Thinking about the gun that was in the home (*assuming* it was a shotgun, but won't say that specifically) that was said to be used for turkey hunting ... I wondered if there is a spring hunting season for wild turkey in TN.
Sure enough, there is.
"Tennessee Wild Turkey Dates Have Been Announced. 2006 Statewide Wild Turkey Season is April 1 - May 14, 2006 - bag limit is 4 bearded turkeys. Youth hunt - March 25-26, 2006"
Of course, there's no reason for any long gun that's not used for protection to be loaded in the house, but look at those dates. I wonder if Matthew, as a long-time former Youth Minister, ever took "youth" - young men - from the church on wild turkey hunts and whether he might have been getting ready for one two days before the youth season opened. Like, having the gun out, his camo and orange vest, caps, and so forth.
Would Mary have gotten upset having the gun out with the girls around? Would that be the "dangerous" situation?
[Jackson, TN, Sun]
Visitation today for slain minister
Wife faces arraignment in Selmer for first-degree murder
By ANDREW TRAN
The first court appearance for a Selmer woman accused of fatally shooting her minister husband is scheduled on the same day that friends and family will begin paying their respects to him.
Mary Winkler, 32, is scheduled to be be arraigned on a charge of first-degree murder at 1:30 p.m. today at the McNairy County Criminal Justice Center.
Meanwhile, friends and family of Matthew Winkler, 31, are invited to gather for visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Shackleford Funeral Home in Selmer. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Fourth Street Church of Christ in Selmer, where Winkler was the minister. Burial will follow at the Carroll County Memorial Gardens in Huntingdon at 3 p.m.
Instead of sending flowers, mourners and well-wishers are asked to contribute to a fund that has been set up for the three Winkler children. The donations will be used for counseling and for establishing a trust to help pay for college for Breanna Winkler, 1, Mary Alice Winkler, 6, and Patricia Winkler, 8. Donations may be sent to Winkler Family Fund, 229 Ward Circle, Suite A-23, Brentwood, TN 37027.
A judge granted custody of the girls to Matthew Winkler's parents, Dan and Diane Winkler of Huntingdon, at a hearing Friday afternoon in Alabama. [snip]