WINONA, Minn. – Police Chief Tom Williams confirmed that an outside investigator hired by the county attorney has begun on-site work on the Maddi Kingsbury disappearance. Williams broke silence on the appointment of veteran investigator Phillip Prokopowicz when asked about it at a routine morning news conference. The question was whether Prokopowicz had introduced himself around the department. Williams said yes, he had met Prokopowicz. He was asked when this was. The chief said he couldn’t recall exactly. Heferred cut off further questuioins and referred reporters to County Attorney Karin Sonneman. It was Sonneman who, disappointed that the police investigation apparently had dead-ended, brought Prokopowicz out of retirement. He had been the deputy chief prosecutor in Dakota County, which has a population 10 times greater than Winona County. The Winona Police Department’s partner agency in the Kingsbury case, the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. has also been recalcitrant about discussing the role of Prokopowicz. An MCPA spokesperson in St. Paul. Bonney Bowman, confirmed, when asked, that Prokopowicz had been brought on to work in “a consulting capacity” on the Kingsbury case. She offered no details.
At April 5 news conference. MCPA facilitator Bowman and Winona Police Chief and Williams.