Posted on 03/24/2006 8:28:46 AM PST by Blogger
Slain Minister's Wife to Be Charged With Murder Friday, March 24, 2006 MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The wife of a Tennessee pastor found shot dead in his house Wednesday will face first-degree murder charges, authorities announced Friday.
Mary Winklerwas found Thursday night with the couple's three daughters in Orange Beach, Ala., about 400 miles south of their home in Selmer.
Investigators with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said she was interviewed during the night and the charges were being prepared.
"We've interviewed her and she was cooperative," said Jennifer Johnson of the TBI, adding that once a warrant with the charges was drawn up, extradition proceedings would begin to have her returned to Tennessee.
Matthew Winkler was found shot to death in the bedroom of his parsonage Wednesday by church members who began searching for him after he failed to show up at an evening event at Selmer's Church of Christ.
Police said there were no signs of forced entry, but Winkler's wife and children — Breanna, 1; Mary Alice, 6; and Patricia, 8 — were gone.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Maybe the local TN news will have more details?
Yep, sadly par for the course around here these days.
Perhaps you should review the post I was responding to, and in fact the entire thread up until my post. And the remainder of the thread after that, as a matter of fact - I think you'll find that the vast majority of posts speculating about a motive are basically attempts to find some way in which this was the victim's fault. Strange how you don't call them out as well. Apparently my sin is pointing out that there are other possibilities as well, and thereby not following the herd. So be it.
My sin was ONLY reading your post. I apologize.
That was a pretty nice house that I saw on FOX last night. Don't know what its worth in TN but up here in North NJ, considering the size of the front yard with all the trees, its worth at least $500k probably more. Do preachers make that kind of money?? Maybe she blew out the credit cards for the 10th time and just didn't want to hear it all over again.
Spoken like a person with true class. Thank you. Pax :)
And what number would that be - 3? 300? 3000? And from what source did you "hear" this?
Here's a place to start. Domestic Violence in Religious Congregations: Implications for Social Work Practice
Quote from the above website: "Social workers often face special challenges when addressing conservative Christian groups on difficult social issues such as domestic violence. The literature offers complex and sometimes conflicting data concerning religion and domestic violence. Studies report that conservative Christian men do not abuse their partners more than other denominations (Brinkerhoff, Grandin, & Lupri 1992) and regular attendance in religious services is inversely associated with perpetration of domestic violence (Ellison & Anderson, 2001). However, men who hold more conservative theological views than their partners are especially likely to perpetrate domestic violence (Ellison & Anderson, 2001). Little empirical work has been done, however, specifically on how religiosity may influence help-seeking behaviors. This study builds on existing literature by offering findings that help clarify the relationship between religiosity and help-seeking behaviors among religiously affiliated people."
(snip)
"In this sample of church attendees, holding more conservative religious views is associated with engaging in fewer help-seeking activities. While victimization rates vary little across religiosity categories, help-seeking activities vary significantly. Conservative respondents were as likely to be victimized as their liberal counterparts; however, they were less likely to seek help on a number of variables. These findings suggest a need for social workers to address barriers to help-seeking among people holding more conservative religious views. Social workers need to understand the restraints and barriers to help-seeking among all at-risk groups and design interventions that hold appeal across the spectrum of religiosity. "
This might be the real crux of the problem: People who are religiously conservative are less likely to seek outside help in dealing with domestic violence issues. One may presume that such people are more likely to take matters into their own hands for a solution to their distress, whether the vicitm is male or female.
The sad thing though is that the studies show that religious men are as likely to beat their wives as non-religious men. Christians are also just as likely, if not more likely, to get divorced as non-Christians. If this is the case, it's not exactly a good selling point for being religious, is it?
Nonsense.
I've been a member of the church of Christ all my life, and what Diddle said is true: you'll find all kinds of people in any large group. Don't judge the whole family by its black sheep.
No "requirements" to marry within. You might some of us a little "off," but it has nothing to do with religion ;-)
You won't find a warmer, more loving, people on earth. Conservative, caring, the kind of neighbors you really want. Bible thumpers? Yep. But in a good way, seeking to follow Jesus and his example.
I have no idea what happened within this poor family, but I hurt for the kids. Looking at his farewell letter in church bulletin from their previous congregation, it would seem that he was perhaps the youth minister at the previous church and maybe moved on to become pulpit minister at the smaller congregation. That would be a career move, and would likely involve more stress and perhaps less money.
If she gets herself a smart defense attorney; he'll (or she'll) plead her as having been "preacher abused" and get her off with a slap on the wrist...if that.
Mark my words....
If it was sexually molesting the daughters, she is excused.
There's a red flag to me. If it was rented for the family and the entire family didn't go (which it's certain in this case that they didn't), COULD indicate abuse that usually took place away from the home and congregation because someone felt ... ah ... safer doing it that way. MERE SPECULATION, OF COURSE.
Any background on either the husband and wife yet? How long married, 1st time marriage for both(?), family backgrounds, etc.?
Well call me crazy that I find it disgusting to speculate that a man shot in the back by his wife is a child molesting, wife beating adulterer.
Dear Central,It's never easy to leave one's friends and start over again in an unfamiliar town. The decision to make this change was a tough one but we feel it was the right one. I wanted to thank all the young people that gave up their time and energy in pursuit of a greater relationship with our Lord. You are very special individuals. Continue to seek after the Lord and live the Christian life. We love you. I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of Central for the love and kindness that has been extended to my family. The time that we have been blessed to spend with you as a part of the Central family has been special to us. You will always have a special place in our hearts. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers as we will keep you in ours. It has been a pleasure and joy serving the Lord with you.
In Brotherly Love, Matthew Winkler
This is not a smoking gun. As a pastor leaving a congregation, he would naturally be the one to write the letter, and he's clearly speaking for his entire family (e.g., "we," "our," "us"). I don't see any indication that he's a power-tripper.
If she rented it and never stayed there, then I wonder how long they were on the road and if they stayed anywhere?
Speculating way out of bounds.
Housing may well have been provided by the church, and, if not, you cannot compare TN and NJ real estate prices. Huge difference.
I could sell my rather large house in Texas and buy an average storage shed in NJ with the proceeds. Probably the same in TN.
I don't think such a move would cause post partum depression but if she moved to a new place shortly before her child was born than she hasn't yet had a chance to develop the network of relationships she would need to be able to deal with her issues. Pastor's wives are expected to be perfect and sometimes friendships between the pastor's wife and members of the congregation cause interesting political issues within the congregation.
I do wonder if things would have turned out better for this family if they had stayed in their previous parish until a year after the child was born.
Met in a church-affiliated college, married ten years, he comes from a line of preachers.
Poor kids are probably scared to death. My heart goes out to them... :-(
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