Family and Friends Prepare to Bury Matthew Winkler

Commentary is the at the end of the article.
By Elizabeth Gentle
WAFF 48 News Reporter

Family and friends are preparing to say their final good-byes to Matthew Winkler, a young Tennessee minister and father of three.

Visitation for Winkler was held Monday night. Hundreds of people lined up to pay their respects.

During her first court appearance since her arrest, Mary Winkler made no eye contact with friends, family or media gathered inside the McNairy County Justice Center.

Mary sat quietly next to her attorney, Steve Farese, showing little signs of emotion.

After the hearing, Farese told reporters he isn't ready to speculate on Mary's motive for allegedly killing her minister husband, Matthew Winkler.

"The motive in first is that she did something wrong. I can say nothing about a motive," said Defense Attorney Steve Farese.

Members of 4th Street Church of Christ sat behind the defense, to show their support for Mary.

At the same time, remembering Matthew and his service to their church and the community.

Janet Sparks says she never saw any signs of marital problems between the two.

"They were always there for each other. Always together. They did things with the kids," said Sparks.

Anita Worley has worshiped with the Selmer congregation for nearly 40 years. She is devastated by Matt's murder and the possibility that Mary killed him.

"We never seen a frown against each other or harsh word or anything," said Worley.

Friends and family hope for an answer soon.

In the meantime, Sparks says she'll be praying for both Matt and Mary's families.

"If we can't forgive, God won't forgive us. We've got to forgive each other," said Sparks.

Matt's funeral will be held at 4th Street Church of Christ Tuesday at 11.

Burial will be in Huntingdon, Tennessee, where Matt's mother and father are living.

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Matthew Winkler was a father of three daughters, a husband, and a minister. He was just getting started. He was following in the footsteps of a famous grandfather and well-respected father. From all outside appearances, life was good.

This story is gaining national attention for many reasons. From a news perspective, this story feeds an insatiable appetite for the morose. The Lacy Peterson case has been solved, and is now old news. The Winkler case is now the new Court TV news story of the month. However, I think the real interest in this story goes beyond the intrigue of a familial murder. It is the story of the American family.

Many Americans are projecting their own family desires and experiences on the Winkler family. The family portrait released by the media "paints a thousand words." A picture of family, love, hope, and optimism. There are many Americans that long for what that picture portrays. Yet, Americans also identify with the tragedy.

So many families have their beginnings like the Winklers. Everything on the outside appears to be going well. Seemingly without warning, everything is changed in an instant. A sordid secret is discovered, then the family falls apart. The extended family, the community, and the church is shocked. "We really need to get to know our neighbors, church members, fellow workers, school mates, etc," we tell ourselves.

We often are "surprised by evil." Yet, everyday, someone murders their spouse or the person they are hooked up with. There are horrific crimes committed everyday. The reason this one has gotten the intention of America is because from everything on the outside, and because of our own biases, this shouldn't have happened.
"What went wrong?" is the question on the mind of many Americans.

...more to come