'Waking Nightmare': Maddi Kingsbury's Parents, Sister Release Remarks

WINONA, MN — The parents and sister of Madeline "Maddi" Kingsbury released a statement Wednesday describing the "waking nightmare" they are experiencing since she went missing on March 31.

"Nothing in life prepares you for this," read the family's statement, released through the Winona Police Department.

"In the days and nights since Madeline disappeared, the immediate family and extended family have, collectively and individually, been experiencing emotions and trials that someone who has never been suddenly thrust into this horrific situation could ever imagine."

The family's statement is separate from the public remarks published Wednesday by the father of Kingsbury's young children. Adam Fravel defended himself against speculation that he was involved with Kingsbury's disappearance.

Megan Kingsbury told KTTC that while the father of her sister's kids has cooperated with investigators, he has not been involved with the family since Madeline disappeared.

Kingsbury, 26, hasn't been seen or heard from since dropping her kids off at daycare on the morning of March 31. She also did not show up for her job as a research coordinator at the Mayo Clinic.

Calls and messages from her sister and mother went unanswered that day. "All of this is extremely out of character for her," Winona police said.

Megan Kingsbury told FOX News she received a "goofy" text from her sister at 8:15 a.m. on the morning she went missing.

"We were chuckling about a funny photo exchange between us, and that was the last communication with me, or with any of my family or her other friends," Megan Kingsbury told the news channel.

Read the full statement from Kingsbury's parents and sister below:

Nothing in life prepares you for this. The disappearance of our daughter and sister has been a waking nightmare with no respite. In the days and nights since Madeline disappeared, the immediate family and extended family have, collectively and individually, been experiencing emotions and trials that someone who has never been suddenly thrust into this horrific situation could ever imagine.

Eating is a mechanical act we force ourselves to do in order to keep our strength up so we can continue to advocate and search for Madeline. Sleep, if it comes, is fitful and fleeting. I have to think that the only thing that could come close to what we experience is the stress of combat, day after awful day. Initially we were so overwrought that we couldn't bear to look at each othter but couldn't bear to look away. There were no words we could say to comfort each other and we felt alone and frantic. In the days since the family has circled the wagons and gathered from near and across the world. We will find Madeline. This is our mission and we will not falter.

We're private people finding ourselves thrust into the nationla limelight at the most traumatic time in our lives. We don't seek to draw attention to ourselves but, of course, want everyone everywhere to know about Madeline so we can reunite her with her children.

Members of our family and close friends coordinate closely with law enforcement and send out search teams day after day, every day.

From time to time and as we see the need we use social media to encourage and inform the large groups of volunteers helping us search for Madeline. We're overwhelmed by this dedication and tangible expressions of love demonstrated by the huge circle of warriors she unknowingly gathered around her - her sorority sisters, coworkers at Mayo Clinic and other places, fellow students from her days at Winona State, other moms and her many, many friends, acquaintances and people whose lives she's touched.

We will continue to search for Madeline. We will not give up and our family will come out the other side of this forever changed but forever grateful for the tireless dedication of so many helpers - friends and relatives, people in law enforcement, other first responders, social workers, case workers, legal professionals, child advocates and many, many more.

Kingsbury's van, a 2014 dark blue Chrysler Town and Country, is also missing.

During the investigation, police learned that a van matching Kingsbury's Chrysler was seen traveling from Winona to the eastern part of Fillmore County on the day she went missing. It's not clear who was driving the vehicle.

Large, organized search efforts for Kingsbury continued through Easter weekend. Approximately 1,900 volunteers came out Friday and 700 Saturday to help in the search, according to authorities.

"Due to this incredible turnout, we were able to cover substantially more ground in a shorter time than expected," read a statement from Winona Police Department.

Authorities asked residents and landowners in the area to check their properties — including any surveillance footage — for signs of the van passing through or stopping in the area or anything else suspicious.

Kingsbury was not located, and there are currently no suspects or persons of interest.

"We are not giving up and we want to thank everyone for their continued support for Maddi and her family," the police added.

Her family is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to her location.

Kingsbury is described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 135 pounds, and has brown hair and hazel eyes. The Winona Police Department and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension "are actively reviewing and following up on information obtained during the ongoing investigation."

Anyone with information on Kingsbury's location is urged to call 911 or the Winona Police Department at (507) 457-6288.