Matthew Winkler, Pastor Found Killed, Winkler Family Missing in Tennessee
The TBI issued an Amber Alert early Thursday for the Winkler’s daughters,
Breanna, 1, Mary Alice, 6, and Patricia, 8. The alert said the girls may be with their mother, Mary Winkler.
Matthew Winkler, a 31 year old Tennessee church pastor, was found shot to death in his parsonage. His family was missing and the above amber alert was issued. There was no sign of forced entry according to reports.
We’re just really puzzled,” Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks said Thursday. “We’re concerned about the safety of the children, also.”
Church members went searching for pastor Matthew Winkler late Wednesday when he didn’t show up for an evening service at Fourth Street Church of Christ, Burks said. He said they used a key to enter the parsonage and found him dead in a bedroom.
Winkler, 31, had been shot, and his family was gone, Burks said.
The chief declined to say if Winkler’s wife was considered a suspect. Investigators also weren’t sure if she had the children or if any outsiders were involved in shooting and disappearance, he said.
A Statewide AMBER Alert has been issued by the Selmer Police Department for Breanna Winkler a 1-year-old, white female, Mary Alice Winkler a 6-year-old, white, female 3’0″ tall and weighs approximately 40lbs with dark brown hair and dark eyes, Patricia Winkler, a 8-year-old, white female, with dark brown hair and is 4’0″ tall and weighs approximately 60lbs.
They are possibly with their mother, Mary Winkler, she is a 32-year-old, white female, 5’3″ tall and weighs 120-125lbs.
They are believed to be traveling in a 2006 Toyota Sienna Van, dark gray or slate blue in color, with Tennessee License Plate NDX288.
Father dead, Tenn. family missing; alert issued
Now authorities are trying to find his wife Mary and their three daughters: Breanna, 1, Mary Alice, 6, and Patricia, 8. According to this Amber Alert, they may be in the family’s “dark gray or slate blue” Toyota Sienna van, Tenn. license plate NDX288. That Amber Alert has also contact information for authorities.
If you have seen the vehicle, the mother or the children please contact the Selmer Police Department at 731-645-7906 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND
UPDATE: Missing Family of Slain Minister Found Safe
In late breaking news, the wife and family of the slain Tennessee pastor were found this evening in Alabama.
Thursday night, the woman and the girls were found in Orange Beach, in southern Alabama, when a police office spotted their van parked on the side of the road and pulled over to help.
All were in good physical condition, Johnson said, and no one else was with them.
Johnson said investigators had learned about 1 1/2 hours before the family members were found that they might be in southern Alabama or the Florida Panhandle.
Mary Winkler “hasn’t been arrested,” Johnson said. “We want to talk to her and find out what she knows” about the slaying of her husband.
(FOX News)
Wife a Suspect in Killing of Minister
A popular and charismatic Tennessee minister was found shot to death in his parsonage, and authorities labled his wife a suspect after she and the couple’s three young daughters were found in Alabama on Thursday after a daylong search.
“We’ve known from the beginning that she was either a suspect or a victim,” said Jennifer Johnson, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.
(AP via Yahoo News)
[...] (Read more and the Amber Alert at Missing & Exploited) [...]
Pingback by Amber Alert Issued in TN for Missing Winkler Children; Father Minister Matthew Winkler Found Shot » Scared Monkeys | March 23, 2006
[...] Mary Winkler waived extradition and will return to Tennessee to face first-degree murder charges in his death of her husband, Pastor Matthew Winkler. Orange Beach Assistant Chief of Police Greg Duck said Friday she had waived extradition and would be sent back to Tennessee later in the day or on Saturday. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent John Mehr said authorities were charging her with murder in her husband’s death after interviewing her during the night. [...]
Pingback by Mary Winkler, Wife of Pastor Matthew Winkler Charged with First Degree Murder » Scared Monkeys Missing Persons Site | March 24, 2006
Why did she kill her husband? What is her excuse(s)? why wouldn’t she say anything to her kids, i mean at least lie to them say hes in Las Vegas or something. But dont sit there and not say anything when they are old enough to turn on the television and see whay has happened to their own father. I fell very bad for them because their mom is a freak and needs to be put away for life,especially for killing a God’s man.
Comment by Alexandria Waroway | March 28, 2006