Mary Winkler–who shot her husband in the back and then refused to aid him or call 911 as he slowly bled to death for 20 minutes–walked away a free woman last year after serving a farcically brief “sentence” for her crimes.
Mary Winkler’s claims of abuse were largely uncorroborated during the trial. According to the testimony from Matthew Winkler’s oldest daughter, Patricia, the dead father–who as he lay dying looked at his wife and asked “why?”–was a good man and did not abuse her mother.
Mary Winkler has been in a custody battle with Matthew Winkler’s parents, who have been raising the three girls since the murder. The Winklers sought to terminate Mary Winkler’s parental rights and adopt the girls, a position I’ve supported.
Mary Winkler was granted supervised visits with her daughters last year. Now, sadly, she has gained back custody of the three girls, which is clearly not in the girls’ best interests.
Last year Dan Winkler said, “These young ladies have not expressed any desire to be with their mother or her family,” but he and wife Diane have now ceded custody, knowing that continuing their legal battle to protect the girls would in the end be unsuccessful. A judge has approved the custody transfer.
Ned Holstein, MD, Fathers & Families and I laid out the case against child custody for Winkler in our co-authored column No child custody for husband-killer Mary Winkler (World Net Daily, 9/14/07).
From Mary Winkler Gets Daughters Back (myfoxmemphis.com, 8/1/08):
FOX13 has learned that Mary Winkler has gotten her three daughters back. Winkler picked up her children Friday afternoon. The girls had been living with their paternal grandparents since Winkler killed her husband Matthew in 2006. Now it appears the bitter custody battle is coming to a close.
As soon as Winkler’s criminal trial ended, the custody battle began. But Friday, in an unexpected turn of events, she regained physical custody of her three children.
A source told FOX13 that Winkler picked the girls up Friday afternoon and brought them to her new home in McMinnville, Tennessee. She will soon enroll them in local schools…
Winkler lost custody in 2006 when she was charged with the murder of her preacher husband Matthew Winkler.
Winkler was convicted of manslaughter in 2007 and has been fighting for custody of her children since her release from a mental facility.
Matthew’s parents, Dan and Diane Winkler, have had custody of the girls since 2006 and have been trying to adopt them.
“These young ladies have not expressed any desire to be with their mother or her family,” said Dan Winkler in 2007.
The Winkler’s filed appeals in an effort to stop Mary Winkler from having supervised visits and phone calls with her daughter.
But now, a source said they have turned over custody to the girls’ mother.
This is being called the first step to full custody, although no official court order has been filed.
Glenn Sacks, www.GlennSacks.com
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16 users commented in " Murderess Mary Winkler Gets Her Kids Back "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackYou sound really bitter. You don’t know what really happened. The girls might have been brainwashed by dad/paternal grandparents. Abusers learn it somewhere, perhaps grandpa? Just because (I’m guessing) you’ve had a negative experience as a father fighting for custody doesn’t mean all women out there who want custody of their own children are evil. And unless you’ve been a battered wife, you have NO CLUE what it’s like. You should thank God for that.
“And unless you’ve been a battered wife, you have NO CLUE what it’s like”
That MAY be the most idiotic thing I have ever read on the internet. You’re a very stupid person Amy, do you know what *REALLY* happened? Do you have any evidence the children were brainwashed by their murdered father or their grandparents? Do you have any evidence Matthew’s father was an abuser?
You sound like a dumbass.
We have no right to judge others when we have no idea of what happened behind closed doors. She must have felt she did not have a choice or that no one would believe her if she told anyone what was going on. You can tell a woman til you are blue in the face…”there are lots of resources” but many still feel afraid & alone. It is also very embarrassing to admit if there are serious problems in the home.
I am very happy to hear she will be able become a family again with her children & start the healing process!
Tomas, you’ve simply highlighted the points I made. I, too, said no one really knows what happened, and then I made *might* statements. I didn’t actually state my thoughts in terms of, “oh yes, that all actually happened…”
Again, no one really knows what happened. Not you, not me, not Glenn Sacks, not even Winklers in-laws. And further, its a proven fact that many abusers LEARN to abuse at the hands of their own parents. If it’s true he was an abuser, well…logic points to the fact he learned it from his dad.
Finally, if that’s REALLY the most idiotic thing you’ve read on the internet, well…it must be your first day on the internet. Oh, and calling me a dumbass? Makes you sound like something less than a reasonable responder, as I used no foul language in my post.
Wow Tomas,
You sound like a really intelligent human being. Attacking someone else like that doesn’t really give credibility to your argument. In fact, it makes you sound ignorant. I could swear and curse at you too, but that would make me sound ignorant. If you have a point to make, how about you do it without pointing fingers. You might get ahead in life somehow.
As for Mary Winkler, I agree with Amy. We don’t KNOW the situation. You see Tomas, I’m not saying I know what happen. Just thought you might need the added instruction. The guy who wrote this article however, has strong opinins about Mary Winkler and doesn’t seem to have factual basis for his arguments. The courts decided she was guilty of manslaughter - she served her dues. The courts decided she could have her children back - they always look at the best interests of the child. So . . . maybe there is something they know, that we don’t. I suggest we say a prayer for the children and their mother - because their situation can’t be easy.
There was no solid evidence whatsoever that Matthew Winkler abused her. The stories she gave in her court testimony and on the Oprah show conflicted (I don’t think Oprah even believed her). No, we weren’t in that house when she shot her husband in the back and allowed him to bleed to death, so we don’t know every detail; all we know for certain is that this woman mercilessly murdered her husband. That is plenty of reason to disqualify her from parenting those children (as well as spend the rest of her life behind bars). There is no evidence whatsoever to justify her actions. The people who do justify the murder committed at her hands show an utter lack of judgment.
Welcome to the 4th Reich. The concentration camp is our society. Women can now exterminate men with impunity and are free to indoctrinate their offspring to do the same.
the only proven abuser in this case is the murderess… may she rot in hell.
She was abused. It showed in her face and in the face of the children in the photos. It amazes me that people who have never experienced this, can even say anything. How do you know? I am the former wife of a man who belongs to this church. They do not believe that women are anything, have no sense, have no say so, and are certainly not important. He was abusive, I can assure you. He was controlling, I can assure you. He was everything that she said, and she just snapped. I would have snapped too if I had caught him with his fat hand over my 10 month old baby’s mouth, suffocuating her so that she could not cry anymore. I would have killed him too. He was cruel, dictatorial, and mean. He deserved to die.
I like so many have no idea what happened, as stated before the courts make a decision and punished her. So her debt is paid. I pray that the judge made the right decision in the custody of those children.
Without invading all their privacy I would like to know how things are going with them.
But I also feel people need to watch what they say even on places like this because one day those children will grow and google these things are read the horrible things said about each of their parents.
If this woman became “unhinged” and killed her husband, whose to say it won’t happen again. If she was capable of killing her husband, how does anyone know that her kids will be safe with her? What if one of the kids starts to constantly disobey? What will Ms. Winkler’s emotional state be like then, will she hit her kids or worse?
I can’t believe that someone who killed a family member is allowed to to have her kids. Would you trust your kids with her? I think not.
To begin with you could tell she was lying in court. Her story changed a lot after the lawyers got with her. Do you think that man had been up and covered the Daughters mouth, and his ballder so full he didn’t go to the bathroom? I think not!!! She got caught up in check kiting and got caught with that is why she more than likely killed him. She didn’t want him to go to the bank with her so she shot him. Heck she even got away with the check deal also. And don’t even go there about how he was an abuser, I lived with one also for 7 years. I finally walked instead of killing and she could have too. You don’t kill your husband then start yelling Abuse.That was all lies and only she knows the real truth and only she will be judged for what she did. She is one sick cookie. And A MURDERER is all I can say about her.
Well, I guess, I am the expert on this subject for this comment area. I was an abused wife who just lost custody of my child because the judge was not experienced enough to know what an abused wife sounds like. My ex alienated my son from me and I am shocked at how easy it is for a parent to convence children of facts that are not true. I listen to some of the trial and Oprah. You really would have to be in her situation to recognize the common statements, pauses and contridictions an abused person uses when trying to recount specific details of years of horrible events. Can you, with no abuse, perfectly recite what you did last Tuesday? When you are living in an abusive situation, you start to forget many details of what happens. You have to to survive. Please stop judging people, not just women, that you do not know and have no past experience to draw from. By the way, I love guys. My grandfather, my dad, my sons and most men I know are wonderful people and parents. Mr. Sacks, please stop being so biased.
Please spend some time reading blogs about sociopathic narcissism. This might open your eyes to this kind of personality. Believe me, if you had experienced this, you would recognize the personality of Matthew Winkler. We are not warned of this personality which is not only horrific for the spouses they choose as they learn what they married over years. And, of course, it is rarely done openly.
Ministers are often natural con artists liked by most, and there are some who are not under the power of the God they serve. I was so amazed to learn who and what I had truly been living with, trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. I am amazed that I am not dead. But, you can believe death would have been easier than living through the abuses of this con artist and getting over it after I finally left. It does not take physical abuse to be abused by these people. Emotional abuse leaves no blood; and takes longer to get over; largely because of all the judgments of people we care about or by like people like those who are making judgments of Mary here. Being a true victim of someone who looks awesome to those not in the relationship the wife is in is a very, very lonely and frightening place.
None of this justifies what Mary did; it just makes it understandable. If she had had counselors assisting her to deal with this, she would have been counseled to get out there ASAP, not matter what his profession was.
When I heard Mary and read all accounts, I knew who Mary had lived with. There is no need to blame anyone. The pain everyone is enduring is punishment enough for everything done wrong.
Mary’s sin is its own punishment. It will be most of the rest of her life. Personally, I pray for healing, peace, love, joy for her and her girls; and I know it will be a long road.
Believe me, the experience of a sociopathic narcissist is a possibility for any of us. It will change your perspective as you begin to recognize them from your experience. Maybe we can help others not stay a victim of these people.
All of the arguments serve no purpose. This woman and her children need love, and humans hate that idea as if there is nothing they have done that makes them unloveable. Love is the first 3 commandments. Interesting how simple it sounds and how difficult it is.
May God’s grace be sufficient for all of us.
Wow—–some of my ‘brethren’ are having issues here.
“For_Real” said: “You can tell she was lying in court”, and more.
How could you tell? If you know she was lying, prove that point for the rest of us. Thank you. Calling her a MURDERER, as you said, was all you could say about her. How I wish that were true….I rue the day someone ever gave you a computer with a keyboard. You’re an idiot.
I can tell that about you, and we’re not even in court for you to make a fool of yourself. You did fine in that regard right here.
“DNH” said: “Welcome to the 4th Reich. The concentration camp is our society. Women can now exterminate men with impunity and are free to indoctrinate their offspring to do the same.” , and:
“the only proven abuser in this case is the murderess… may she rot in hell.”
Whee! Let’s take the last comment first, shall we? You allege she is a proven abuser. Um, to what proof of that do you refer? No, really; we want to know. Go ahead; enlighten us. Show us the proof she’s an abuser. Ahhhhh……you’re still struggling with that, aren’t you? You might have an opinion that she’s an abuser, but you’ve no proof to substantiate your allegation.
Okay onto the first part. Um, you are really threatened, aren’t you? Threatened by the very people in America you would control to your own will. Women and children. Someone has some real problems with women here, don’t you? I wonder what that could be…..what could cause you to be so fearful of a woman in authority……OH! I know!! Sublimated homosexuality! You’re GAY! Well, come bouncin’ right out of the closet! You’re welcome here!
You’re also an idiot.
*I realize I’m using big words here, and for the haters, I’m typing really slowly. I’ll say this in advance: you’re welcome.*
“Tomas” said:
““And unless you’ve been a battered wife, you have NO CLUE what it’s like”
That MAY be the most idiotic thing I have ever read on the internet. You’re a very stupid person Amy, do you know what *REALLY* happened? Do you have any evidence the children were brainwashed by their murdered father or their grandparents? Do you have any evidence Matthew’s father was an abuser?
You sound like a dumbass.”
I saved the best for last.
You really showed Amy, didn’t you?
Oh, my, yes you did!
And to show you what it’s like to be a battered wife, I think we’ll just dump you in the middle of a pit with a bunch of men who are abusers and you’ll soon find out for yourself. They prey on the physically weak, but in your case, they’ll have a field day with your mental weakness.
You want evidence that the kids were abused by the father, right?
Do you have evidence that they weren’t? From the testimony of the other members of that religious body, the guy was mean, cruel and the worst person anyone could want to know if he was in a bad mood. Yeah! Sounds like ‘Father Of The Year” right there, doesn’t he?
The bottom line is, you just don’t know, do you, Tomas?
Not only about this situation, but you don’t know about a lot of stuff: clearly. From the way you attacked Amy on this site, I think you’re an abuser, too. If you and I were in a parking lot of whatever local beer tavern you hang out at, I’d be happy to make you my little bitch and show you what abuse is.
While “DNH” and “For_Real” are idiots, you are worse.
You are idiotic white trash. Dangerous as a pit bull and rottweiler mix.
But God love ya, you three sure are entertaining!
We’re all done laughing at your routine, though; just go crawl back under your rock (I assume you all live together, probably sharing a twin-size bed) and we’ll rattle your cage when we’re ready for more nonsense from you poor, pathetic excuses for male humans.
Ya sure aren’t men; you’ve proven that with your moronic diatribes.
Welcome to the 21st century, Boys! Women are abused, women kill husbands, women are convicted of a Class Three Felony by a jury of their peers. It’s how America works.
Why do you three hate America?
‘Nite, now; it was fun, wasn’t it?
P.S.: “DNH”, one last acknowledgment just for you:
“You’re here, you’re queer, we’re used to you!”
“Okay onto the first part. Um, you are really threatened, aren’t you? Threatened by the very people in America you would control to your own will. Women and children. Someone has some real problems with women here, don’t you? I wonder what that could be…..what could cause you to be so fearful of a woman in authority……OH! I know!! Sublimated homosexuality! You’re GAY! Well, come bouncin’ right out of the closet! You’re welcome here!”
It’s amusing to me that someone who attempts to paint himself as some paradigm of evolved, modern, non-sexist humanity is so quick to haul out old standard diversionary put-downs like, “you must be gay.” and “you’re not a real man.”
Obviously a blog commentor’s sexual orientation has absolutely nothing to do with how he or she ought to judge Mary winkler’s criminal actions. Immediately accusing a male of being gay simply because he strongly disagreed with (or even insulted) a female commentor just smacks of homophobia. One would think an intelligent, sensitive, open-minded 21st century male would know that gay males are “real men” just as much as straight males, and he should also know better than to use a childish accusation of homosexuality as an insult or a weapon.
It’s also ironic that someone posing as a modern-thinking male felt the need to threaten another commenter with physical violence simply because he argued with another commentor. Saying that you’d like to meet someone in a parking lot and make that someone “your bitch” is the type of behavior typically seen in “abusers.”
Lastly, I hate to put words in another poster’s mouth, but as for the statement about Mary Winkler being a “proven abuser,” I think the poster may have been using the term “abuser” in a broader sense, in much the same way that Mary Winkler’s attorneys used the term. If a husband’s desire for his wife to wear “stripper shoes” in the house can be held up as a form of abuse; a form so serious that it can later be used to justify the coldblooded killing of said husband, then logically it can also be argued that shooting a sleeping husband in the back with a shotgun, pulling the phone out of the wall so that he cannot call for help, and leaving the same husband moaning in agony on the floor, where he will slowly bleed to death (while you go off to picnic on the beach) is also a form of “abuse.”
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