by PunditGuy | Aug 15, 2006 | General |
Mary must have found a more reliable bail bondsman.
A minister’s wife accused of shooting her husband to death after the two argued over money was released from jail Tuesday on $750,000 bond.
Winkler walked out of the jail between two of her defense attorneys, keeping her head down and refusing to answer questions. Her father, Clark Freeman of Knoxville, drove her away from the jail.
As part of her bond, Winkler is required to live with friends in McMinnville, 65 miles southeast of Nashville, where she will work at a dry cleaners and be supervised by the state probation office.
Defense attorneys Steve Farese said Winkler is eager to see her three young daughters, who are living with their paternal grandparents, but no arrangements have been made for visits.
“Her emotional state is fragile. Certainly she’s apprehensive,” Farese said.
Defense lawyers have implied that Mary Winkler was emotionally abused by her husband.
But we’ll never know the truth on that will we, seeing as how Matthew isn’t around anymore to defend himself. Pretty convenient for Mary’s defense, if you ask me.
Previously: Winkler Remains Locked Up | Winkler’s Caught Up in Email Scam | Shot Dead Over Family Finances | Winkler: Opening Up | Winkler Attorneys Waive Fees | The Innocent Victims | Winkler Family Fund | Possible Winkler Defense? | Mary Winkler: “Overwhelmed and Confused” | Winkler Vs. the State of Tennessee | She Did It |
by PunditGuy | Aug 11, 2006 | General |
Mary Winkler was set to be released on bond today, but at the last minute, it was discovered that her bonding company’s license had been suspended since 1999. So for now, she’s back behind bars.
Defense attorney Steve Farese Jr. said Friday afternoon that Judge Weber McCraw had approved the details of a $750,000 bond arranged by the family through Williams Bail Bond of Alamo. He said administrators were processing the paperwork to release her by Friday evening.
But shortly after 5 p.m., McCraw was informed by a judge in another county that Williams Bail Bond had been suspended over a 1999 incident, Farese said.
“The judge is just doing his job,” Farese said. “It would have been an error if she had been released.”
Williams Bail Bond employees would try to resolve any disputes and work toward a deal for Winkler’s release early next week, Farese said.
Winkler is charged with killing her husband Matthew with a single blast from a 12-gauge shotgun as he lay in bed at their church parsonage following a night of arguing over strained family finances and other matters. She has been in jail since March 23, the day after his death, awaiting trial.
Previously: Winkler’s Caught Up in Email Scam | Shot Dead Over Family Finances | Winkler: Opening Up | Winkler Attorneys Waive Fees | The Innocent Victims | Winkler Family Fund | Possible Winkler Defense? | Mary Winkler: “Overwhelmed and Confused” | Winkler Vs. the State of Tennessee | She Did It |
by PunditGuy | Jul 21, 2006 | General |
Mary Winkler’s defense is beginning to take shape. It looks like her lawyers intend to pin the blame on the ‘Nigerian Scam’.
A woman accused of shooting her preacher husband to death after they argued over money may have been taken in by a remarkably common scam that strained their finances and their marriage.
Mary Winkler, who is charged with murder, had gotten tangled up along with her husband in a swindle known as an advance-fee fraud, or the “Nigerian scam,” in which victims are told that a sweepstakes prize or some other riches are waiting for them if they send in money to cover the processing expenses, her lawyers say.
“They were always kind of living on the edge of their budget,” defense attorney Steve Farese said, “so I’m sure this would have just wrecked their budget.”
No one has said how much money the Winklers may have lost, or what role the financial strain might have played in the slaying of Matthew Winkler, the popular minister at the Fourth Street Church of Christ in this small town 80 miles east of Memphis.
Matthew Winkler was shot in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun as he lay in bed March 22 and was found dead by church members.
I am continually amazed with people who are taken in by email scams, urban legends and the like. Don’t they know that search engines are their best friends? Obviously they don’t.
It’s clear that Winkler’s defense team is attempting to reveal Mary’s state of mind prior to the shooting. Given that she’s already confessed to being the shooter, her lawyers need to paint the picture that she was out of sorts, off her rocker, over the edge, if you will, when she blew her husband Matthew away. My guess is they’re simply trying to avoid a death sentence. There’s no doubt that Mary Winkler will never resume a normal life. I have zero pity for her. As I’ve said before, the real victims remain alive. Through no fault of their own, the Winkler daughters will face a lifetime without their parents.
Previously: | Shot Dead Over Family Finances | Winkler: Opening Up | Winkler Attorneys Waive Fees | The Innocent Victims | Winkler Family Fund | Possible Winkler Defense? | Mary Winkler: “Overwhelmed and Confused” | Winkler Vs. the State of Tennessee | She Did It |
by PunditGuy | Apr 20, 2006 | General |
Weeks after she gunned down her husband in the parsonage where they made a home for their family of five, Mary Winkler is starting to open up to her lawyers.
“She appears to be coming out of her initial shock,” said attorney Steve Farese. “She is starting to open more, she is starting to be able to give us more details of the time period surrounding the events,” says Farese.
Winkler didn’t spend Easter with her children, and now her lawyer is attempting to arrange contact with the kids. It’s still not clear if that will happen. Meanwhile, the trial will most likely be pushed back to October due to the judge’s full schedule.
by PunditGuy | Apr 6, 2006 | General |
But don’t think for a minute that they’re being so generous for Mary Winkler’s benefit. Nope, these two guys are seeking a national stage.
I predict…
— They’ll each get a big book deal
— One of them will get their own cable TV show
— The other will become “Chief Legal Correspondent” for ABC, NBC, CBS or CNN
After reading this article, I thought about the joke uttered by Danny DeVito in “The War of the Roses”.
“What do you call 1000 lawyers at the bottom of the sea?”
“A good start.”
by PunditGuy | Apr 4, 2006 | General |
A fund has been setup for the kids of Matthew and Mary Winkler. See more “Winkler” related posts here.
Thank you for your desire to help the Winkler children as they deal with this heartbreaking time in their lives. These are wonderful, precious girls and your gift to help heal their hearts is greatly appreciated.
The girls are now in the loving hands of their paternal grandparents, Dan and Diane Winkler. This Godly couple is very well suited to help the girls during this time. Diane is a former schoolteacher. She is a loving and gracious person with a charming sense of humor and will be a wonderful guide and example for the girls as they grow to adulthood. Dan is a deeply thoughtful person.
He is a man of great character and compassion. Together, Dan and Diane will assist the girls as they cope with the tragic death of their father. Please, pray for Dan and Diane as you continue to pray for the girls.
One hundred percent of your gift will go to helping heal the hearts of the Winkler girls. The funds will be used to assist with the girls’ immediate needs such as appropriate counseling and care. Any funds remaining as the children graduate from high school will be available as a college fund.
Again, thank you for willingness to help the Winkler girls.
Sincerely,
Dr. Eddie Thompson, close friend of the Winkler Family and Trustee
Checks should be made out to The Winkler Family Fund and mailed to:
The Winkler Family Fund
c/o Dr. Eddie Thompson
229 Ward Circle
Suite A-23
Brentwood, TN 37027
The fund is a Minor’s Trust for the benefit of the Winkler children under the laws of Tennessee. The fund account is held by BancorpSouth. The trustees of the fund are:
Dr. Eddie Thompson
P. Cayce Powell, Attorney
Jeremy Pharr, Attorney
Melinda Magyar
Please email your thoughts and prayers to: admin@winklerfamilyfund.com
Help, if you can.
by PunditGuy | Apr 3, 2006 | General |
While Mary Winkler remains in jail accused of murdering her husband at home in Selmer, Tennessee last month, her lawyers are slowly revealing what may become the basis for her defense – postpartum depression. Meanwhile, Jane Genova wonders if Winkler will become the next Andrea Yates.
Winkler receives visitors regularly at the McNairy County Justice Center. On Sunday alone, she met approximately 15 people, including her father, Clark Freeman. Tonya Smith-King of The Jackson Sun recounts the visit.
Previously: Mary Winkler: “Overwhelmed and Confused” | Winkler Vs. the State of Tennesee | She Did It |
by PunditGuy | Mar 28, 2006 | General |
According to the attorney for Mary Winkler, the woman who confessed to the murder of her minister husband, is “very confused and overwhelmed” by what’s happening to her. (Video)
She is “very detached, very detached from the gravity of the overall situation, very reserved, very quiet, very confused and overwhelmed,” Steve Forese said on the “Today” show.
Meanwhile, Winkler’s attorney seems to be pushing the idea, in a round about way, that the shooting was some sort of accident. He mentioned that the family was in a “dangerous situation” and in that atmosphere, Winkler shot her husband.
One of Winkler’s defense attorneys, Leslie Ballin, said he hadn’t seen Winkler’s statement to Alabama police, but said he’s not convinced it will amount to a legitimate confession.
“We will be looking at what condition she was held in, if she was without sleep or food, or any pressures that may have been lent (sic) upon her,” Ballin said.
The funeral for Matthew Winkler was held today.
Mourners filed into the Fourth Street Church of Christ Tuesday in Selmer, Tenn., for the funeral of their pastor, who was shot to death.
Police cordoned off streets surrounding the church to keep out the news media.
Matthew Winkler’s family, including his three young daughters, are expected to attend, according to police.
The homicide victim’s father, Dan Winkler — a minister from Huntingdon — is scheduled to officiate at the service.
Related: PDF copy of the arrest warrant and affidavit in the case.
The Latest: Winkler Released from Jail | Winkler Remains Locked Up | Winkler’s Caught Up in Email Scam | Shot Dead Over Family Finances | Winkler: Opening Up | Winkler Attorneys Waive Fees | The Innocent Victims | Winkler Family Fund | Possible Winkler Defense? | Mary Winkler: “Overwhelmed and Confused” | Winkler Vs. the State of Tennessee | She Did It |
by PunditGuy | Mar 27, 2006 | General |
Mary Winkler, the minister’s wife who confessed to killing her husband showed up for the first time in court today. The only words uttered by Winkler were “No sir” when she was asked if she had any questions. She didn’t enter a plea. She appeared in an orange jump suit and was shackled. (Video)
Winkler is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband, Matthew Winkler, the minister at Fourth Street Church of Christ in Selmer, Tennessee, a small town 80 miles east of Memphis.
Funeral services for her dead husband are scheduled for Tuesday in the church where he served as Pastor.
Meanwhile, a friend who visited Winkler in jail says the 32–year old is sorry for everything that happened.
Church member Pam Killingsworth visited Winkler after Sunday services and said the preacher’s wife gave no indication why her husband of 10 years was shot.
“She just said she was sorry and for me to write a note to the church saying that she was sorry for everything she had done,” said Killingsworth, as she walked away from the jail in tears.
So far, Winkler’s motive remains a secret.
MORE: Columbia preacher shocked, saddened by friend’s slaying |
by PunditGuy | Jun 30, 2006 | General |
Mary Winkler, the minister’s wife charged with murdering her husband on March 22, 2006, told police she shot him after they argued over family finances and then told him “I’m sorry” as he lay dying in their bedroom, according to testimony at a bond hearing Friday.
In court Friday, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Booth read a statement Mary Winkler gave authorities in Alabama, where she was arrested a day after her husband’s body was found by church members.
Booth testified that Winkler told police she knew her husband kept a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun in the closet of the home where they lived with their three daughters. She said she didn’t remember getting the gun.
“The next thing I remember was hearing a loud boom. I remember thinking it wasn’t as loud as I thought it would be,” Booth said, reading from Winkler’s statement.
She told police her husband rolled from the bed onto the floor after being shot.
“He asked me why, and I just said `I’m sorry,'” Booth read from the statement.
Winkler said the two had argued throughout the evening about several things, including family finances. The problems were “mostly my fault,” she said, because she was in charge of keeping the family books.
“He had really been on me lately criticizing me for things — the way I walk, I eat, everything. It was just building up to a point. I was tired of it. I guess I got to a point and snapped,” Booth read to the court.
She guesses? Granted, I wasn’t standing in the police station when she was giving this statement, but that last little bit about being criticized by her husband Matthew sounds a little emotionless to me. And I’m sorry, but I’m really having a hard time believing the whole “I don’t remember getting the gun” jazz. A rather lame defense.
Winkler, who entered a plea of ‘Not Guilty’ on June 21st, is hoping the judge in the case will set a reasonable bond. The prosecution is basically saying, ‘over our dead body’ (no pun intended -ed.) on the bond issue. Church members are due to testify next. Bottom line – no one expects Mary Winkler to get out of jail, either before or after her trial.
Previously: | Winkler: Opening Up | Winkler Attorneys Waive Fees | The Innocent Victims | Winkler Family Fund | Possible Winkler Defense? | Mary Winkler: “Overwhelmed and Confused” | Winkler Vs. the State of Tennessee | She Did It |
