Mary Winkler, once known as the preacher’s wife in Tennessee, is set to have her case reexamined on the April 19, 2024 episode of 20/20 on ABC. Mary gained national attention when she became the main suspect in the murder of her husband, Matthew Winkler, who was shot in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun on March 22, 2006.
After confessing to the crime in Orange Beach, Alabama, Mary Winkler was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. She served her sentence and has now returned to Tennessee, moving to a small town 200 miles away from the scene of the crime with her three daughters.
During her trial, Mary Winkler accused her husband of sexual and physical abuse, claiming he hit and kicked her, forced her to look at pornography, and perform “unnatural” sex acts. She was sentenced to three years in prison but was credited with 143 days of served time. After serving an additional 210 days, she became eligible for probation and was permitted to serve the last 60 days of her sentence in a mental health facility.
The upcoming episode of 20/20 will delve deeper into Mary Winkler’s case and shed light on the events that led up to the tragic shooting of Matthew Winkler.
