A Minnesota man, Adam Fravel, 30, has been found guilty of first-degree murder for killing his girlfriend, Madeline "Maddi" Kingsbury, 26, after allegedly warning her that she could end up like Gabby Petito, a vlogger who was murdered by her boyfriend in 2021. The jury in Mankato, Minnesota, delivered the verdict after nine hours of deliberation.
Kingsbury disappeared on March 31, 2023, after dropping off her and Fravel’s two children at daycare in Winona. Her body was found on June 7 in a wooded area near Mabel, and Fravel was arrested. A friend of Kingsbury testified that Kingsbury had told her Fravel threatened her with the possibility of ending up like Petito if she didn't comply with his demands.
According to NBC News, Kingsbury's father, David Kingsbury, expressed relief at the verdict but lamented the loss of his daughter. "Fravel can’t be punished enough,” he said.
The victim's family is still grappling with the reasons behind Fravel's actions.
Fravel is set to be sentenced on December 17, when he could face life imprisonment. His defense lawyer, Zachary Bauer, expressed disappointment at the verdict, stating that Fravel and his family were emotional.