WINONA, Minn. – Winona County’s attorney, Karin Sonneman, needs more evidence in the disappearance of Maddi Kingsbury and asked for further outside assistance in the stalled investigation. Being brought in as a consultant is Phillip Prokopowicz, the retired chief deputy attorney for Dakota County. His title is special prosecutor with a mandate to work with Winona police and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It was not clear what Prokopowicz’s relationship with local police will be, butiut was believed that he will report directly to Sonneman. Prokopowicz’s appointment was leaked to news media through the Kingsbury family last week. A Winona police spokesperson declined Monday to discuss the appointment and referred reporters to Sonneman. Neither Sonneman nor Winona police nor BCA announced the appointment, and Prokopowicz’s role has not been defined publicly. Police Chief Tom Williams said April 3, four days after Maddi Kingsbury disappeared, that the disappearance was “involuntary” and “suspicious” but there was insufficient evidence to identify a “suspect” or “person of interest.” That remains the status of the case 3 days later despite massive searches for Kingsbury and hundreds of tips and dozens of police interviews.
Prokopowicz. He’s been brought out of retirement in Dakota County apparently to take over the investigation at the request of the Winona County prosecutor.
Sonneman. Elected in 2010 as Winona County’s chief prosecutor. Earlier a public defender for Minnesota’s Rochester-based Third Judicial District.