A Minnesota judge temporarily granted sole legal and physical custody of Madeline Kingsbury’s two children to her father and stepmother.
Kingbury, 26, disappeared after dropping her children, 2 and 5, at daycare on March 31, CrimeOnline reported. Her remains were found earlier this month on a remote road about an hour south of where her body was found. On the same day, the children’s father, Adam Fravel, was arrested and charged with two counts of second degree murder.
Winona County Judge Mary Leahy ordered that Fravel would have no parenting time with the children for now and recommended that the permanent custody of the children be determined after his criminal proceedings are complete, KSTP reported.
The judge also called for a guardian ad litem for the children to advocate for their best interests.
A representative of Kingsbury’s parents told the court during the hearing that they intended to file a Termination of Parental Rights petition for Fravel.
According to KARE, Fravel had previously been fighting the child protection case brought against him after Kingsbury disappeared and had filed for custody of the children. Although he was the father, Fravel and Kingsbury were never married and he never established custodial rights.
A hearing on the child protection case was scheduled for Thursday, but it was cancelled when the court was notified that David and Cathy Kingsbury and Fravel had reached an agreement.
Leahy granted the orders, which were filed in lieu of the hearing.
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