Posted on 03/23/2006 7:19:20 AM PST by CAWats
SELMER, Tenn. — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide Amber Alert this morning after a West Tennessee minister was found shot to death and his family missing.
The children, ranging in age from 1 to 8, are missing from Selmer, about 80 miles east of Memphis in McNairy County.
<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://adsremote.scripps.com/event.ng/Type=click&FlightID=2028632&AdID=2035647&TargetID=2011448&Targets=2011020,2003385,2011361,2011448,2017830,2011669,2011703,2013366,2017874&RawValues=&Redirect=http:%2f%2fwww.advertisersite.com"><IMG SRC="http://images.scripps.com/1x1.gif" WIDTH=336 HEIGHT=280 BORDER=0></A> Their father, Matthew Winkler, 31, was found dead in a bedroom of the parsonage of Fourth Street Church of Christ, where he was the minister, Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks said.
The missing children were identified as Breanna Winkler, age 1; Mary Alice Winkler, 6, who is 3 feet tall and weighs about 40 pounds; Patricia Winkler, 8, who is 4 feet tall and weights about 60 pounds. All are white females. The two older girls have dark brown hair.
Authorities also are searching for their mother, Mary Winkler, who is 32, 5-foot-3, and weighs about 120 pounds, and they believe she is with the children.
(Excerpt) Read more at knoxnews.com ...
"crossroads for criminals"...scary. May God surround the situation in His providence...bless and protect the family, and guide LE.
Along these lines, I would first suspect the church sexton.
that is also plausible - although it would be doubtful for her to do the job herself - especially if he usually was the one who did the beating.
http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/14168252.htm
Posted on Thu, Mar. 23, 2006
Tenn. pastor found killed, family missingAssociated PressSELMER, Tenn. - A church minister was found shot to death in his parsonage, and authorities were searching for his missing wife and three young daughters Thursday.
Church members went searching for Matthew Winkler late Wednesday when he didn't show up for an evening service at Fourth Street Church of Christ, police said. They used a key to enter the parsonage and found him dead in a bedroom. His family was gone.
Selmer Police Chief Neal Burkes said Thursday that Winkler, 31, had been shot. According to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Jennifer Johnson, there were no signs of forced entry at the home.
"We're just really puzzled," Burks said. He said investigators weren't sure if anyone else was involved in the family's disappearance and needed to talk with Winkler's wife.
The bureau issued a statewide alert Thursday morning for the couple's daughters, Breanna, 1, Mary Alice, 6, and Patricia, 8. The alert said the girls may be with their mother, Mary Winkler.
Burks said Mary Winkler was a substitute teacher and had been working at the town's elementary school on Tuesday.
The couple had lived in Selmer, a town of about 4,600 residents in western Tennessee, for about a year, Burks said.
I remember one time in California, a pastor and his illicit lover were found dead in a motel room, both being overcome by carbon monoxide from a defective furnace.
All females too. Could be it was more than abuse to her.
But all is speculation now isn't it.
Prayers for all.
Me too....I'm from Paris and grew up in the Church of Christ there
She was small, but he was SHOT to death. Maybe she was packing heat?
"grew up in the church of Christ"
Ditto. :)
could be. in either way, it doesn't look too good fer her. I feel for the kids. pray.
Sorry but, my first thought was that too. Call it a hunch.
That would be mighty hard to hide in a typical church of Christ anyway. For those that don't know, the minister doesn't really run the church. Executive decisions are made by the church elders, and although the minister works with them, and has some influence with them as a teacher, he is their employee, and something like that would show, I suspect, in the social life connected with the church, the day-to-day cycle of Bible studies, church social events, and such.
And this lady worked in the community. She wasn't hidden away.
Prayers up. And don't forget to pray for the congregation, too. What a shock.
Are you related to Jerry Lee Lewis????????
LOL!
And there is no piano player in the Church of Christ!!!!!!!
He was a white male Christian, the most PC Incorrect possible.
Well, not mainstream coC's, anyway....
They found the little 5 year old boy in a pond not far from the home. Prayers for the family.
Beautiful family; prayers up for the children.
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