The minister’s wife charged with murdering her husband is living a quiet life in McMinnville while she awaits trial.
Thirty-two-year-old Mary Winkler is charged with fatally shooting her husband Matthew Winkler, pastor of the Fourth Street Church of Christ in Selmer, a community about 80 miles east of Memphis.
She’s now living with friends about 65 miles southeast of Nashville, and working at a Cleaners Express. Her trial date has not yet been scheduled.
Cleaners Express owners Matt Hash and Paul Pillow say the response to Mary Winkler has been positive.
Hash says everyone from church members to strangers have come by to see Winkler, and many have given her money.
Matthew Winkler was killed by a single shotgun blast to the back in March. Authorities refuse to discuss a motive but say the couple had money troubles, party because of falling victim to a financial scam.
Mary Winkler was arrested the day after the slaying in Alabama, where she fled with the couple’s three young daughters. The daughters are now living with their father’s parents.