Minister found shot to death; family missing

KNOX NEWS ^ | 03.23.06 | KNOX

[CAWats]

SELMER, Tenn. — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide Amber Alert this morning after a West Tennessee minister was found shot to death and his family missing.

The children, ranging in age from 1 to 8, are missing from Selmer, about 80 miles east of Memphis in McNairy County.

<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://adsremote.scripps.com/event.ng/Type=click&FlightID=2028632&AdID=2035647&TargetID=2011448&Targets=2011020,2003385,2011361,2011448,2017830,2011669,2011703,2013366,2017874&RawValues=&Redirect=http:%2f%2fwww.advertisersite.com"><IMG SRC="http://images.scripps.com/1x1.gif" WIDTH=336 HEIGHT=280 BORDER=0></A> Their father, Matthew Winkler, 31, was found dead in a bedroom of the parsonage of Fourth Street Church of Christ, where he was the minister, Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks said.

The missing children were identified as Breanna Winkler, age 1; Mary Alice Winkler, 6, who is 3 feet tall and weighs about 40 pounds; Patricia Winkler, 8, who is 4 feet tall and weights about 60 pounds. All are white females. The two older girls have dark brown hair.

Authorities also are searching for their mother, Mary Winkler, who is 32, 5-foot-3, and weighs about 120 pounds, and they believe she is with the children.

[r9etb]

Strange....

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Prayers that the children will be safe. Sounds like the preachers wife killed the hubby. So sad.

[lunarbicep]

Statewide AMBER Alert has been issued by the Selmer Police Department for Breanna Winkler a 1-year-old, white female, Mary Alice Winkler a 6-year-old, white, female 3`0" tall and weighs approximately 40lbs with dark brown hair and dark eyes, Patricia Winkler, a 8-year-old, white female, with dark brown hair and is 4`0" tall and weighs approximately 60lbs.

They are possibly with their mother, Mary Winkler, she is a 32-year-old, white female, 5`3" tall and weighs 120-125lbs. They are believed to be traveling in a 2006 Toyota Sienna Van, gray in color, with Tennessee License Plate NDX288.

The children along with there mother have been reported missing to the Selmer Police Department. Their father was found murdered in their home on March 22, 2006 at 9:22 pm by church members after the family failed to show for church. The children and mother was last seen on March 21, 2006 at approximately 5:45 pm.

If you have seen the vehicle, the mother or the children please contact the Selmer Police Department at 731-645-7906 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

[CAWats]

That's how I read it. Prayers for the children.

[Jaded]

sad

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Prayers for the children and wife.

Hope that they will be found safe and well.

[camle]

mom has a new boyfriend?

[TommyDale]

If it had been a Pentecostal church, I would immediately suspect the piano player.

[vetvetdoug]

This happened really close to me, closer than I wish to admit. I am going to keep any speculation quiet until the family is found. This area is a crossroads for criminals and it is not uncommon to find some really bad folks wandering into the area for anonymity.

[BluH2o]

For what it's worth department ... Selmar, TN is just a few miles from Shiloh where one of the deadliest battles of the Civil War was fought.

[festus]

Drinking early this am ?

[mombonn]

Am praying for all concerned. Also praying for the little boy missing in TX, and the 2 boys in WI.

[Shanda]

That town was made famous in the origina "Walking Tall" movie.

[FreedomWatcher]

How about he was secretly an abusive husband, and she feared for her life?

Domestic violence is real, and I personally know people who went years being abused by their husbands without anyone ever knowing.

Pray.

[TommyDale]

Inside joke. Several times now I have seen this happen...

[TommyDale]

For starters, my own uncle and a cousin...

[cpanter]

On the Nashville news this morning, they gave no indication as to what may have happened. But at the end, it said they are probably traveling in the wife's van. I took it like she was on the lam with the kids. But later thought they they were all kidnapped and just the van and kids were missing... regardless... it's strange.

[wideawake]

If it had been an Episcopal church, I would immediately suspect the butler.

[festus]

Several times now I have seen this happen...

Be careful. This was exactly the testimony of inspector Clouseau right before they pinned all the pink panther burglaries on him......