Matthew Winkler was a beloved minister, husband, and father in the small city of Selmer, Tennessee. Married to Mary for nearly a decade, the couple shared three daughters together. In 2005, he took on the role of pulpit minister at a church in Selmer, where he was well-respected by the community.
Tragically, on March 22, 2006, Matthew Winkler was found dead in his home with a fatal gunshot wound. His wife and children were not present at the time of the discovery. The Tennessee State Medical Examiner determined that Matthew had been killed by a single shot from a shotgun, resulting in fatal bleeding.
Following the shocking death of her husband, Mary Winkler was arrested in Orange Beach, Alabama, where she confessed to shooting him. Initially charged with first-degree murder, Mary was later convicted of voluntary manslaughter. During her trial, Mary testified that her husband had subjected her to physical abuse and forced her to partake in activities against her will.
Mary was sentenced to three years in prison, with credit for time served. After completing the final 60 days of her sentence in a mental health facility, Mary was released in August 2007. Despite losing custody of her children temporarily after her arrest, Mary regained custody in 2008.
