The family of Madeline “Maddie” Kingsbury released a new video over the weekend that shows the missing Minnesota mother in a new light.
The footage, posted Saturday to a Facebook group devoted to information surrounding the search for Kingsbury, shows her singing to her now-son Noah when he was a newborn.
“This is Maddie the family wants you to see,” the caption read. “To know. To love. This is Maddie with the beautiful voice singing to her newborn son Noah. This is the Maddie they want you to see when you think of her. She is loved. She is missing. We hope that by sharing this very personal video that makes you think of Maddie as a real person and not just a picture on a flyer.”
The post, which has been shared more than 1,000 times and viewed by thousands, comes as the search for Kingsbury approaches its fourth week without answers.
Police in Winona, Minnesota, recently asked residents to search their properties again in hopes that recent changes in the weather may reveal new clues about Kingsbury’s mysterious disappearance.
Authorities said they continue to investigate Kingsbury’s disappearance.
“We remain extremely concerned for her safety,” the Winona Police Department said in a statement last week.
Police said they were using “all available resources” including sonar, submarines and dog teams in their search.
But in its latest update, the department renewed its request that residents of Winona and two surrounding counties check their properties for new evidence.
“We are again asking property owners in Winona, Fillmore and Houston counties to please walk your land and check outbuildings. Look for anything unusual or out of place,” the department said. “Even if you have already done this, please do it again. Changing weather conditions may reveal new signs that weren’t there before. If you find anything that concerns you, call your local law enforcement agency.”
However, authorities declined to name a suspect or person of interest in the case, saying they were “not ready” to do so yet.
“We continue to pursue several lines of inquiry as we work to determine what happened to Maddie and, if warranted, hold accountable the person or persons responsible for her disappearance,” the department said. “Our thoughts are with Maddie’s friends and family at this difficult time. We are committed to doing everything we can to find her and remain confident that we will bring her home.”
The latest update comes after another weekend of searches and follows an interview with Kingsbury’s sister, Megan Kingsbury, who previously revealed new details about the moments leading up to Kingsbury’s disappearance.
Kingsbury, a 26-year-old clinical researcher at the Mayo Clinic, has been missing since dropping off her children at daycare on March 31 in Winona, Minnesota, prompting a massive search, national headlines and many unanswered questions.
Speaking to NBC affiliate station KARE 11, Megan Kingsbury said her sister is in the process of trying to move out of the home she shares with the father of her two children, with whom she is no longer dating.
On the morning of her disappearance, Kingsbury and her ex dropped off their children at daycare, which Kingsbury’s family said did not seem unusual, based on interviews police conducted with the daycare owner.
Megan Kingsbury said she last heard from her sister in a text message the morning she disappeared.
“I had sent her a funny picture the night before,” she said in an interview with KARE 11.
The image was a memory of a trip the two had taken last summer.
“She didn’t see him until that morning. She just texted back, “lol,” Megan Kingsbury said. “I replied to this just as a general chat. It was around 8:15 when she texted me and that was the last I heard from her.’
Police said Kingsbury, who often works from home, did not arrive at work this morning as usual.
The father of Kingsbury’s children told authorities he left the home around 10 a.m. in the minivan she usually drives, a dark blue 2014 Chrysler Town and Country. When he returned home, he told police that Kingsbury was not there.
The same van has been the focus of much of the investigation ever since.
Police said they believe a similar van was seen at County Road 12 and Highway 43 in Winona County and was traveling south on Highway 43 through eastern Fillmore County. The van was later seen traveling back to Winona County on Highway 43.
The sightings were reported between 10am and 1.30pm on the day she disappeared, although police did not say who was driving the van. The vehicle was parked in the driveway of Kingsbury’s home after 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.
“There is nothing at this time to indicate that Maddie left the residence on foot or in another vehicle,” said Winona Police Chief Tom Williams.
In a recent update, police said Kingsbury’s van was taken and processed for evidence.
“We worked closely with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to identify and process all available forensic evidence,” the department said.
Authorities have repeatedly said Kingsbury’s disappearance is considered “unintentional” and “suspicious,” though they have not named a person of interest or a suspect in the case.
Family members said Kingsbury wouldn’t have gone off on her own and has big plans for her future as she attends graduate school and looks ahead to a possible promotion in her field.
While she looked for a new place to live, the family said Kingsbury wanted to stay in the Winona area so her children could still see their father.
“She didn’t necessarily want me to take them away from anybody,” Megan Kingsbury said.
KARE 11 reports that Kingsbury’s ex, Adam Fravel, released a statement through his attorney last week.
“Over the past 12 days, my family and I have been the subject of countless allegations regarding the disappearance of the mother of my children, Maddie Kingsbury,” the statement said. “Over the past 12 days, I have cooperated with law enforcement every step of the way, including sitting for multiple interviews with Winona County law enforcement. I had nothing to do with Maddie’s disappearance. I want the mother of my 5 year old… old and 2 year old to be found and brought home safely. I want that more than anything. Law enforcement notified me on April 2nd that they would not recommend me to attend the press conferences or assist in the search due to safety concerns. However, my absence and silence was taken by many as a sign of apathy or worse. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I want Maddie to come home and she can be with our two children. God bless the Kingsbury family and please bring her home safely.”
Authorities said tips continue to come in on the case, but acknowledged that information released is limited.
“We have had two goals since learning that Maddie was missing: to bring her home and, if warranted, to hold accountable the person or persons responsible for her disappearance,” police said. “Releasing certain information about the investigation would jeopardize our ability to achieve these goals.” We understand how much the community wants answers and ask that everyone be patient as the investigation process unfolds. We remain confident that we will find Maddie and bring her home to her family.”
Kingsbury’s family released a lengthy message earlier this month. (Read more here.)
A $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Kingsbury’s whereabouts.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Winona Police Department at (507) 457-6492 or Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling (507) 457-6530 or emailing winonaareacrimestoppers.com.