WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 11:45 UPDATE: Defense attorney Zach Bauer gave his closing argument following the prosecution’s closing argument.

Bauer emphasized that there were no signs of a struggle in the residence shared by Adam Fravel and Madeline Kingsbury. He would bring up the photographs shown to the jury during testimony that he said supported this.

Bauer also described how Fravel was willing to give his phone and passwords to investigators.

Bauer would then re-examine the testimony given on Friday, while the defense would present witness statements. Bauer noted that one of those witnesses saw a person waving at them on the grounds of the townhouse Fravel and Kingsbury shared. This witness described the person he saw, and Bauer said that description did not match Fravel’s appearance.

Bauer then brought up the text messaging between Kingsbury and his sister, Megan. In that exchange, Bauer noted that Madeline said Fravel “didn’t mean any harm” but that it was “weird” to have him in the house since the two had broken up.

The next part of Bauer’s claim referred to a telephone conversation between Kingsbury and Fravel, which resulted in Fravel sending many photographs to Kingsbury. Bauer noted that a two-hour text conversation does not determine what the relationship is really like.

Bauer then went on to talk about other exchanges between Kingsbury and Fravel; one of which was Kingsbury saying he wanted to “hug” Fravel. Bauer described how this text conversation happened after being told their relationship was over, stating that it was an “awkward” exchange with someone you’re no longer in a relationship with. Bauer argued that the relationship was not actually over.

Bauer also argued that Kingsbury was not truly “controlled” by Fravel, and that this evidence showed that Kingsbury did many things as he wished, such as taking long walks around the lake with Spencer Sullivan.

Bauer then mentioned some of the statements Kingsbury’s friends had and the stories they shared of seeing signs on Kingsbury were nearly identical. Bauer noted that his friends “really disliked” Fravel and that no one else had shared stories about signs being seen in Kingsbury.

Bauer later reconsidered the idea that Kingsbury was “fighting for his life”, believing it to be a weak argument. Bauer said Fravel had only a few scratches on his face, no real sign of any struggle. Bauer also said Fravel’s photos showing bruises taken on April 6 were not valuable evidence because they were taken almost a week after Kingsbury went missing. Bauer said Fravel could have easily suffered these bruises between March 31 and April 6, when these photos were taken.

Bauer added that there was ample evidence provided through testimony that Fravel was a loving father and also loved Kingsbury. “He loved his children and Madeline Kingsbury,” Bauer said.

Following Bauer’s argument, Prokopowicz would take the stand again in rebuttal.

Prokopowicz argued that there were no signs of forced entry into the house, meaning someone who committed the murder must have already been there. Prokopowicz said again that Fravel would be the only other person in the house other than himself.

Prokopowicz also challenged the witness who testified on behalf of the defense. Prokopowicz reminded the jury that the person the witness saw in front of the townhouse was nothing more than that, just a person in front of the residence. Prokopowicz emphasized that there was nothing to prove this person had anything to do with Kingsbury and Fravel.

During his rebuttal, Prokopowicz also noted how Fravel’s stories didn’t add up and didn’t make sense.

After Prokopowicz’s rebuttal, the jury began receiving instructions from the judge before beginning deliberations.

In the early hours of Wednesday, November 6

MANKATO, Minn. (KTTC) – The Adam Fravel murder case looks set to reach a conclusion soon, as closing arguments are made by the defense and the state on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Phil Prokopowicz took the stand Wednesday to conduct business for the state. Prokopowicz began by reminding the jury of the meaning of “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” and considers both direct and circumstantial evidence.

Prokopowicz also emphasized that after considering all the evidence presented throughout the trial, Adam Fravel was guilty of all the crimes charged against him. He reminded the jury how Madeline Kingsbury disappeared on the morning of March 31, 2023 and would not be seen for weeks. He reminded the jury of the course of the investigation that led to the discovery of Kingsbury’s body in June 2023.

Prokopowicz also asked the jury to consider whether Fravel had the intent, opportunity and opportunity to kill Kingsbury. He says Fravel’s reason for killing Kingsbury lies in the relationship between the pair, and that it was never about “them” but rather about “himself.” He reminded the jury of testimony from Kingsbury’s friend, Michaela Shaw, who said Fravel often used derogatory remarks to Kingsbury dating back to their college days.

Prokopowicz would revisit statements detailing Kingsbury’s disappointments with Fravel after the birth of the couple’s first child and how he would never assume any responsibility for the home. He would also review statements from Kingsbury’s friends detailing the physical abuse she suffered at Fravel’s hands.

Prokopowicz also touched on the connections between this case and the Gabby Petito case. Prokopowicz reviewed testimony that said Fravel pushed Kingsbury and told him he would end up like Petito if he “didn’t care.”

But Prokopowicz said the biggest piece of evidence showing what Fravel and Kingsbury’s relationship was like was a text conversation between the two in which Kingsbury said she still did not believe she had feelings for Fravel and apologized “for her indecisiveness.” The two talked about potentially entering therapy, but Kingsbury reiterated that he didn’t know if it would change anything. Fravel would eventually begin sending Kingsbury many photographs of the two; some of these were from before the birth of their children. There were many photos with the children. Fravel claimed he would delete the photos and give him a chance to recover them.

Prokopowicz said that even though Kingsbury told Fravel to stop and knew what he was trying to do, he continued to send more photos.

Prokopowicz revisited Kingsbury’s relationship with Spencer Sullivan, describing him as the main reason Kingsbury left Fravel. Prokopowicz said this was “something Fravel couldn’t control.”

Prokopowicz adds that Kingsbury officially ended her relationship with Fravel in March 2023, disappearing in the same month. Prokopowicz described how angry Fravel was at the prospect of another man raising her children, and that he was constantly hovering around the Kingsbury house in the days before her disappearance.

Finally, Prokopowicz described how Kingsbury and Fravel dropped their children off at daycare before returning home on March 31. Prokopowicz said Kingsbury never responded to a text message from his sister that same morning, which was unusual. This message was sent to Kingsbury minutes after he and Fravel returned to their home.

Prokopowicz said the evidence showed Kingsbury did not leave her home alive, which means someone else at the residence took her life. Prokopowicz said the only person who might have been there was Fravel. “Remember,” Prokopowicz said. “The defendant was in that house.”

Prokopowicz would again claim that there was evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Fravel was responsible for Kingsbury’s death and that he planned it. “He knew what to do that morning,” Prokopowicz said.

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