Slain Minister's Wife to Be Charged With Murder

Fox News ^ | March 24, 2006

[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.

[Brytani]

Not necessarily. If I was going to beat my wife, I might very well want to avoid bruising her in visible areas, i.e., nothing to stop me from punching her in the gut or kidneys instead. Her lack of a black eye does not mean she hasn't been physically abused.

Covered by my point of her not being taken to a hospital for medical attention. If the police are aware that a person in custody has any physical harm to their body, they seek out medical treatment for the person.

First, if they do not, it becomes fodder for a defense attorney. "the poor abused women, beat by her husband and kept from getting medical help by the police" type scenario.

Secondly the police want proof that any injury did not occur because of the arrest or questioning process. Medical exams are used to show the injuries happened before the person was in custody. It's to cover LEO's rear ends from abuse allegations.

[manwiththehands]

Hmmm. Maybe I missed something. Is there anything to this story that would lead anyone to believe he was molesting her children? And if he were does that justify shooting him ... and in the back?! I remember reading about these organizations used in most civilized societies. They are called the "police" and the "legal system". And you know what? It's THIER JOB to arrest and prosecute criminals, but only after what they call a "fair trial". I would want to shoot someone who molested my kid, but I don't think I would actually do it. Shooting someone is justified only in self-defense. Anything else is vigilante ism. And makes us no better than the Muslims.

[Windsong]

She is the product of an environment that teaches people to justify their own actions as being righteous while condemning others.

So youre one of the "once saved always saved-speaking-in-tongues" denominations eh?

[sonserae]

So, what your saying is that sin can infest any environment.
That's all you are saying.

[sonserae]

It's obviously pre-meditate if she rented a condo...she had to plan ahead to rent it. It wasn't a "heat of the moment" kind of thing.

[G Larry]

>Shot in the back, not even a fair fight.<

Perhaps making up for previous "unfair fights".

[GourmetDan]

Wrong again.

[GourmetDan]

"So, what your saying is that sin can infest any environment. That's all you are saying."

Nooooo.

I said, "She is the product of an environment that teaches people to justify their own actions as being righteous while condemning others. That is the root of it, IMO."

[GourmetDan]

"It would be nice to have at least a fact or two to back up your condemnation of an entire church."

I didn't 'condemn an entire church'. If anyone did, you did.

I said, "She is the product of an environment that teaches people to justify their own actions as being righteous while condemning others. That is the root of it, IMO."

IMO, she is a product of that environment. If you think that environment is consistent for all CoC's, then you are condemning an entire church, not me.

Please try to respond rationally rather than emotionally. The emotional approach is probably how the husband-killer reacted.

[sonserae]

So, you are okay with justifying your actions of generalizing that everyone in a group justifies their sin?

I think you might want to start saying less as God is also judging your judgemental attitude.

[GourmetDan]

"I think you might want to start saying less as God is also judging your judgemental attitude."

Isn't that being just a little bit..... judgemental? ;-)

[stands2reason]

Hey smart guy, a capella singing is music.

And CoC ain't a cult, not even close.

[petitfour]

Are you saying that you are familiar with the congregations she has attended?

[Sloth]

Covered by my point of her not being taken to a hospital for medical attention.

Ahh, point taken. Well, it doesn't rule out having been beaten in the past, but I'll agree that it suggests she'd received no such physical abuse recently.

[Politicalmom]

I didn't SAY he was molesting them. Did you see the "I"?

I was agreeing with you that in most cases a trip to the police is the answer.

If *I* CAUGHT someone molesting one of my children, I might just kill him. That WOULD be defending my child from an attack, which is covered under self-defense laws.

[stands2reason]

Please add me to your pinglist.

[Politicalmom]

I don't consider it rational to make "factual" statements about a church you haven't attended.

[sonserae]

Not judgemental, just observant. You know nothing about this woman you are judging...what she's thinking, what happened at church, her motives, etc. Your writings are evidence of your judgemental attitude. I'm just stating an observance.

[GourmetDan]

OK, I will translate for for you.

All the CoC girls would go to different churches so that they could have instrumental music at their weddings.

What a testament to their religion. The most important covenant short of salvation itself was done in another church so that they could do it 'their way'.

That's the point. Justifying whatever you want to do when it contradicts 'the church'.

I believe that's essentially what Miss Husband-Killer did, isn't it?

[GourmetDan]

I thought I was extremely clear that it was consistent with the congregations I did attend.

Recognized it instantly.