So what's the story with the preacher's wife?

[Disney Doll]

I am amazed, with our bloodhound media that we have today, that they have been able to keep this so quiet. More power to them, so the woman stands a chance of getting a fair trial.

I know, I know...her husband didn't get any chance at anything. That is terrible. I agree. But our country's legal system is based on the tenets of a fair trial, so I have to speak in favor of keeping any informaiton close to the vest until the trial, to support that notion of a fair trial.

As far as why the psychiatric eval if she is giving them the facts? Well, just because someone is able to relay facts to you doesn't mean that they don't have deep-seated psychiatric issues. Again, not looking for a way for her to get out of jail, but until you have seen someone with really deep-seated psych issues, you can't understand that putting someone like that in jail serves no purpose other than keeping them off the streets, and you can do the same thing by keeping in a criminal psych institution where thye can also get some help.

Not looking for a free pass for the woman, but let's put her in the right place for the next 40 years.

 

[sheherazade]

I have some direct ties to the Church of Christ, too (FIL is a preacher within that group, but DH and I do not attend it any longer). It is in general a pretty conservative Christian group. But most of what is said on that site really isn't factual. I disagree with some of that denomination's teachings - the no-musical-instruments belief (which some churches of Christ have abandoned or partially abandoned), but especially some of the stuff about women (which is no where nearly as drastic as most of what is said on that site - they dress and look like everyday people, but women can't be preachers, official leaders, etc ).

But most Church of Christ groups are just part of a mainstream Christian denomination (yes, it is a denomination despite the protests of some). It is similar (but not identical) in many ways to mainstream Southern Baptist churches. But like any denomination, there are extreme groups or break-off groups who have made up their own bizarre teachings and rules. I have no idea if the church this family was a part of would be considered a "normal" Church of Christ or not. I choose to no longer attend that denomination because of some of their conservative beliefs, but I don't want to see the entire denomination or group of people who belong to it given the title of "nutcases" because of a few weirdos who might belong to it.

KristaTX, I agree. To me, that link seemed hate-groupish in the way it characterized the denomination.

 

[taeja71]

Here's a link and the full text to a recent story.
http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=4772971

Church members react to Easter without Matthew Winkler
April 15, 2006 07:10 PM EDT Mary Winkler Follow: Jason Miles

When the Fourth Street Church of Christ in Selmer celebrates Easter this Sunday, they'll do it without preacher Mathew Winkler in the pulpit.

"Yes, church is going to be without the preacher," says Selmer resident Holly Lucas. "Kids are going to be without their daddy, and this time of year family's important," she adds.

While the rest of the nation may have moved on three weeks after Mathew Winkler's murder, many in this community have not.

"Still curious what's happening, why it happened and everything," says Lucas.

"All I can say is we need to pray for them--church family and all," says Lois Russell of Selmer.

Mary Winkler, the preacher's wife charged with his murder, won't be spending Easter at church or with their children. She'll be inside the McNairy County jail with her attorney.

"She appears to be coming out of her initial shock," says attorney Steve Farese.

Farese has visited with Winkler behind bars before. He plans to pay her another visit Easter Sunday as he builds her defense.

"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.

Those events captivated the country and continue to be the focus of this west Tennessee town.

Steve Farese tells Action News 5 that Mary Winkler's main concern is arranging contact with her three young girls.

It is unclear if or when that might happen. Her case is expected to got to the McNairy County grand jury in June.

 

[taeja71]

any new news out there?

 

[Kerlynne]

I haven't read anything in the Media about this case. Has anyone heard the lastest?

 

[disneyfanz04]

I was wondering the same thing...have they released a motive yet???

 

[Conservative Hippie]

OK, I have absolutely nothing to say about the preacher or the wife (since I didn't know either of them, what possible insight could I have, right?).

BUT, I do belong to the Church of Christ and feel obligated to clear this up a bit:


I have no doubt that some men still feel this way but it is NOT the majority, let's be clear about that, please. I have been in this Church for many years and have visited many congregations (on vacations, etc.) and in every single case, there has been a woman Sunday School teacher for the children.

In truth, I have yet to attend a Church of Christ congregation that has a man in that position. What they do not approve of however is the women teaching the men (and in some cases, the other adult women as well).

Now while I totally understand that plenty of people in this day and age do not agree with this thought process, it is the way the church believes and operates and obviously while they welcome anyone with open arms, not everyone would want to be a part of that. So be it, but as someone stated above, painting an entire church family with such a broad brush is generally not going to be accurate or fair.

Sincerely not wanting to get into a debate here ~ I do not feel the need to defend my church nor would I attack anyone else's but I just wanted to point out some inaccuracies.

Thank you for your clarifications. I am a FEMALE member of the church of Christ, and would just like to be picky for a minute and point out that Matthew Winkler was not a pastor. We have pastors in the church of Christ, and he was not one. He was a minister. If anyone has any questions about this, or our Biblical reasons for why women do not hold authority positions over men, you can PM me.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

This is very true, very, very sad but true. While CofC is not affiliated with the Mormon church in any way, it is still very fundamentalism and conservative, in that women are not supposed to wear make-up, their skirt-length is never to be above the knee, and it's preferred their hair length be past the shoulders. It's also frowned upon if women possess an education beyond high-school, and as you can imagine, the list goes on.

I just read this on the website that was posted a few pages back. I told myself I wasn't going to go into detail here, but I have to with this one! This is NOT a description of the church of Christ by any means! It seems to me that this particular person got the church of Christ confused with the Holiness movement (similar to Pentacostals, and found in the south)! We very much can wear make-up, cut our hair short, wear pants, wear skirts above the knee (but you better not in church, lol!), and go to college! Ok, I'm done. Oh, and BTW, the reason there is no news, is that the hearing isn't until later this summer (June or July, I don't remember).

 

[disneyfanz04]

Here is the latest update on comcast.net

Wife Indicted for Tenn. Minister's Death
By WOODY BAIRD, Associated Press Writer
25 minutes ago

SELMER, Tenn. - The wife of a minister who was shot to death in his church's parsonage was indicted Monday on a charge of premeditated murder.

Mary Winkler, indicted by a McNairy County grand jury, has been in custody since the day after the March 22 slaying of her husband, Matthew Winkler. Authorities have said she confessed but they haven't disclosed a motive.

Matthew Winkler, 31, a minister at the local Church of Christ, was found dead in his bedroom after he failed to show up for an evening service.

His 32-year-old wife and the couple's young daughters found the next night in Orange Beach, Ala.

Mary Winkler has not yet entered a plea and remains jailed in Selmer, about 80 miles east of Memphis. Her lawyers didn't immediately respond to calls seeking comment on the indictment Monday.

"We'll have a defense," attorney Steve Farese said last week without elaborating.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I saw the interview on CNN with the defense attorney and while he wouldn't go into detail he said that at the trial they would go into all of the issues that led up to that day. He made it sound like there were things going on behind closed doors that drove her to do it...

 

[Stacy_C]

Here's an update:
http://www.thejacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060702/NEWS01/607020315/1002

Maybe people will stop jumping to conclusions. I am still shocked that--without any evidence at all-- people assumed that Mr. Winkler must've done something to "deserve" to be killed. Hardly anyone gave him the benefit of the doubt. That's really sad to me. The poor guy was dead and was being accused of horrible things (spousal abuse, child abuse, etc.). Instead of being the victimizer as many people assumed, it appears--at this point--that he was actually the victim.

 

[Miranda Danda]

Something about finances

 

[Darian]

Something about finances

Yes, Miranda, you are right. The big mystery motive for the murder was just a disagreement over money. How mundane. No abuse, no molestation, nothing but simple greed. I was hoping for something more involved, but thats just my own sordid imagination.

What a tragedy to kill someone over not spending their income the way that woman wanted. Or perhaps she was unhappy that her hubby didn't make more money. Either way its just sad. I hope she gets the death penalty. Or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Most importantly, she should be barred from having any contact with her kids. She would only hurt them more than she already has. Her execution would ensure that the kids would be protected from her.

Ship her down to Florida and strap her in to "Old Sparky." Lethal injection is just too good for the likes of her.

 

[Miranda Danda]

Yeah, they found her just down the road from Pensacola. She was hold up in Orange Beach with her poor little daughters. Don't you know it was all over our news for about 30 seconds.

 

[Darian]

Yeah, they found her just down the road from Pensacola. She was hold up in Orange Beach with her poor little daughters. Don't you know it was all over our news for about 30 seconds.

30 seconds? That long? Wow... guess they want to leave time for the really important stuff like shots of paris hilton having dinner somewhere or passing on the looney thoughts of George Clooney. Yellow journalism at it's finest. Thank goodness for the Fox News channel. I've been reading Ann Coulter's new book "Godless" and its a great read and a great book. I read that controversial part about the widows of 9-11 and there is really nothing controversial about it. Funny how the real content of the book is getting ignored. I should have put this in a PM. Don't mean to hijack the thread.

I still think your state should bring back "Old Sparky." I was the main prosecution witness in a double homicide in CA. My testimony convicted the guy and got him life w/o the possibility of parole. Even though there have been several attempts on my life in retribution for my testimony I couldn't get a permit to carry. Barbara Boxer & Dian Feinstein both voted against the right to carry but THEY carry handguns. Liberal hypocrites.

 

[Cindyluwho]

Yes, Miranda, you are right. The big mystery motive for the murder was just a disagreement over money. How mundane. No abuse, no molestation, nothing but simple greed. I was hoping for something more involved, but thats just my own sordid imagination.

What a tragedy to kill someone over not spending their income the way that woman wanted. Or perhaps she was unhappy that her hubby didn't make more money. Either way its just sad. I hope she gets the death penalty. Or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Most importantly, she should be barred from having any contact with her kids. She would only hurt them more than she already has. Her execution would ensure that the kids would be protected from her.

Ship her down to Florida and strap her in to "Old Sparky." Lethal injection is just too good for the likes of her.

Personally, I'll refrain from hating her or wanting to have her killed until I read the transcripts from the upcoming trial. I can't imagine coming to the conclusion that I want someone dead until I hear ALL the facts. It's probably true that she killed him in cold blood but how can you know until after the trial??

 

[Miranda Danda]

30 seconds? That long? Wow... guess they want to leave time for the really important stuff like shots of paris hilton having dinner somewhere or passing on the looney thoughts of George Clooney. Yellow journalism at it's finest. Thank goodness for the Fox News channel. I've been reading Ann Coulter's new book "Godless" and its a great read and a great book. I read that controversial part about the widows of 9-11 and there is really nothing controversial about it. Funny how the real content of the book is getting ignored. I should have put this in a PM. Don't mean to hijack the thread.

I still think your state should bring back "Old Sparky." I was the main prosecution witness in a double homicide in CA. My testimony convicted the guy and got him life w/o the possibility of parole. Even though there have been several attempts on my life in retribution for my testimony I couldn't get a permit to carry. Barbara Boxer & Dian Feinstein both voted against the right to carry but THEY carry handguns. Liberal hypocrites.

I think me and you would get along quite nicely

 

[Darian]

I think me and you would get along quite nicely

I visited your website and I think you're right! You're my kind of people! Consider yourself and your significant other invited to the Republican Philosopher's annual meeting at the Rose and Crown! We try to meet during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

There was a fellow on the DIS who invented the "Drink your way around the world" competition. As you approach the world showcase from the main entrance to Epcot, of course we turn RIGHT (the truly politically correct way to turn) onto the world showcase and begin the competition. By the time we reach Mexico we have descended to the intellectual level of plant, or liberal - each being about the same.

 

[Kerlynne]

I read the article and i'm still confused!
So she killed him why? Because she was scared he would be mad about her money scams??
I still don't get it!
And those poor children! Seeing thier mom arrested. She knew she would be caught she said she knew it, she was waiting for it! Why would she do that, knowing her kids woudl see that! And now grow up without mom or dad! SHe makes me soo mad! More mad for the childrens sake than anything else. I hope she never sees daylight again!

 

[Darian]

Oh Miranda, almost forgot! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Blessings to you both!