Mary dropped out of college to help pay for Matthew's education. Matthew Winkler’s grandfather, Wendell Winkler, who died last year, waswell-known for his 60-year career as a minister in four Southern states. How do I vote in my state in the 2020 election? Mary Winkler Freed After 67 DaysAug. Angie McMahan: If somebody said something that another person didn't like they-- would interject. 911:  911, what's your emergency? Tabatha Freeman: He's a very animated person. But as Mary's family watched the newscasts, what they heard and saw made no sense. But instead of throwing it away, she deposited the check. supervised visitation rights Zager testified she believed PTSD made Mary especially vulnerable to the abuse, and in times of crisis, to what she called dissociative episodes -- moments where Mary might lose her ability to think or plan. Dan Winkler: We told all three of our sons, who did well in football to exercise their force on the field, but be gentle off the field and be nothing but a gentleman off the field. Wikipedia, Texas socialite and murder victim. Winkler's defense team wanted the shoe to be visible during her entire testimony. Farese: She had nothing going for her. Jewish. Farese believes prosecutors didn't think the shoe was significant. He told me if I ever talked backed to him that he would cut me into a million pieces. Bill Berry: I couldn't eat. Stabler questioned Mary for over an hour, and the interrogation was captured on audio tape. Mary was inscrutable. A second daughter, Allie, was born in 1999. Then, finally, Friday morning, there was news, and deep apprehension turned suddenly to relief. Winkler is charged with first degree murder in the March 2006 shooting death of her minister husband Matthew Winkler. Winkler never denied shooting her husband, Matthew, the popular new preacher at the Fourth Street Church of Christ in Selmer, a town of 4,500 people about 80 miles east of … Interview audio tape He said no. Bureau of Investigations, Credit: AP/Mobile Register, John D. Mercer. At first they were puzzled. Tabatha Freeman: I knew that something tragic had happened. Hadn't Mary already confessed? Walt Freeland: Was a deadline or a date discussed with her as to when these needed to be resolved? And at the bank? Video: Defense blames spousal abuse Matthew Winkler was shot in the back as he lay in bed. They were 400 miles from home. Amy Hollingsworth: In February, there was a check deposited in the amount of $7,000 that I had to put a hold on. Sisters Krestina, Angelina and Maria Khachaturian have been arrested on July 28th, 2018 and charged with premeditated murder of their father Mikhail Khachaturian. At dawn on March 22, 2006, a Tennessee preacher’s wife named Mary Winkler shouldered a 12 gauge and shot her husband in the back as he lay in … Winkler: That is correct, yes sir. Mary Winkler: No, sir. Steve Farese: What else is in the sack Mary? He met Mary Carol Freeland at this Church of Christ University, and they married in 1996. A firearms expert testified that the shotgun found in Mary's van was indeed the murder weapon, and that it worked just fine. "It was kind of 'So what.'". The phone was unplugged. to which she responded, "I'm sorry." I just wanted to be with them before they had bad days, have a happy day. That day, she worked as a substitute teacher. Holding baby Breanna, Mary Winkler stands next to Matthew. Tabitha Freeland: All of the scenarios that ran through my head was something to the effect that someone had taken Mary against her will. And you always think about the safety of the kids. NBC's Chris Hansen reports. Mary Winkler: Yes. Walt Freeland: And what was his father's occupation? They spent the day at the ocean. Whitlock: It was almost like she was expecting it. Mary Winkler: I just couldn't stop him. Matthew Winkler's parents have filed a $2 million wrongful death suit against her. When Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent Stan Stabler came to get her a few hours later for questioning, he was struck by her cool demeanor. Steve Farese: Were they ordinary, normal? They patterned their young marriage that way, too; it was Bible-based, said this church secretary. The defense produced a series of witnesses claiming Matthew was not all he appeared, starting with Mary's sister. Dr. Lynne Zager: I don't believe so. Nothing was thrown. She was arrested the following day in Alabama, where she had taken the couple's three young daughters. box, the flurry of transfers -- Matthew was behind it all. In a statement to police after her arrest, Winkler said she didn't recall pulling the trigger .She said she apologized and wiped the blood that bubbled from her dying husband's lips as he asked, "Why?". Leslie Ballin: Immediately upon the verdict being read, she wanted to know, "Does this mean that I can get my children back?" How do you do this? Tabatha Freeman: When it was a good day and he was in a good mood, he was the best person to be around. His name was Matthew, like the Matthew of the gospel. Trial Set April 9 for Pastor's WifeFeb. Video: Winkler prosecution asks for guilty verdict A local minister, Matthew Brian Winkler, was shot to death by his wife Mary Carol Winkler at their Selmer home. The jury had been instructed to consider five different charges against Mary -- all the way from premeditated first-degree murder with life in prison, down to criminally negligent homicide, almost an accident, which would mean as little as a year behind bars. Then she called repairmen to her house for a simple problem we created as a test with Jenny's pool. Mary Winkler was recently given Mary Winkler arrives with members of her defense team at the McNairy County Justice Center in Selmer, Tenn., to hear the verdict in her murder trial Thursday, April 19, 2007. Mary Winkler: No, sir. He was the charismatic one … And he was the mean one. Mike Dunavant: I wouldn't say slam dunk, but I would say that we felt confident that we had evidence to prove premeditated first-degree murder. Everything was just in its normal place. Outgoing. There was no fear of falling asleep in the sermon. A specialist in bank scams told the jury it was obviously just that -- a scam. Steve Farese: Let me see it. Steve Farese: Mary, I want you to look at the jury, please. Tabitha Freeman: They fit together.