Following the tragic discovery of Madeline Kingsbury's remains near the Iowa border, her parents are now engaged in a legal battle to protect their grandchildren from the children's father, Adam Fravel. Fravel is currently being held on a $1 million bond after being charged with two counts of second-degree murder.

Court documents allege that Fravel killed Kingsbury on March 31 and disposed of her body wrapped in a bedsheet along a Minnesota highway. Kingsbury's parents, represented by lawyer Anna Tobia, have filed a petition to terminate Fravel's parental rights. They express concerns about his potential flight risk, given the severity of the charges against him and his previous actions when social services initially took custody of the children.

The Kingsbury family points to an incident on April 4, where Fravel allegedly resisted social workers and police attempting to take custody of the two young children after Madeline's disappearance. According to a petition filed by Winona County Health and Human Services, Fravel reportedly locked himself inside the residence with the younger child, shouting expletives, and later argued with social workers while placing the children incorrectly in car seats and refusing to provide any of their belongings.

Fravel, who did not have custodial rights at the time of Kingsbury's disappearance, is now contesting the Kingsbury's parents' custody claim. Currently, the children are under the care of their maternal grandparents, with Fravel granted supervised visitation rights at a secure location. Fravel's lawyer, Thomas Braun, argues that the Kingsburys' motion is "moot" and "misplaced" given Fravel's current incarceration and the existing temporary custody arrangements.

The Kingsbury family's lawyer highlighted Fravel's alleged hostility towards law enforcement during the search for Madeline. They argue that any interaction between Fravel and the children poses a risk to their well-being, emphasizing the alleged trauma he has already caused them.

The criminal complaint details a tumultuous relationship between Fravel and Kingsbury, marked by instances of alleged physical abuse. Kingsbury's body was discovered after 69 days, wrapped in a towel, near the Iowa state line. The complaint also notes Kingsbury's role as a research coordinator at the Mayo Clinic and Fravel's work as a software engineer. The couple was reportedly separating at the time of Kingsbury's disappearance.

Fravel, through his lawyer, previously denied any involvement in Kingsbury's disappearance. The Kingsbury family expressed relief following Fravel's arrest, stating that "the right person is in custody."