Sept. 24—WINONA, Minn. — During the October jury trial of Adam Fravel, the prosecution and defense plan to call a total of 180 witnesses, according to court documents filed Monday.
The state’s list includes 157 people, including the families and friends of Fravel and Madeline Kingsbury, 38 employees of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and 30 members of Winona law enforcement. The defense’s witness list includes 23 people.
“As we continue to prepare for trial, it is likely that the witness list, while still extensive, will be significantly reduced,” the state said in a new court document filed Tuesday. A court order was filed stating that opposing counsel and the court must be notified of witnesses or exhibits not previously on the list.
Fravel is charged with first-degree murder and domestic violence, with a history of domestic violence, first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder in connection with Kingsbury’s death.
His jury trial is expected to begin Oct. 7 in Blue Earth County.
Two weeks before the start of the trial, the prosecution and the defense submitted eleven documents, including their witness lists.
Five of those documents were defense motions. The first motion seeks to prohibit the testimony of Melissa Scaia, an expert witness on domestic violence and abuse who testified earlier on the second day of Fravel’s preliminary hearing. A second motion outlines courtroom decorum by prohibiting spectators and witnesses from wearing displays showing support for Kingsbury. The final three motions address the use of photographs taken by the coroner and law enforcement, jury selection, witness testimony and the use of physical restraints on Fravel.
A juror questionnaire was also submitted Monday. The questionnaire will ask potential jurors if they participated in the search for Kingsbury and if they posted any messages about her disappearance.
According to court documents, jury selection will take about a week and the trial is expected to last nearly a month.
According to reports at the time, Fravel was the last person to see Kingsbury alive. This allowed law enforcement to connect what they believe was Fravel driving Kingsbury’s vehicle to Mabel’s area on March 31, 2023. Police also found other evidence, including tape and sheets found on her body, that matched what they found at the couple’s home.
Kingsbury also allegedly broke off an abusive relationship with Fravel. Fravel admitted to being obsessed with Gabby Petito, a woman who was killed by her fiancé in 2021 in a case that made national news, the criminal complaint said.
Fravel was arrested on June 9, 2023, after Kingsbury’s body was found near Mabel after months of searching.
