Missing Minnesota mom Madeline Kingsbury: massive search continues

After scores of volunteers turned out to help search for missing Minnesota mom Madeline Kingsbury, officials announced Saturday they were disbanding the massive community effort.

“Due to this incredible turnout, we were able to cover substantially more ground in a shorter time than expected,” Winona Police said in a statement after 1,900 civilians searched Friday and another 700 joined Saturday.

“The search for Maddi is not ending and neither is the investigation into her disappearance,” the department added. “As we develop new leads and new search areas, teams of law enforcement officers will do targeted searches.”

The 26-year-old Kingsbury was last seen March 31 when she dropped her two kids, ages 5 and 2, off at their Winona day care with their father, officials said earlier this week.

A Facebook page dedicated to finding Kingsbury shared photos of her tattoos and is selling T-shirts featuring her image.

“We, the Kingsbury and Naber families, are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for our Maddi,” a Saturday morning post said.

To help identify Kingsbury, the page posted photos of her tattoos, which include the phrase “from the ashes a fire shall be woken” on her side and a floral piece on her upper right arm.

The white T-shirts selling for $15 feature Kingsbury’s face under the word “missing” and details such as her weight and height.

Proceeds go “directly to the family,” according to the page, which also gives updates on volunteering and donating.

“Let’s help get as many advertising T-shirts as possible out there to help search for Madeline Kingsbury,” a post said. “She is very loved and missed.”

Over 1,860 people, including volunteers, fire departments and first responders, showed up for the mass search in Winona and Fillmore counties to find Kingsbury, officials said Friday.

“There was a large amount that was searched” in two search areas, authorities said, adding that Winona and Fillmore County Sheriff’s Offices as well as Winona police had organized a second search effort on Saturday.

After Kingsbury dropped her children off on March 31, she returned home around 8:15 a.m. in a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country minivan.

But the clinical research coordinator at the Mayo Clinic did not show up for work, and she did not respond to calls from family and friends. 

The children’s father, who has not been named, told authorities that he left the home in the dark blue vehicle around 10 a.m. and when he returned later, Kingsbury wasn’t there.

“All of this is extremely out of character for her,” police said, adding that they were looking for any video showing where the van may have gone.

Authorities believe that a van matching the description of Kingsbury’s was traveling in Winona County and then in Fillmore County between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Kingsbury’s family did not immediately respond to a request for comment.