Mary Winkler, formerly known as the preacher’s wife, gained national attention after becoming the main suspect in the murder of her husband, Tennessee preacher Matthew Winkler. The case of Mary Winkler will be reexamined on the upcoming episode of 20/20 on ABC, scheduled to air on April 19, 2024.
On March 22, 2006, Matthew Winkler was found shot in the back while lying in bed with a 12-gauge shotgun. Authorities arrested Mary in Orange Beach, Alabama, where she confessed to shooting her husband. Throughout her trial, Mary accused her husband of sexual and physical abuse, claiming he hit and kicked her, forced her to look at pornography, and perform “unnatural” sex acts.
Mary Winkler was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to three years in prison. However, she was credited with 143 days of served time and became eligible for probation after serving an additional 210 days. A judge also ruled that she could serve the last 60 days of her sentence in a mental health facility.
After serving her sentence, Mary has since returned to Tennessee, moving to a small town 200 miles away from where the crime took place. While initially losing custody of her three daughters to Matthew’s parents, the children returned to Mary in 2008.
The upcoming episode of 20/20 on ABC will likely delve into the details of Mary Winkler’s case, shedding light on the events leading up to the tragic murder of Matthew Winkler and the subsequent trial that captivated the nation.
