The jury trial of Adam Fravel, who is accused of killing Winona’s mother, Madeline Kingsbury, is scheduled to take place in October in Mankato, according to a court order filed Wednesday.

30-year-old Adam Fravel is accused of premeditated and presumptive murder in connection with the death of Madeline Kingsbury, the mother of his children.

“After careful consideration, the Court concludes that Blue Earth County is best placed to
impartiality necessary for a fair trial and is well suited to this case in Winona County,” the order states.

The trial is scheduled to begin on October 7.

Fravel’s lawyers had previously filed a motion in January to move the case out of Winona County. A judge granted the request in June.

In arguing for a change of venue, the defense cited a survey of 100 adults in Winona County that found that 89 percent of respondents had “seen, heard, or read a news report” about the Kingsbury case. Of those who had read a news report about the case, 74 percent had already formed an opinion, and 99 percent of those who had formed an opinion believed Fravel was responsible for Kingsbury’s death.

The defense also pointed to the “significant involvement of the Winona community” in the search for Kingsbury. According to pre-trial testimony, 1,900 volunteers searched for Kingsbury on April 7, 2023, and another 700 volunteers joined the effort the next day.

Find KSTP’s full coverage of the disappearance and murder of Madeline Kingsbury here.