Mary Winkler shot and killed her husband, Matthew Winkler, and was charged with voluntary manslaughter. She was sentenced to 210 days — for murder — and was released in August. She claims that mental, physical and sexual abuse drove her to kill him in order to escape the marriage.
She sure takes that “till death do us part” thing seriously, doesn’t she?
Whatever happened to good ole fashioned divorce? Hire a lawyer, go to court and file some papers. No shotgun necessary. And nine times out of 10, the courts side with the mother in divorce proceedings; so, not only would she have avoided jail time and a smeared reputation, but right now she’d have full custody of the children and his visitation rights would exist at her whim.
Instead, the dead husband’s parents have custody of her three children and are now seeking to keep it that way. Mary sees this as an injustice. Those cruel bastards do not want the woman who murdered their son raising their grandchildren. Can you believe it? Man, I had a hard time digesting it myself. All she did was gun down her husband. She is clearly a great mother. Didn’t you read her testimony? Remember: “He had really been on me lately criticizing me for things — the way I walk, I eat, everything. It was just building up to a point. I was tired of it. I guess I got to a point and snapped.”
What a sadist. Dare I say the world is one step closer to Eden-esque paradise minus his toxic presence? What kind of husband makes mistakes in a marriage? For that matter, what kind of man abuses his wife and continues to do it because he sees his behavior justified by her refusal to leave? Some might suggest that she encouraged the abuse by staying with him and question her sanity on that alone, not to mention her later actions. However, you must remember that to do so suggests that she is in some way responsible for her actions and must be held accountable for the death of her husband and any undue trauma this has caused her children.
Let’s not go crazy here.
Did you also read the part where she claims she didn’t remember the shooting? She admits to knowing where the shotgun was, but she has no recollection of picking it up, pointing it at him and firing the trigger. One second she was standing there. The next thing she knows, she’s cradling a shotgun and her husband is dead.
So of course she is the victim in this case. She is also free of any wrongdoing. And besides, we all know that perfectly normal, healthy people black out and kill others. Honestly, who hasn’t at some point in their lives? As the Rev. Winkler might say if he could still talk, “Judge not lest ye be judged and found unworthy.”
The man (allegedly) abused her. What other choice did she have? Ending the relationship through legal means? Please. I firmly agree with the McNairy County Circuit Court jury, who lessened her sentence to voluntary manslaughter after hearing about these allegations. We wish we could dwell in your fantasy world where a woman who murdered her husband might be considered mentally unstable and unfit to raise children, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Mary Winkler’s actions have struck a sharp blow against dominant male authority. Plus, she lives under probation with two friends, probation that will expire in 29 months provided she doesn’t experience another slip-up. I doubt she will under such tough rules as “obey the law” and “hold a job.”
Shame on the grandparents for keeping the children away from their mother. How dare they deny the children a household of love. Right now, Mrs. — whoops, Ms. Winkler is petitioning the Tennessee Supreme Court to intervene and grant her custody.
If I were her, I’d be gunning for a swift decision.
— Travis Lee is a senior in French. He can be reached at [email protected]
