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Forrestall: EVERYONE IN SELMER, TENNESSEE,
KNEW WHO LIVED ON MOLLIE DRIVE.
WHY, THAT'S WHERE YOU'D FIND THE TOWN'S BELOVED PREACHER,
HIS DEVOTED WIFE, AND THEIR DARLING GIRLS.
JUST AS SWEET AS SYRUP ON A SUNDAE.
MATTHEW AND MARY, THE PERFECT COUPLE.
IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS JUST MADE IN HEAVEN.
Forrestall: BUT THIS CHRISTIAN FAMILY WILL LEARN ABOUT EVIL
IN A WAY NOBODY COULD FORESEE.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
YOU HAD SEX, YOU HAD A PASTOR, AND YOU HAD A DEATH.
Forrestall: BEFORE IT'S ALL OVER,
THERE'LL BE WIGS, HOOCHIE-MAMA HEELS,
AND A STORY STRAIGHT FROM THE SOUTH.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
DOWN HERE IN THE SOUTH, WE HAVE A SAYING.
MARRIAGE IS LIKE TAKING A HOT BATH.
ONCE YOU GET USED TO IT, IT'S NOT SO HOT AFTER ALL.
THE TRUTH IS, YOU NEVER CAN TELL
WHAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,
AND NASTINESS CAN FESTER EVEN IN THE MOST CHRISTIAN OF HOMES.
[ GUNSHOT ]
WHAT ENDED IN UGLINESS ON MOLLIE DRIVE
ALL STARTED JUST AS NICE AS CAN BE...
...WITH TWO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SHARED
A LOVE FOR GOOD, WHOLESOME LIVING,
THE HOLY WORD, AND EACH OTHER.
DOWN IN THE BIBLE BELT, RELIGION IS A WAY OF LIFE.
MOST CHURCHES ARE LITTLE MORE
THAN A STONE'S THROW AWAY IN ANY DIRECTION.
THIS IS AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY
WHERE PEOPLE REALLY STRIVE TO PUT GOD FIRST.
THE CHURCH IS NOT A PLACE YOU GO, IT'S WHO YOU ARE.
IT'S WHY YOU RAISE YOUR FAMILY THE WAY YOU RAISE THEM.
Forrestall: IT'S HERE IN KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, IN 1973
THAT LITTLE MARY CAROL FREEMAN WAS BORN.
SHE GROWS UP IN A LILLY-WHITE SUBURB ON THE EDGE OF TOWN.
MAMA'S A TEACHER, AND DADDY'S IN REAL ESTATE.
Fanning: MARY WAS RAISED IN A VERY STRICT, RELIGIOUS HOUSEHOLD
WHERE THE CHURCH OF CHRIST DOCTRINE
DOMINATED EVERY ASPECT OF HER LIFE.
THE FATHER, AS WAS TYPICAL,
WAS VERY MUCH IN CHARGE OF THE HOUSE.
HE CALLED ALL THE SHOTS.
Forrestall: IT'S A HOME WHERE RULES ARE MADE TO BE FOLLOWED,
NEVER QUESTIONED, AND THAT SUITS MARY JUST FINE.
Ingle: MARY WAS VERY QUIET,
VERY COMMITTED TO HER CHURCH, TO HER FAMILY.
MARY HAD BEEN TRAINED THAT THIS IS HOW A WOMAN
IN THIS PARTICULAR FAITH CONDUCTS HERSELF,
AND SHE FIT THAT TO A "T."
SHE EMBRACED IT.
Fanning: WHEN SHE GOT OLDER,
HER CAREER OPTIONS WERE VERY LIMITED.
CHIEF AMONG ALL OF THEM WAS TO BECOME A WIFE AND MOTHER.
BUT THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE ACCEPTABLE,
AND ONE OF THOSE WAS TEACHING.
Forrestall: MARY IS A GOOD-HEARTED GIRL.
SHE DECIDES TO DEDICATE HER LIFE TO HELPING THE LESS FORTUNATE.
AND WHERE BETTER TO EARN A DEGREE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
THAN FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY --
A SMALL CHURCH OF CHRIST SCHOOL JUST FOUR HOURS FROM HOME.
IT WAS A NATURAL FOR HER
SINCE SHE ALWAYS VERY, VERY COMMITTED TO HER FAITH,
AND THIS WOULD BE A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.
Forrestall: NOW, A REAL GOD-FEARING DAUGHTER OF THE SOUTH
DOESN'T USE COLLEGE AS AN EXCUSE
FOR WANDERING IN THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND.
FORGET THE KEGGERS AND *** RAIDS.
MARY'S ALMA MATER IS MORE AKIN TO OVERNIGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL.
[ CHOIR VOCALIZING ]
Fanning: IT WAS NOT A TYPICAL COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT.
THERE WAS NO DRINKING, THERE WAS NO DANCING,
THERE WAS NO STUDENTS MAKING OUT ON CAMPUS.
THERE WAS NO TOUCHING BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN,
NO HAND HOLDING, NO KISSING.
IT WAS A VERY STRICT ATMOSPHERE AT THAT SCHOOL
THAT VERY MUCH REFLECTED WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN HER HOME.
Forrestall: BUT LOVE CAN BLOOM EVEN IN THE ROCKIEST OF SOIL.
IT'S HERE IN 1995 THAT MARY MEETS A BIBLE-STUDY MAJOR
WHO'S BIGGER THAN LIFE AND TWICE AS HANDSOME.
HIS NAME IS MATTHEW WINKLER.
Fanning: MATTHEW WAS RAISED
IN A SIMILAR KIND OF BACKGROUND THAT MARY WAS --
CHURCH OF CHRIST.
IN FACT, WITH HIM, THERE WAS QUITE A LINEAGE IN THE CHURCH.
MIND IF I SIT DOWN?
Forrestall: HIS FATHER WAS A MINISTER,
AND HIS GRANDFATHER BEFORE HIM
WAS A FIRE-AND-BRIMSTONE EVANGELIST
WHO PREACHED FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.
MATTHEW HAS THE CALLING, TOO.
BIBLE STUDIES.
Fanning: LIKE A LOT OF CHILDREN,
MATTHEW FELT COMPELLED TO FOLLOW IN HIS FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS.
Ballin: HIS FAMILY WAS WELL-RESPECTED,
AND SO MARY, I AM CONVINCED,
NOT ONLY FELL FOR MATTHEW,
BUT FELL FOR THE WAY OF LIFE
THAT SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE WOULD HAVE.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
COME ON IN.
Forrestall: AND MARY'S MOM AND DADDY FALL IN LOVE WITH MATTHEW
ALMOST AS FAST AS SHE DOES.
WHO IS THIS?
THIS IS MATTHEW.
Forrestall: THEY'RE SIMPLY OVER THE MOON
WITH THE NICE, BIBLE-LOVING BOY.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THERE ISN'T A SINGLE OBJECTION
WHEN MATTHEW ASKS FOR MARY'S HAND IN OCTOBER OF 1995
AFTER JUST THREE MONTHS OF DATING.
Fanning: MATTHEW WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FOR MARY.
HE HAD THE CHURCH CREDENTIALS THAT SHE WANTED.
HE WAS A BIG, GOOD-LOOKING MAN,
AND THERE WAS A CHARISMA ABOUT HIM THAT JUST DREW YOU TO HIM.
IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS JUST MADE IN HEAVEN.
Forrestall: BUT LET ME GIVE Y'ALL A PIECE OF ADVICE.
AFTER ONLY THREE MONTHS OF DATING,
YOU DON'T KNOW ANYONE HALF AS WELL AS YOU THINK YOU DO.
YOUNG MATTHEW WINKLER MIGHT SEEM LIKE PERFECTION ITSELF,
BUT THIS DIAMOND IS HIDING SOME SERIOUS FLAWS.
JUST ONE YEAR INTO THEIR MARRIAGE, ACCORDING TO MARY,
THE HONEYMOON SEEMS TO BE OVER.
SHE STARTS TO SEE ANOTHER SIDE TO HER NEW HUSBAND.
Farese: I THINK IT WOULD BEGIN AS BEING VERBALLY DEMEANING.
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? WHAT IS THIS OUTFIT?
YOU LOOK RIDICULOUS.
"YOUR CLOTHES DON'T LOOK GOOD ON YOU."
AND WHAT IS ALL THIS?
"THE HOUSE IS A MESS."
YOU CALL THIS COOKING?
IT WAS A LOT OF CONTROL.
SHE WAS EXPECTED BY HIM TO BE THE PERFECT WIFE,
OR AT LEAST THE PERFECT IMAGE.
MARY WASN'T ALLOWED TO MAKE A PURCHASE, EVEN IN A DRESS SHOP.
IF SHE WANTED TO GO BUY SOMETHING...
NO, NO, NO, NO. YOU ARE NOT...
...SHE HAD TO GO LOOK, PICK OUT WHAT SHE WANTED,
AND THEN ASK MATTHEW TO COME BACK WITH HER
TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE.
MY HOUSE, MY RULES.
MY COUNTER.
MATTHEW BECAME MORE AND MORE CONTROLLING.
HE STARTED TO CUT HER OFF FROM HER FAMILY,
AND THAT IS ALWAYS A DANGER SIGN.
Forrestall: SEEMS THERE'S A WHOLE LOT ABOUT MATTHEW
THAT MARY SIMPLY NEVER SAW COMING.
BUT MARY HAS A FEW SURPRISES OF HER OWN,
AND BEFORE THIS TALE'S TOLD,
SOMEONE'S GONNA BE SIX FEET UNDER.
SHE WAS DEVISING HER MASTER PLAN.
Ingle: YOU HAD ALL THESE ELEMENTS IN PLACE.
SOMETHING BAD WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
Forrestall: NOT FAR INTO THEIR MARRIAGE,
THE BLOOM MAY BE OFF THE ROSE
FOR YOUNG MATTHEW AND MARY WINKLER.
IT SEEMS MATTHEW WENT FROM CHARMING BOYFRIEND
TO CONTROLLING HUSBAND IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
NO, NO, NO, NO. YOU ARE NOT NEARLY SORRY ENOUGH.
STILL, THE COUPLE CARRIES ON,
SETTING UP HOUSE JUST LIKE THEIR MAMAS AND DADDIES BEFORE THEM.
BY 1999,
MATTHEW IS WORKING AS A YOUTH MINISTER IN PEGRAM, TENNESSEE,
WHILE MARY PLANS FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE SECOND LITTLE ANGEL.
Ingle: THEY WERE BOTH COMMITTED TO MATTHEW'S GOAL
OF PURSUING A CAREER IN THE MINISTRY.
FROM THE OUTSIDE, THEY SEEMED LIKE A COUPLE VERY MUCH IN LOVE,
NORMAL, HEALTHY, HAPPY,
JUST PURSUING THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM.
Farese: SHE LOVED MATTHEW.
I THINK SHE WORSHIPPED MATTHEW.
THE PROBLEM WAS, LIKE MOST HUMAN BEINGS, MATTHEW HAD SOME FLAWS.
DAMN IT, MARY!
THIS IS MY BRAND-NEW SHIRT. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Forrestall: AND IN THIS CASE, WHAT MARY FINDS IS
A MAN WHO CAN BE RIGID AND REAL QUICK TO GET RILED.
ANOTHER ACCIDENT, MARY.
Farese: DURING THAT TIME,
A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAD WITNESSED HIS TEMPER.
Ballin: HE WAS AGGRESSIVE, YELLING AT CHILDREN,
YELLING AT NEIGHBORS...
THIS IS YOUR UGLY COMING OUT.
...YELLING AT MARY IN THE CHURCH RECTORY.
WHY DON'T YOU WALK OVER TO THE KITCHEN, GET OUT OF MY SIGHT,
AND COME BACK WITH A RAG FOR MY SHIRT?
AND WHEN MATTHEW WOULD COME IN THE ROOM,
HER DEMEANOR WOULD CHANGE.
THE EYES WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR,
THE SMILE WOULD LEAVE HER FACE,
AND SHE BECAME A DIFFERENT PERSON WHEN MATTHEW WAS PRESENT.
Forrestall: NOBODY KNOWS WHY
HE'S SUCH A DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE,
BUT AS THE YEARS GO BY,
MATTHEW'S STAR IS ON THE RISE IN THE CHURCH,
AND HIS DEVOTED WIFE, MARY,
DOES HER BEST TO KEEP HER HEAD DOWN AND HER MOUTH SHUT.
[ CHOIR VOCALIZING ]
Fanning: IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST,
A WOMAN IS SUPPOSED TO BE, ESSENTIALLY, SEEN AND NOT HEARD.
SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO DO ANYTHING INAPPROPRIATE
BECAUSE SHE WAS A REFLECTION OF HIM.
THAT WAS HER ROLE IN LIFE.
SO, SHE HAD TO STRIVE TO BE PERFECT.
Forrestall: BUT WHILE BEING A KING IN YOUR CASTLE
IS COMMON IN THE SOUTH,
ACCORDING TO MARY, MATTHEW TAKES IT TOO FAR.
DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT?! I SWEAR TO GOD, MARY.
YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WERE TRYING TO EMBARRASS ME IN THERE.
IT'S LIKE YOU DIDN'T CARE AT ALL.
Ingle: MATTHEW HAD A SHORT FUSE.
HONESTLY, MARY.
AND IT WENT FROM TALKING DOWN TO HER
TO APPARENTLY ROUGHING HER UP.
THERE WAS TALKS OF BRUISES AND THINGS LIKE THAT
THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS WOULD SEE.
IT ESCALATED INTO PUSHING, SHOVING, AND STRIKING.
Forrestall: NO WOMAN WANTS TO LIVE IN FEAR
OF HER HUSBAND'S SHARP TONGUE OR THE BACK OF HIS HAND.
Farese: MARY HAD BEEN TOTALLY SEGREGATED
BY HER RELATIONSHIP WITH MATTHEW.
SHE HAD NOWHERE TO TURN.
IF SHE TOLD SOMEONE IN THE CHURCH,
THAT WOULD BE LIKE TELLING EVERYBODY IN THE CHURCH.
Fanning: SHE HAD TO BE FEELING TRAPPED,
BUT THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR HER TO EXPRESS THIS.
IN HER WORLD, YOU NEED TO PRAY ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE GOD WANTS YOU TO BE SUBMISSIVE.
Forrestall: BUT SOME PRAYERS JUST GO UNANSWERED,
LEAVING MARY TO HER OWN RESOURCES.
WHO KNEW HER PRIM LITTLE LIFE
WOULD SOON BE THE STUFF OF SEX, SCAMS, AND ***?
2005 IS A YEAR OF CHANGE FOR THE PASTOR AND HIS FAMILY.
MATTHEW TAKES A NEW JOB,
AND SOON ENOUGH, HE AND MARY ARE MOVING INTO THEIR NEW HOME
AT THE MOLLIE ROAD PARSONAGE IN SELMER, TENNESSEE.
Farese: I THINK THAT ANYONE THAT GETS CAUGHT
IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT BECOMES ABUSIVE,
THEY THINK THAT THEY CAN CHANGE THIS PERSON
OR THIS PERSON WILL GROW OUT OF IT
AND RECOGNIZE THE EVIL OF THEIR WAYS.
Forrestall: AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, THINGS CAN BE HAPPY AGAIN
NOW THAT MATTHEW'S GOT THE JOB HE'S ALWAYS LONGED FOR.
WITH BABY NUMBER THREE,
THERE'S A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THINGS RIGHT AT HOME.
Ingle: THERE WAS AN OPENING AT THIS CHURCH.
MATTHEW HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL IN.
THE PEOPLE RESPONDED VERY POSITIVELY TO HIM,
AND LIKEWISE, HE TO THEM,
AND IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A NATURAL FIT.
A SOCIETY WHERE...
CHURCH IS EVERYTHING IN SELMER, AS IN MANY SMALL SOUTHERN TOWNS.
THERE'S NO NIGHT CLUBS, NO LIQUOR,
NO DANCING, IF YOU WILL,
AND SO, IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN SOCIALLY,
IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE CHURCH.
IT'S WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE. THAT'S WHERE YOUR FAMILY IS.
Forrestall: AND THE FOLKS AT THE LOCAL CHURCH OF CHRIST
CAN'T SEEM TO GET ENOUGH OF THEIR CHARISMATIC NEW PREACHER.
HE'S PRACTICALLY A CELEBRITY.
EVERYBODY LOVED BOTH MATTHEW AND MARY --
LOVED THEIR WHOLE FAMILY.
THINK EVERYBODY ENJOYED BEING AROUND THEM.
HE WAS NATURAL IN HIS TALENT AND HIS ABILITY.
Forrestall: FROM THE OUTSIDE,
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IS FINALLY RIGHT,
BUT THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GO BELLY UP,
AND IT ALL STARTS WITH A LITTLE MONEY PROBLEM.
WITH FIVE MOUTHS TO FEED ON A PREACHER'S SALARY,
MATTHEW WINKLER'S PAYCHECK
IS BEING STRETCHED AS THIN AS AN OLD PAIR OF GYM SOCKS.
Farese: THERE WAS NEVER ENOUGH MONEY.
I THINK THAT THEY WERE LIVING FROM PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
Forrestall: MARY TAKES ON A SUBSTITUTE-TEACHING JOB
AT THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BUT IT STILL ISN'T ENOUGH.
THEIR STRUGGLING JUST TO STAY AFLOAT.
MARY AND MATTHEW WOULD ENTER INTO SWEEPSTAKES DRAWINGS
AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THEY LIVED ON THE FINANCIAL EDGE OF DISASTER.
Forrestall: THEN, IN DECEMBER OF 2005, A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.
MARY RECEIVES SEVERAL CHECKS IN THE MAIL.
IT LOOKS LIKE ALL THOSE SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES
HAVE PAID OFF BIG TIME -- OR SO MARY THINKS --
AND JUST IN TIME FOR SOME HOLIDAY SHOPPING.
MARY WAS A VICTIM OF WHAT I KNOW TO BE DESCRIBED
AS NIGERIAN CHECK SCAM.
YOU RECEIVE A CHECK IN THE MAIL.
"CONGRATULATIONS, HERE'S YOUR CHECK FOR $10,000.
"DEPOSIT IT, SEND US A LITTLE BIT,
AND EVERYTHING'S RIGHT WITH THE WORLD."
SHE WOULD IMMEDIATELY DEPOSIT THESE CHECKS
AND THEN BEGIN TO DRAW ON THEM.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE TROUBLE STARTED.
Farese: BUT IT TAKES THE BANK A WHILE TO DISCOVER IT,
AND THEN YOU WRITE ANOTHER CHECK OUT TO SEND BACK TO THE SENDER
FOR THE PROCESSING FEES OR WHATEVER,
AND THAT CHECK COMES BACK AS A FRAUDULENT CHECK,
AND NOW YOU'RE STUCK.
Forrestall: BEFORE LONG, MARY'S IN SO FAR OVER HER HEAD,
SHE HAS TO LOOK UP TO SEE BOTTOM.
THAT'S WHEN SHE DOES SOMETHING UNFITTING FOR A PREACHER'S WIFE.
Fanning: SHE SET UP A BANK ACCOUNT IN A NEIGHBORING TOWN
JUST IN HER NAME,
AND WHEN THE CHECKS STARTED BOUNCING,
SHE STARTED KITING CHECKS BACK AND FORTH.
Farese: KITING IS WHERE YOU WRITE
ONE CHECK OUT OF ONE ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER ACCOUNT,
AND YOU'RE STAYING AHEAD OF THE BANKING RECORDS.
OF COURSE, THIS ACCOUNT BECOMES OVERDRAWN.
SOON, THE HOUSE OF CARDS FALLS, BUT YOU CAN DO IT FOR A WHILE.
SHE WAS DESPERATE.
SOME DESPERATE WOMEN PLAY THE LOTTERY LIKE A RELIGION.
MARY, INSTEAD, GOT INVOLVED IN THIS SCAM.
THE CHECK KITING WAS GETTING TOTALLY OUT OF MARY'S CONTROL.
I THINK SHE WAS SCARED.
MARY DOES NOT WANT MATTHEW
TO KNOW THAT SHE MESSED UP THAT BADLY.
Forrestall: BUT WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE,
THERE WILL BE MORE THAN BAD CHECKS TO WORRY ABOUT.
BUT THAT'S GETTING AHEAD OF THE STORY.
SWEET MARY WINKLER, THE PREACHER'S WIFE,
IS UP TO HER ARMPITS IN A MESS.
AFTER FALLING FOR A NIGERIAN BANKING SCAM,
SHE'S WRITING BAD CHECKS
AND MOVING THEM FROM ONE BANK ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER.
LORD KNOWS WHAT HELL FIRE'S GONNA RAIN DOWN ON HER
IF HER HUSBAND FINDS OUT
SHE'S BEEN PLAYING FAST AND LOOSE WITH THEIR FINANCES.
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, MISS MARY'S ABOUT TO FIND HERSELF
IN TROUBLE OF THE VERY WORST KIND.
IN FEBRUARY OF 2006,
THE FOLKS AT THE LOCAL CHURCH OF CHRIST IN SELMER, TENNESSEE,
JUST LOVE THEIR DASHING NEW PULPIT PREACHER.
Ingle: MATTHEW WAS KNOWN AS DYNAMIC, CHARISMATIC.
THIS WAS HIS FIRST CHURCH THAT HE WAS THE SENIOR MINISTER.
HE TOOK IT AND RAN WITH IT AND WAS DOING A GREAT JOB.
All: AMEN.
Forrestall: AND WHILE MARY MIGHT BE DEALING WITH SOME TROUBLE AT HOME...
YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WERE TRYING TO EMBARRASS ME, MARY.
...SURE NOT THE WORD OVER AT THE LOCAL PARISH.
Weekley: MATTHEW WAS JUST A VERY KIND AND LOVING PERSON.
HE WORKED GREAT WITH KIDS, WORKED GREAT WITH OLDER MEMBERS,
GOT ALONG WITH JUST ABOUT ANYBODY.
Forrestall: WHAT MATTHEW DOES AT HOME, HOWEVER...
ARE YOU TALKING BACK TO ME?
...MIGHT LEAVE A LOT TO BE DESIRED.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH THIS COST?
WHETHER MATTHEW IS A LOVING FAMILY MAN
OR A MONSTER IN DISGUISE, ONE THING'S FOR CERTAIN --
MARY'S IN A LOT OF HOT WATER WITH HER CHECK-KITING SCHEME.
AND BY NOW, THE BANKS ARE BEGINNING TO CATCH ON.
THEN ON MARCH 21, 2006,
WHILE AT HER SUBSTITUTE-TEACHING JOB...
[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]
...MARY GETS AN ALARMING CALL.
Ingle: THE BANK STARTS MAKING CALLS TO MARY
SAYING THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ACCOUNT.
YOU KNOW, THESE CHECKS ARE BOUNCING,
INSUFFICIENT FUNDS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I'M SORRY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
THEY SAID, "WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS ILLEGAL.
"WE DO NOT WANT TO BRING CHARGES AGAINST YOU.
"YOU WILL NEED TO COME DOWN HERE WITH YOUR HUSBAND
"TOMORROW MORNING
AND GET THIS WHOLE THING STRAIGHTENED OUT."
Forrestall: MARY CAN'T GO ON TRICKING THE BANKS,
BUT SHE'S NOT NEARLY AS AFRAID OF THEM
AS SHE IS OF HER BELOVED.
Ingle: WHEN YOU'RE A MINISTER
AND THERE IS ALLEGED FINANCIAL MISDEALINGS,
YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF THINGS ATTACHED TO YOU.
IT COULD BE A CAREER KILLER.
Fanning: SHE TRIED TO TALK TO THE BANK
ABOUT ANY OTHER WAY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE
OTHER THAN BRINGING HIM IN.
THEY WERE INSISTENT.
HE HAD TO COME INTO THE BANK THE NEXT MORNING.
Forrestall: BUT LIKE ANY GOOD, STRONG SOUTHERN WOMAN,
MARY KNOWS HOW TO CORSET HER EMOTIONS
AND PUT ON A PRETTY FACE,
AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING.
MATTHEW AND MARY HAD DINNER THAT NIGHT WITH THE FAMILY,
THEY WATCHED A MOVIE WITH THE GIRLS.
Ingle: MARY BEGAN ATTEMPTING TO TRY TO TALK TO MATTHEW
ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THEIR FINANCES,
AND THERE HAD BEEN ARGUMENTS OFF AND ON MOST OF THE NIGHT.
Forrestall: IF MATTHEW FINDS OUT THE EXTENT OF THEIR TROUBLES,
SURELY, HE'LL EXPLODE.
LITTLE DOES THE PASTOR KNOW THIS FIGHT WILL BE THEIR LAST.
THE FOLLOWING EVENING AROUND 6:45 P.M.,
SOMETHING AT THE LOCAL CHURCH OF CHRIST JUST FEELS WRONG.
EVERYONE'S THERE FOR WEEKLY SERVICE
EXCEPT THEIR PREACHER, HIS WIFE, AND THEIR THREE DAUGHTERS.
THEY WERE ALL READY FOR THE SERVICE,
AND MATTHEW AND MARY AND THE GIRLS WERE NOT THERE.
THAT WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL.
MATTHEW WAS ALWAYS PROMPT.
THE CHURCH PEOPLE TRIED TO CALL THEM
AND THEY COULDN'T GET ANSWERS
ON EITHER MATTHEW'S PHONE OR MARY'S PHONE.
FOUR OF THEM WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE
AND THEY STARTED LOOKING AROUND,
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG.
Forrestall: THE FAMILY'S VAN IS GONE,
THE DOORS ARE ALL LOCKED, AND NO ONE APPEARS TO BE HOME --
AT LEAST NO ONE'S ANSWERING.
YOU CAN TELL IN YOUR BONES WHEN SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT,
AND THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING OMINOUS IN THE AIR
AT THE WINKLERS' HOUSE TONIGHT.
SO, THERE WAS AN OPEN AREA -- STORAGE AREA -- THEY WENT INTO,
AND THEY FOUND A KEY TUCKED AWAY AND THEY WENT INSIDE.
Forrestall: AND WHAT THEY DISCOVER
WILL SHOCK THE WHOLE TOWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
Fanning: THE HOUSE LOOKED PERFECTLY NORMAL.
NOTHING WAS IN DISARRAY, EVERYTHING LOOKED JUST FINE,
AND THEN ONE OF THEM STEPPED INTO THE MASTER BEDROOM,
AND HE SAW MATTHEW LAYING ON THE FLOOR IN A DRIED POOL OF BLOOD.
THEY CALLED 911.
Forrestall: 31-YEAR-OLD MATTHEW WINKLER
IS DEAD FROM A GUNSHOT BLAST IN THE BACK.
Roten: I REMEMBER GOING IN WITH THE POLICE CHIEF.
THE VICTIM WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR ON HIS BACK.
IT WOULDN'T APPEAR TO BE ANYTHING OUT OF THE NORMAL.
YOU KNOW, HOUSE WASN'T TORE UP, WASN'T NO FORCED ENTRY.
Fanning: POLICE DISCOVERED
THAT THE RECEIVER WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE TELEPHONE,
SO IF MATTHEW COULD HAVE CRAWLED TO THE PHONE,
IT WOULD'VE DONE HIM NO GOOD.
Forrestall: POLICE ARE FILLED WITH DREAD
AS THEY SEARCH THE PARSONAGE FOR MARY AND THE GIRLS,
BUT THERE'S NO SIGN OF ANY OF THEM,
WHICH IS BOTH GOOD AND BAD NEWS.
AND WHEN INVESTIGATORS SPOT
MATTHEW'S BILLFOLD ON THE DRESSER WITH CASH STILL IN IT,
THEY REALIZE ROBBERY WASN'T THE MOTIVE.
SUDDENLY, THEY FEAR THE WORST.
Fanning: THE POLICE WERE CONVINCED
THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF ABDUCTION,
AND THEY WERE VERY MUCH AFRAID.
NOT ONLY WAS MATTHEW DEAD, BUT HE WAS A BIG, ATHLETIC MAN.
IF HE COULD BE OVERCOME BY WHOEVER CAME INTO THIS HOUSE,
WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR THE GIRLS AND THEIR PETITE MOTHER?
Roten: WE PUT OUT AN AMBER ALERT
BECAUSE THERE WAS CONCERN WITH THEIR SAFETY
BECAUSE NOBODY, AT THAT TIME, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
Forrestall: AS AMBER ALERTS HIT THE AIRWAVES,
THE SEARCH IS ON FOR MARY, THE CHILDREN,
AND THEIR MISSING VAN.
FOLKS ALL OVER TENNESSEE ARE IN A COLD SWEAT.
IS THEIR A BEDROOM KILLER ON THE LOOSE?
IS SOMEONE TARGETING PREACHERS?
Ingle: WHAT KIND OF PERSON WOULD DO THIS TO A MINISTER, YOU KNOW,
AND THEN POSSIBLY KIDNAP OR HURT THE FAMILY?
Weekley: THE COMMUNITY WAS SHOCKED.
THIS IS A SMALL TOWN AND EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY
AND IT'S SUCH A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.
HOW CAN THESE THINGS HAPPEN HERE?
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE WERE ASKING, IS WHY.
EVERYTHING WAS AT HIGH STAGE OF ANXIETY,
HOPING TO FIND MARY AND HER THREE DAUGHTERS.
Forrestall: WERE THEY TAKEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
OR HAS SOMETHING MORE SINISTER HAPPENED
RIGHT UNDER EVERYONE'S NOSE?
Stabler: I WAS SURPRISED.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR ANOTHER SUSPECT.
THIS IS OUR SUSPECT.
Officer: PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND STEP OUT.
THAT'S WHEN THIS THING BEGAN TO TAKE A TURN.
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Forrestall: DOWN SOUTH, EVERYONE THINKS THEY KNOW THEIR NEIGHBOR,
BUT WHEN PASTOR MATTHEW WINKLER TURNS UP DEAD
WITH A SHOTGUN BLAST TO THE BACK...
...THE FOLKS OF TINY SELMER, TENNESSEE,
HAVE TO WONDER.
AS FOR HIS WIFE AND THREE DAUGHTERS,
THEY'RE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND,
AND EVERYONE IS BESIDE THEMSELVES WITH WORRY.
THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CARE AND CONCERN
FOR MARY AND THOSE GIRLS,
EVEN FROM PEOPLE WHO DID NOT KNOW THEM.
"WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM? ARE THEY SAFE?"
Stabler: WHEN THEY FOUND MATTHEW WINKLER,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT THE CHILDREN OR MARY.
AN AMBER ALERT HAD BEEN ISSUED WITH IDENTITY OF THE VAN,
THE TAG NUMBER, MAKE AND MODEL.
Forrestall: BUT AS THE HOURS PASS WITH NO SOLID LEADS,
INVESTIGATORS HAVE TO WONDER,
MAYBE THERE WAS NO FORCED ENTRY FOR A REASON.
MAYBE THE KILLER CAME FROM WITHIN.
AS INVESTIGATORS TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FAMILY,
IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR THEIR FINANCIAL MESS TO SURFACE.
Stabler: MARY CHANGED THE MAIL FROM COMING TO THEIR HOUSE.
SHE WAS KITING THE CHECKS BACK AND FORTH, BUILT ON A CASH FLOW.
I THINK THAT WAS A TIPPING POINT.
Forrestall: MARY HAD DEPOSITED OVER $19,000 IN BAD CHECKS
AND WAS OVERDRAWN BY $5,000.
THE POLICE STARTED WONDERING,
WAS MARY A VICTIM OR WAS MARY A PERPETRATOR?
[ GULLS CRYING ]
Forrestall: MARCH 23, 2006,
DAWNS BRIGHT AND EARLY IN ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA.
AN IMPROMPTU GETAWAY TO THE BEACH MIGHT BE A SWEET IDEA
EXCEPT WHEN YOUR HUSBAND'S LYING IN THE MORGUE
AND THE WHOLE STATE OF TENNESSEE IS LOOKING FOR YOU.
BUT SURE ENOUGH,
MARY WINKLER'S PEACEFUL DAY'S ABOUT TO COME TO AN END.
THE INVESTIGATION TEAM
TRACKED HER BY THE CELLPHONE DOWN IN ORANGE BEACH.
Forrestall: WHEN EVENING COMES,
MARY PACKS UP THE GIRLS AND HEADS DOWN THE ROAD.
LORD ONLY KNOWS WHERE SHE THINKS SHE'S GOING,
BUT SHE'S NOT GONNA GET THERE.
Stabler: AN ORANGE BEACH PATROL OFFICER SPOTTED THE VEHICLE
AND MADE A TRAFFIC STOP ON THE VEHICLE.
Forrestall: AFTER 36 HOURS, THE LITTLE VACATION'S OVER.
Officer: PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND STEP OUT.
Forrestall: WHEN ARMED OFFICERS ORDER MARY OUT OF THE VAN,
SHE DOESN'T SEEM SURPRISED IN THE LEAST,
EVEN WHEN THEY FIND THE *** WEAPON IN THE BACK OF THE VAN.
Officer: WALK BACK. KEEP WALKING.
SHE DIDN'T APPEAR TO REALLY BE HYSTERICAL OR UPSET,
ALMOST LIKE IT WAS ANTICIPATED.
SHE KNEW, EVENTUALLY,
SHE WAS GOING TO BE STOPPED AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
Forrestall: MARY IS BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING,
AND POLICE INFORM HER THAT HER HUSBAND IS DEAD.
"SO, MARY, DO YOU KNOW THE STATUS OF YOUR HUSBAND NOW?"
SHE SAID NO.
I SAID, "WELL, HE DIDN'T SURVIVE THE GUNSHOT."
AND SHE JUST KIND OF BOWED HER HEAD.
SHE DIDN'T GET REAL EMOTIONAL OR DISTRAUGHT
AS YOU WOULD EXPECT A WIFE TO BE
WHEN SHE FOUND OUT HER HUSBAND HAD DIED.
Forrestall: IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE POLICE CERTAIN
THEY HAVE MATTHEW'S KILLER SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.
WHEN ASKED DIRECTLY ABOUT THE SHOOTING OF HER HUSBAND,
MARY OFFERS LITTLE INFORMATION, BUT DOESN'T DENY IT.
Stabler: WHEN I WOULD ASK
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INCIDENT,
SHE WAS VERY RELUCTANT.
I WOULD ASK HER, "DID YOU PLAN TO DO THIS?"
SHE SAID, "NO, SURELY NOT."
I GO, "DID YOU SHOOT HIM MORE THAN ONCE?"
"SURELY NOT."
THAT WAS HER ANSWER TO THOSE FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SHOOTING.
SHE OFFERED NO REASON FOR SHOOTING HIM.
Forrestall: AS FOR WHY SHE LEFT TOWN WITH THE KIDS,
IT MAY HAVE LOOKED LIKE MARY WAS ON THE RUN,
BUT HER MOTIVES WERE FAR SIMPLER.
SHE SAID, "I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT
A LOT OF BAD COMING AHEAD OF US."
SHE JUST WANTED TO TAKE THEM TO THE BEACH FOR A DAY,
THEN SHE WAS GONNA GO BACK TO TENNESSEE.
Forrestall: LIKE A GOOD WOMAN OF THE CHURCH,
MARY IS HESITANT TO SAY ANYTHING UNPLEASANT ABOUT MATTHEW.
I ASKED HER -- I DIRECTLY ASKED HER, YOU KNOW,
"DID HE ABUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, PHYSICALLY
OR THE KIDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?"
SHE SAID, "OH, NO. NOT AT ALL."
SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T WANT MATTHEW SMEARED, THAT HE WAS A GOOD MAN.
Forrestall: MARY'S SO CONTRARY,
IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE.
AS HER CHILDREN ARE SENT TO STAY WITH MATTHEW'S PARENTS,
MARY WINKLER IS EXTRADITED BACK TO TENNESSEE,
WHERE HER STORY ONLY BECOMES MORE MUDDLED.
WHEN I ASKED MARY TO WALK ME THROUGH THE DETAILS
OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT MORNING, SHE WAS VERY VAGUE.
SHE SAID, "WE KEPT THE SHOTGUN IN THE CLOSET."
SHE TALKED ABOUT GETTING THE GUN OUT.
SHE WAS GONNA USE THE GUN TO MAKE HIM TALK TO HER.
HEY, YOU. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
TURN AROUND.
Forrestall: ACCORDING TO MARY, THE GUN WENT OFF ACCIDENTALLY.
THE FORCE OF THE SHOT HURLED MATTHEW ONTO THE FLOOR.
Stabler: SHE SAID SHE WENT OVER TO THE FLOOR
WHERE HE HAD FALLEN OFF OF THE BED
AND LEANED DOWN, WIPED THE BLOOD OFF HIS MOUTH,
TOLD HIM SHE LOVED HIM, SHE WAS SORRY.
HE ASKED HER WHY.
Forrestall: WHY, INDEED?
WHAT REALLY PROPELLED MARY TO UNLOAD THE FAMILY 12-GAUGE
INTO THE BACK OF THE MAN SHE CLAIMED SHE LOVED?
Stabler: TYPICALLY, WHEN YOU HAVE A ***,
THERE'S A MOTIVE, THERE'S A REASON.
Forrestall: ACCORDING TO MARY, HER HUSBAND'S ABUSE
HAD DRIVEN HER RIGHT OVER THE EDGE OF SANITY.
ANOTHER ACCIDENT, MARY.
BUT DIVORCE WAS HARDLY AN OPTION.
MARY CLAIMS SHE HAD TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY
TO SPLIT UP WITH HER HUSBAND IN THE PAST.
Fanning: IT WAS AGAINST CHURCH DOCTRINE,
AND SHE KNEW IF SHE DIVORCED HER HUSBAND,
HE WOULD LOSE HIS CAPABILITY TO EARN A LIVING
BECAUSE DIVORCED MEN
ARE NOT PREACHERS IN THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST, PERIOD.
Forrestall: BUT INVESTIGATORS AREN'T SO SURE
ABOUT MARY'S STORY.
MAYBE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO COME CLEAN
ABOUT HER FINANCIAL SHENANIGANS WITH MATTHEW
AND CHOSE ANOTHER WAY OUT.
THEY CHARGE MARY WITH FIRST-DEGREE ***.
Stabler: SHE MADE STATEMENTS THAT LED ME TO BELIEVE
THAT SHE INTENTIONALLY GOT THE GUN OUT AND SHOT HIM.
SO, THAT SHOWS ANTICIPATION TO ME.
IT SHOWS PREMEDITATION, IT SHOWS INTENT.
Forrestall: AS MARY SITS BEHIND BARS AWAITING TRIAL,
THE PROSECUTION THINKS THEY HAVE THEMSELVES A SLAM-DUNK CASE.
THAT IS, UNTIL MARY RECEIVES
SOME UNEXPECTED VISITORS IN HER JAIL CELL --
TWO SOUTHERN LAWYERS WHO DECIDE TO TAKE ON MARY'S CASE FOR FREE.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY.
GOD NEVER CLOSES ONE DOOR WITHOUT OPENING ANOTHER.
SHE WAS PORTRAYED AS A COLD-BLOODED MURDERER
WHO THEN WENT ON VACATION AFTER KILLING HER HUSBAND,
AND OF COURSE, IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT.
I KNEW THIS CASE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WAS DIFFERENT.
Forrestall: AND NO ONE IN THIS BIBLE-LOVING TOWN IS PREPARED
FOR THE SECRETS THAT MARY'S BEEN HIDING.
I THINK THERE WERE TWO SIDES TO MARY.
IT REALLY WAS AN EYE-OPENER WHEN SHE PULLED OUT THIS WIG
AND PUT THIS SHOE UP ON THE STAND.
THE JURORS WERE STUNNED.
EVERYBODY WAS SHOCKED.
IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.
Forrestall: ALL OVER TENNESSEE, FOLKS ARE PUZZLING OVER
WHY IN THIS WORLD MARY WINKLER
WOULD SHOOT HER HUSBAND, MATTHEW, IN THE BACK.
WAS SHE DEAD SET ON KEEPING HIM FROM FINDING OUT
ABOUT THE CHECK FRAUD?
OR HAD HE DRIVEN HER TO IT?
YOU CALL THIS COOKING?
IN MARCH OF 2006,
MARY WINKLER SITS BEHIND BARS IN SELMER, TENNESSEE,
WHILE THE WORLD AWAITS HER *** TRIAL.
WITHIN LESS THAN 48 HOURS, IT HAD GONE NATIONAL.
THERE WERE PEOPLE REPRESENTING EVERY MAJOR MEDIA OUTLET
IN THE TOWN.
Fanning: EVERYBODY WANTED TO KNOW
ABOUT THE PREACHER'S WIFE WHO SHOT HER HUSBAND IN THE BACK.
ATTORNEYS STEVE FARESE AND LESLIE BALLIN
HAD BEEN FOLLOWING MARY'S STORY,
AND THEY AGREED TO TAKE HER CASE PRO BONO.
IT JUST MIGHT BE THE BREAK THAT MARY NEEDS.
IT WAS FAIRLY EVIDENT TO US THAT SOMETHING HAD TO HAVE OCCURRED
TO CAUSE THIS PERSON TO DO WHAT SHE SEEMED TO HAVE DONE.
WE STARTED TO GET INFORMATION,
FACTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CORROBORATE.
ONCE SHE STARTED TALKING,
SHE PORTRAYED HERSELF AS THE TRUE VICTIM THAT SHE WAS,
BUT NOT A KILLER.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IT WAS NOT HER INTENT TO KILL.
MARY CAME OFF AS A MEEK, MILD,
SWEET, INNOCENT, NAIVE WOMAN
WHO WOULDN'T HARM A FLY.
IN FACT, WOULD PROBABLY RUN FROM ONE.
Forrestall: BEFORE LONG, MARY'S DEFENSE TEAM IS HARD AT WORK
TRYING HER CASE IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION.
STEVE FARESE AND LESLIE BALLIN
MADE CLAIMS ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL ABUSE.
ARE YOU TALKING BACK TO ME?
THEY MADE MARY LOOK LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN A VICTIM.
WE WENT ON THE TV SHOWS AND HAD OUR SAY.
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC
THAT WHEN A PERSON TALKS TO THE POLICE AND TELLS WHAT HAPPENS,
IT'S NOT ALWAYS A CONFESSION.
THERE'S MORE TO IT. IT'S NOT SIMPLE.
Forrestall: ON APRIL 9, 2007,
THE TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY WITH A JURY OF 10 WOMEN AND 2 MEN.
MARY'S DEFENSE TEAM'S HOPEFUL.
Farese: I CALL IT ROLLING CHICKEN BONES TO PICKING A JURY.
YOU HOPE YOU GET PEOPLE WHO ARE HONEST, WHO ARE FAIR MINDED,
AND I FELT LIKE WOMEN IN THAT AREA
COULD RELATE TO MARY'S STORY.
Forrestall: MAYBE ONE OR TWO OF THESE LADIES
THOUGHT THEY'D BEEN IN MARY'S SHOES.
THAT IS, UNTIL THEY SEE MARY'S SHOES.
Fanning: WHEN MARY TOOK THE STAND,
IT WAS LIKE THE BIG MOMENT OF THE TRIAL.
EVERYBODY WAS WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT.
Forrestall: WHEN IT'S MARY'S TURN TO TESTIFY,
SHE DOES SO CARRYING PROPS --
A PAIR OF EIGHT-INCH STILETTO HEELS AND A BRUNETTE WIG
SHE SAYS MATTHEW MADE HER WEAR IN THE BEDROOM.
Mary: JUST LIKED IT TO DRESS UP.
Man: DRESS UP?
YES, SIR.
DRESS UP FOR WHAT PURPOSE, MARY?
SEX.
Ingle: IT REALLY WAS AN EYE-OPENER
WHEN SHE PULLED OUT THIS WIG.
THE AIR LEFT THE ROOM WHEN SHE PLACED THE SHOE UP ON THE STAND.
THERE WERE...GASPS.
Forrestall: NOW, SOME MIGHT NOT BAT AN EYE AT A GETUP LIKE THIS,
BUT DOWN SOUTH, YOU'D BE HARD-PRESSED
TO FIND A RESPECTABLE LADY OF THE CHURCH
WEARING SHOES LIKE THESE.
AND SHE PLACES IT RIGHT ON THE BAR CLOSEST TO THE JURY,
SO THEY CAN'T SEE MARY WITHOUT SEEING THE SHOE.
THEY LOOK AT MARY, THEY'RE SEEING THE SHOE.
Fanning: THE WHOLE PLACE WAS STUNNED.
THE JURORS WERE STUNNED.
THE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY WERE STUNNED.
I IMAGINE THAT SOME OF THE NEW YORK REPORTERS
WERE JUST SHRUGGING, WONDERING WHAT THE BIG DEAL WAS,
BUT EVERYBODY ELSE WAS SHOCKED.
Forrestall: MARY GOES ON TO DELIVER POWERFUL TESTIMONY
ABOUT THE ABUSE SHE CLAIMED SHE ENDURED
AT THE HANDS OF HER HUSBAND,
THE KEYSTONE OF WHICH IS HER HUMILIATING SEX LIFE.
Farese: HE WOULD ASK HER TO DO
THINGS THAT SHE DEEMED TO BE UNNATURAL --
*** SEX, WEAR A WIG, DRESS UP LIKE A ***,
WATCH PORNOGRAPHIC MOVIES ON THE COMPUTER,
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
Forrestall: BUT THERE'S EVEN MORE TO MARY'S STORY,
AND THIS PART, SHE HASN'T TOLD ANYONE YET.
MARY SAYS SHE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE
SUFFERING AT THE HANDS OF HER HUSBAND.
ON THAT FATEFUL MORNING,
MARY CLAIMS THEIR BABY WOKE UP CRYING.
Ballin: BEFORE MARY COULD GET UP,
MATTHEW HAD GONE INTO THE NURSERY
AND PUT HIS HANDS OVER THE BABY'S MOUTH AND NOSE
TO STOP THE CHILD FROM CRYING.
Farese: WHAT WAS HE DOING?
SUFFOCATING HER.
YOU MEAN PINCHING HER NOSE?
YES, SIR.
Forrestall: MARY CONTINUES TO TELL THE JURY
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER MATTHEW WENT BACK TO BED.
Mary: [ Voice breaking ] I JUST WANTED TO TALK TO MATTHEW.
MATTHEW?
TURN AROUND.
I JUST WANTED HIM TO STOP BEING SO MEAN.
DO YOU REMEMBER EVER PULLING THE TRIGGER?
NO, SIR.
DID YOU PULL THE TRIGGER?
NO, SIR.
THE SHOTGUN WENT OFF.
DID YOU INTENTIONALLY, PURPOSEFULLY KILL YOUR HUSBAND?
NO, SIR.
THE DEFENSE, THEY NEVER DENIED THAT SHE DID THESE THINGS.
THEY JUST WENT THE DIRECTION OF THIS IS WHY SHE DID IT.
SHE WAS INTIMIDATED, SHE WAS PUSHED, SHE WAS BULLIED,
AND THIS IS WHY SHE LASHED OUT THE WAY SHE DID.
Forrestall: SO, DID MARY REALLY KILL HER HUSBAND
TO PROTECT HERSELF AND HER LITTLE BABY
FROM HIS ALL-MIGHTY FURY?
THE PROSECUTION SEES IT OH, SO DIFFERENTLY.
TO THEM, THIS IS A CASE OF COLD-BLOODED ***
TRIGGERED BY GREED AND MARY'S FINANCIAL SHENANIGANS.
Stabler: I DON'T THINK MATTHEW KNEW ABOUT THE SCAM AT ALL.
I THINK SHE WANTED OUT OF THE MARRIAGE,
SHE WANTED OUT OF THE PREACHER'S-WIFE LIFESTYLE.
AND I THINK THAT HER PLAN TO GET MONEY, ENOUGH MONEY TO LEAVE,
HAD JUST BLOWN UP IN HER FACE AND FALLEN APART,
AND JUST OUT OF DESPERATION, LAST RESORT,
SHE GOT THE GUN AND KILLED HIM.
Forrestall: AND AS FOR ALL THAT ABUSE
MARY SAYS SHE ENDURED AT THE HANDS OF HER HUSBAND,
PROSECUTORS WONDER IF THAT EVER HAPPENED AT ALL.
Matthew: HEY, BABY. COOKING DINNER?
THERE WAS NOTHING TO BACK UP ANY CLAIMS.
SHE DID NOT CALL THE POLICE.
YOU WENT SHOPPING?
YEAH.
WHAT'D YOU GET?
OH, BABY, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
SO, THERE'S NO REFERENCE POINT FOR REALITY
OF WHETHER SOME OF THAT PHYSICAL ABUSE EVER HAPPENED OR NOT.
SEE YOU IN A SEC, HONEY.
OKAY.
Forrestall: AFTER THREE WEEKS OF TESTIMONY,
ON APRIL 20, 2007,
THE JURY DELIBERATES FOR JUST EIGHT HOURS.
Judge: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY,
HAVE YOU REACHED A VERDICT?
Man: YES, SIR, YOUR HONOR.
"WE THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT, MARY C. WINKLER,
GUILTY OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER."
Forrestall: GUILTY, YES.
BUT A FAR CRY FROM FIRST-DEGREE ***.
Ballin: STEVE AND I KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT.
THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
IT WAS A WIN.
SHE ASKED WHEN SHE HEARD "VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER"
A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.
"DOES THAT MEAN I GET MY KIDS BACK?"
Forrestall: ON JUNE 8, 2007,
THE JUDGE ISSUES A SENTENCE OF 210 DAYS IN PRISON
AND THREE YEARS PROBATION.
BASED ON TIME SERVED, MARY IS FREED AFTER A WEEK IN JAIL
AND TWO MONTHS IN THE MENTAL FACILITY.
I THINK THE JUDGE TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION
ALL OF THE TESTIMONY.
I THINK IT WAS A HARD, HARD DECISION FOR HIM,
SO I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY FAIR.
Stabler: I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED.
I FELT LIKE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM HAD FAILED MATTHEW.
IT FAILED HIS FAMILY, IT'S FAILED HIS KIDS.
I FELT LIKE MARY HAD GOTTEN AWAY WITH ***.
Forrestall: IN AUGUST, 2008, MARY RETURNS TO COURT
AND IS GRANTED FULL CUSTODY OF HER THREE DAUGHTERS.
BUT IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION,
THE JURY IS STILL OUT ABOUT MARY WINKLER.
Fanning: THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO, INITIALLY,
WERE EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF MARY,
BUT AFTER MARY HAD BEATEN THE CHARGES,
SHE STARTED DRESSING DIFFERENTLY,
STYLING HER HAIR DIFFERENTLY.
MARY BASICALLY WALKED AROUND AS IF SHE HAD A SPINE,
APPEARING FAR MORE WORLDLY
AND SOPHISTICATED THAN SHE HAD LET ON.
Ingle: NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE WALKS INTO THE COURTROOM
IN A BLACK POWER SUIT, BLUE BLOUSE.
SHE ACTUALLY LOOKED LIKE A MEMBER OF HER COUNSEL,
SMILING, LAUGHING, GREETING PEOPLE.
IT WAS A COMPLETE TURNAROUND FROM THE PERSON SHE HAD BEEN.
IT WAS VERY MUCH SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAUGHT.
WHEN PEOPLE SAW THAT, I THINK THEY FELT LIKE,
"NOW, IS THIS THE REAL MARY?"
BUT REGARDLESS OF WHAT SIDE OF THE FENCE YOU ROLL ON,
THERE WAS A SIGH OF RELIEF THAT THIS IS OVER.
THE SOUTH IS FULL OF TANGLED TALES,
BUT NOTHING IS MORE TRAGIC THAN LOVE GONE WRONG.
THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT PARSONAGE BEDROOM
STILL HANGS OVER SELMER, TENNESSEE,
LIKE FOG THAT REFUSES TO RISE.
SOME PEOPLE STILL WONDER IS THERE MORE TO THIS STORY?
ONLY MARY WINKLER AND THE GOOD LORD ABOVE KNOW FOR SURE.