Minister Shot

The Winkler family of Selmer, Tenn. Pictured are Breanna Winkler, 1, left rear, Mary Winkler, Matthew Winkler, right rear, Mary Alice Winkler, 6, front left, and Patricia Winkler, 8. Matthew Winkler, a Tennessee minister, was found shot to death in his church parsonage. His wife, Mary, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting and subsequently sentenced to three years in prison.

Mary Winkler is embraced by her attorney, Steve Farese, after a guilty verdict was read in her murder trial in Selmer, Tenn., on Thursday, April 19, 2007. Winkler, 33, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the March 2006 shooting death of her minister husband, Matthew Winkler.

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. Winkler, 33, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the March 2006 shooting death of her minister husband, Matthew Winkler. With Winkler are attorney Leslie Ballin, left, investigator Terry Cox and attorney Steve Farese, right.

Mary Winkler enters the McNairy County Justice Complex Monday, April 16, 2007, in Selmer, Tenn., during her murder trial. Winkler is charged with first degree murder in the March 2006 shooting death of her minister husband Matthew Winkler.

Some members of the Fourth Street Church of Christ display their emotions following Sunday services, March 26, 2006. Their pastor, Matthew Winkler, was found slain Wednesday evening, and his wife Mary Winkler, is awaiting arraignment Monday for his murder.

A church member holds a prepared bulletin for the Fourth Street Church of Christ Saturday, March 25, 2006, memorializing their late pastor Matthew Winkler, who was found shot to death Wednesday, at the parsonage he shared with wife, Mary, and their three small children, in Selmer, Tenn. The bulletin was given to worshipers on Sunday.

McNairy County, Tenn., Sheriff Ricky Roten, left, and unidentified officers escort Mary Winkler, second left, out of their transport vehicle and into the McNairy County jail in Selmer, Tenn., Saturday, March 25, 2006. Winkler was brought home to Selmer from Orange Beach, Ala., to face first-degree murder charges in the death of her husband.

Mary Winkler, 32, in a photo released by the Baldwin County, (Ala.) Sheriff's Department on Friday, March 24, 2006. Tennessee officials filed first-degree murder charges against her for the death of her husband, Matthew Winkler. Mary Winkler was found with the couple's three young daughters late Thursday, March 23, 2006, in Orange Beach, Ala., a day after her husband was found slain in their home in Selmer, Tenn.

Baldwin (Ala.) Sheriff's deputies lead Mary Winkler into the Baldwin County Satellite Courthouse in Foley, Ala., Friday, March 24, 2006, after Tennessee officials filed first-degree murder charges against the wife of slain Tennessee minister Matthew Winkler. Mary Winkler was found with the couple's three young daughters late Thursday in Orange Beach, Ala., 340 miles south of their home in Selmer, Tenn.

Sheriff's deputies lead Mary Winkler into the Baldwin County Satellite Courthouse in Foley, Ala., for a child custody hearing Friday, March 24, 2006, after Tennessee officials filed first-degree murder charges against her for the death of her husband, minister Matthew Winkler. Mary Winkler confessed to fatally shooting her husband and fleeing to Alabama where she was found Thursday with their three young daughters.

A booking photograph submitted Saturday, March 25, 2006, by the McNairy County (Tenn.) Sheriff's Department in Selmer, Tenn., of Mary Carol Winkler, who will be arraigned Monday for the murder of her husband, Matthew Winkler. Matthew Winkler was the pastor of the Fourth Street Church of Christ.

Photographs of 1-year-old Breanna Winkler and her mother, Mary Winkler, still posted on a bulletin board in The Fourth Street Church of Christ, Saturday, March 25, 2006, in Selmer, Tenn. Police say Mary Winkler admitted to the Wednesday slaying of her husband, Matthew Winkler, pastor of the church, who was found shot dead at the parsonage home they shared with their three small children.

Selmer Police Investigator Roger Rickman reads a statement during a news conference in Selmer, Tenn., Friday, March 24, 2006. Rickman said Mary Winkler, who is in custody in Orange Beach, Ala., confessed to fatally shooting her minister husband, Matthew Winkler, and fleeing to Alabama where she was found Thursday with their three young daughters.

Police tape surrounds the Winkler home in Selmer, Tenn., Thursday, March 23, 2006. Matthew Winkler, a minister, was found shot to death in his parsonage, and authorities launched a search for his missing wife and three young daughters. Police later located the family and authorities said they would charge the minister's wife with first-degree murder.

A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent speaks with Selmer Police Lt. Kim Holley, right, Thursday, March 23, 2006, in a wooded area beside the Winkler residence in Selmer, Tenn., during investigation at the home. Matthew Winkler, a popular and charismatic Tennessee minister, was found shot to death in his parsonage.

A medical examiner arrives at the Winkler home Thursday, March 23, 2006, in Selmer, Tenn., where Matthew Winkler, a church minister, was found shot to death. Authorities launched a search for his missing wife and three young daughters. They were later located and authorities said they would charge the minister's wife with first-degree murder.

John Mehr, of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, holds up a flyer showing photos of minister Matthew Winkler's three missing children, at a news conference Thursday, March 23, 2006, outside Selmer City Hall, in Selmer, Tenn.

Orange Beach Assistant Police Chief Greg Duck, left, briefs the media on the whereabouts of the family of slain Tennessee minister Matthew Winkler, Thursday, March 23, 2006, in Orange Beach, Ala. Winkler's family was found Thursday during a stop by an Orange Beach police officer following an Amber Alert for Winkler's daughters. Behind Duck are members of the Orange Beach police and Baldwin County sheriff's departments.

Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks addresses the media during a news conference, Thursday, March 23, 2006, in Selmer, Tenn., regarding the death of minister Matthew Winkler. Winkler, a popular and charismatic Tennessee minister, was found shot to death in his parsonage Wednesday night.