MANKATO, Minn. — The legal team for Adam Fravel took less than three hours to present its case to jurors, with the man accused of murdering Maddi Kingsbury opting not to testify in his own defense.
Defense attorney Zach Bauer called five witnesses Friday morning, including Houston County Sheriff's investigators, Fravel's brother and neighbors and landowners near the defendant's parent's home in Mabel. His line of questioning echoed Bauer's opening statement, as he attempted to show jurors that the place where Maddi's remains were located was remote and easy for people to access without being seen.
One witness, Robert Albrecht, told the jury panel he saw someone other than Fravel standing next to Maddi's van on the day the defendant reportedly disposed of her body.
After a break, Judge Nancy Buytendorp asked the defense if Fravel would testify. His attorney said the defendant chose to remain silent. Judge Buytendorp asked Fravel if it was his decision alone, and the defendant answered yes.
With the presidential election day set for Tuesday, Judge Buytendorp excused the jury panel until Wednesday, when closing arguments are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Jurors will begin deliberations immediately afterward.
The panel heard testimony from 73 witnesses over the two-week murder trial, 68 of them called by the state and five by the defense.
Fravel is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder in the death of Maddi Kingsbury, his domestic partner and mother of his children. Maddi was reported missing on March 31, 2023 — her remains were found in a remote area near the Iowa border.
The trial was moved to Mankato and Blue Earth County after the judge ruled it would be difficult to seat a jury in Winona County due to the amount of pre-trial publicity and news coverage.