Two weeks before her murder trial, Mary Winkler is making a bold move.
The former preacher’s wife accused of killing her husband wants custody of her children.
Action News 5 has obtained a document, asking permission for Mary Winkler to travel.
The order says Winkler was to meet with her attorneys in Memphis for trial preparation, but that apparently was not the only thing on the agenda.
Mary Winkler has now hired a custody attorney to presumably fight for her three daughters.
Mary Winkler was not in court today.
Her father and sisters did not comment as they walked into the courtroom today.
9-year old Patricia, 7-year old Mary and 2-year old Brianna are in the care of their grandparents, Dan and Diane Winkler, parents to slain minister Matthew Winkler.
The Winkler’s took custody of the girls the day after Matthew Winkler was murdered.
You may remember just yesterday, Action News 5 reported the Winklers had filed a wrongful death lawsuit against their daughter-in-law, asking for $2 million in damages and to cover the expenses of raising her children.
Action News 5 has learned that a judge placed a gag order on today’s custody hearing.
We will stay on top of these developments and pass along any new information we uncover.
Mary Winkler’s murder trial is scheduled to begin April 9th.