The disappearance of Madeline Kingsbury: Cops end community search for Minnesota mom after major turnout
WINONA, MINNESOTA: Law enforcement authorities ended a community search effort for missing Minnesota mom Madeline Kingsbury on Saturday, April 8, after a large number of people came together to help search for the 26-year-old. Officials said around 1900 individuals, including volunteers, fire departments, and first responders, turned up for the mass search organized in Winona and Fillmore counties on Friday, April 7 and another 700 joined the following day.
“Due to this incredible turnout, we were able to cover substantially more ground in a shorter time than expected,” the Winona Police Department said in a statement, as reported by New York Post. “The search for Maddi is not ending and neither is the investigation into her disappearance. As we develop new leads and new search areas, teams of law enforcement officers will do targeted searches,” the department added. Authorities also told the publication that a second search was organized by the Winona and Fillmore County Sheriff’s Offices as well as Winona Police following the community search effort on Saturday, April 8.
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Kingsbury was last seen dropping off her children, aged five and two, at a daycare center with their father on Friday, March 31, as per the Winona Police Department. She reportedly returned home around 8.15 am in a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country minivan but did not show up for work at the Mayo Clinic. She also failed to pick up her children from the daycare and did not answer calls from family and friends. Officials said the disappearance was “out of character” for Kingsbury. She was eventually listed as a missing person on April 3.
Community launched page dedicated to Madeline Kingsbury
The online community launched a Facebook group titled ‘The Search for Maddi’ dedicated to the search for Kingsbury. The group shared photos of Kingsbury’s tattoos as marks of identification. One of the tattoos shows the phrase “from the ashes a fire shall be woken” on her side while another features floral art on her upper right arm. A new Facebook page titled ‘Finding Madeline Kingsbury’ was also launched to share updates about search parties, donations, and other important information dedicated to the search for the mother-of-two. “We as a team, want to thank you all on behalf of the family and ourselves, for everything you’re doing to help us find Madeline. Your contributions are greatly appreciated, from your donations, time, and sharing of information we are confident progress will be made today,” a post on the page said before the end of the community search effort on Saturday, April 8.
“We, the Kingsbury and Naber families, are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for our Maddi,” another post shared on the page read. The community also came together to sell white T-shirts for $15 featuring Kingsbury’s face under the word “missing” alongside details of her weight, height, and appearance. “This is the shirt the family approved. All profits will go directly to the family. Please consider purchasing a t-shirt and sharing the link. The goal is to get her picture out there and bring her home,” a post about the T-shirt mentioned.
Madeline Kingsbury GoFundMe raises over $15000
A GoFundMe fundraiser dedicated to the search for Kingsbury raised over $15,000 as of Sunday morning. “Maddi has been missing for a week now and there are no words of comfort to help this poor family or friends. There are so many traveling from all over to help search, and the family is staying in hotels,” the page noted. “The best way we can help is also by contributing. Please if you can, anything would help and all the prayers you have. Thank you so much,” it added.
Meanwhile, developments in the case prompted officials to believe that a van matching the description of Kingsbury’s vehicle was seen traveling in Winona County and Fillmore County between 10 am and 1.30 pm on Friday, March 31. Authorities specifically require information between 8 am on Friday, March 31, and 4 pm on Saturday, April 1, along the Highway 43 corridor of Winona and Fillmore counties. Anyone with information is being urged to contact the Winona Police Department at 507-457-6288 or the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office at 507-765-3874.