by Ann Rule
(Credit: Russell Ingle Photography)
Mary Winkler walks through a gauntlet of media cameras and reporters to the McNairy County Justice Complex on April 9, 2007. Opinion polls showed that locals were split almost fifty-fifty about whether she should be convicted in the murder of her minister husband or freed.
(Credit: Russell Ingle Photography)
Assistant District Attorney General Walt Freeland
(left) shakes hands with defense counsel Steven Farese. They faced a long and difficult legal battle in McNairy County as the Winkler case unfolded. (Credit: Russell Ingle Photography)
McNairy County Circuit Court judge Weber McCraw listens to a sidebar discussion with the prosecutors. In a trial fraught with emotion, McCraw was a calming and authoritative presence. When he meted out Mary’s sentence, many people were shocked.
(Credit: Russell Ingle Photography)
Corporal Stan Stabler of the Alabama Bureau of Investigation shows the Winkler jury the shotgun that was used to kill the Reverend Matthew Winkler. It was found in Mary’s vehicle when she was arrested. The prosecution and defense differed on whether Mary understood guns.
(Credit: Russell Ingle Photography)
Tabatha Freeman, Mary’s adopted sister, testified ed for the defense, saying that Matthew had tried to cut off visits and communication between Mary and her family shortly after the Winklers’ marriage.
(Credit: Russell Ingle Photography)
Mary, the last witness for the defense, told the jurors that her husband insisted she wear shoes he’d seen on a porno site, and a wig when they made love. She seemed humiliated as Steven Farese questioned her about her intimate sex life with her preacher husband.
(Credit: Russell Ingle Photography)
Matthew’s parents, the Reverend Dan and Dianne Winkler
(Dianne shown here), did not believe the accusations Mary made against their deceased son. They are attempting to legally adopt the Winklers’ three daughters. (Credit: Russell Ingle Photography)
Mary smiles for one of the few times during her trial as she realizes the verdict from the jury is not as terrible as she thought it was. Her sentence in June 2007 would be hotly debated for a long time to come.
(Credit: Russell Ingle Photography)