to Kingsbury’s investigation.
Authorities also stressed that Kingsbury’s body was found on public land, not property belonging to the Fravel family. However, Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge confirmed that the location was within a few minutes of property belonging to the Fravels.
Kingsbury has been missing since March 31 when she and the father of her children dropped off their kids at day care, which the day care said wasn’t unusual.
She didn’t show up for work, and she didn’t return at the end of the day to pick up her children.
“Madeline was just a hard-at-work mom … she took care of her two babies. She had started graduate school in January,” Kingbury’s mother, Krista Naber, said In an interview with NewsNation. “Things were finally looking up for her.”
Over the course of several months, thousands of searchers converged in the area around Winona. Volunteers on foot, on horseback, K-9 teams and submersible drones all searched for any sign of the 26-year-old.
“We believe Maddi’s disappearance is involuntary, suspicious and we are all concerned for her safety,” said Winona Police Department Chief Tom Williams.
Police said Kingsbury and Fravel arrived back at Kingsbury’s home around 8:15 a.m. Around that time, Kingsbury responded “LOL” in a text string to her sister.
Then, around 10 a.m., Fravel said he took Kingsbury’s Chrysler Town & County minivan to run errands. Fravel claims that was the last time he saw Kingsbury. He said he returned around 1:30 p.m., and she was gone.
“Inside the residence, investigators located Maddi’s phone, the jacket she had been wearing earlier in the morning, along with her wallet and ID,” Williams said.
Police said a van matching Kingsbury’s was seen driving west and then south through Winona and Fillmore counties in the direction of Mabel, which is listed on Facebook as Adam’s hometown, and then back north again later.
The van was last seen being driven down a county road.
Fravel previously released a public statement denying allegations that he was involved in Kingbury’s disappearance. He also said he’s cooperated with authorities, including multiple interviews.
“I did not have anything to do with Maddi’s disappearance. I want the mother of my 5-year-old and 2-year-old to be found and brought home safely. I want that more than anything,” Fravel said.
Police said numerous search warrants have been served, and have processed the van to collect forensic evidence, but they remain tight-lipped about any evidence they’ve found.