WINONA, Minn. – Police Chief Tom Williams asked rural landowners to check old homesteads, wells, windmills and sinkholes for evidence in the case of the missing Winona woman Maddi Kingsbury. Most such places aren’t marked in county property records that guided earlier searches, Williams said. Kingsbury disappeared from her Winona home four weeks ago. Massive searches in three counties haven’t yielded any evidence, at least as fas as police have revealed. Specifically Williams identified these as new sites to check:
> Old wells from before 1925.
> Old homesteads.
> Old windmills and windmill bases.
> Sinkholes, most of which are disguised by shrubs and overgrowth that in reality that are deep crevices into deep underground water flows.
Where did minivan travel?
In a written notice to landowners, Williams said there was particular interest in sinkholes that are accessible by car. Sources earlier confirmed that Kingsbury’s minivan has been subjected to intense forensic examination by the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which certainly would have included checks in wheel wells, tires and undercarriage for mud and other clues. Police have believed from early on that Kingsbury’s minivan made an unexplained trip from Winona south into Fillmore and perhaps Houston counties the morning she disappeared — and then returned to her Winona townhouse. The roundtrip, in a 2-1/2 hour window, would have been 45 to 90 miles. Whether Kingsbury was in the vehicle, as the driver or passenger or perhaps a captive, has been the subject of speculation.
Search zone immensity. Look carefully, very carefully. You can see volunteers combing remote Yucatan Township last weekend. Searches have extended over most of three counties that comprise 2,070 square miles.
Police still hope to find Maddi
Williams emphasized in his message to landowners that new searches are “part of our ongoing efforts to find Maddi and bring her home to her family.” The goal, he said, remains to find leads for new searches. “The investigation is active and ongoing,” he said. “We are not prepared to identify a suspect or person of interest at this time. We remain committed to finding Maddi and, if warranted, hold accountable the person or persons responsible for her disappearance.”
Private property search protocols
Williams asked all landowners in Winona, Fillmore and Houston counties to place a blue check mark in an easily visible location to indicate their consent to having their property searched. He said searches would be be looking for Maddi or signs of a disturbance or something out of the ordinary. “They will not be entering any homes or other structures on the property and will follow all state and local laws and postings on the property,” he said. Volunteers will also confirm with landowners whether it’s OK to search, he said. Once they haves searched, volunteers will tie a blue ribbon around a mailbox or post letting others know the property has been checked, he said. Landowners whose property has been searched already also can tie a blue ribbon outside to let others know
Tips to volunteers
To volunteer Williams encouraged making safety their top priority. “Please do not search alone. Don’t search dangerous areas. And don’t enter the water,” he said. “We don’t want anyone to get lost or hurt, which would also pull resources from our search for Maddi.”