The Pastor's Wife (book)
Encyclopedia
THE PASTOR'S WIFE: The True Story of a Minister and the Shocking Death That Divided a Family, by author and novelist Diane Fanning
, is a true crime account of Pastor Matthew Winkler, who was found dead, fatally wounded in his back, from a shotgun blast, in 2006 at his Fourth Street Church of Christ parsonage in Selmer, Tennessee. The book was mass-market released by St. Martin's True Crime Library in November 2008.
It has been made into a movie, also titled The Pastor's Wife, set to be released in 2012 by Lifetime Television
.
The movie was released on November 5, 2011.
, the pastor's wife, and their three daughters—aged 8, 6 and 1 at the time—were still missing when Matthew's body was discovered. A frantic search for his family ensued. They were eventually located on a beach in Alabama, and Mary was charged with the murder of her 31-year-old husband.
In the months that followed, events surrounding the crime—and the Winklers' marriage—would be exposed nationally, including with Mary's appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show
. The story is set in a world of domineering men, obedient wives, and unshakable faith.
In April 2007, Mary was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the death of her husband and sentenced to 210 days. She served out 67 days of her sentence in a mental health facility.
Winkler's entire defense team, Attorneys Steve Farese, Sr., Leslie Ballin, Tony Farese and Steve Farese, Jr. and Investigator Terry Cox, all represented her pro bono.
and included in Doubleday Book Club. It remains on The Literary Guild's Top 100 bestseller list in the biography category.
Book reviewer Anita Porterfield with The Boerne Star wrote about the book, "With great skill, Fanning guides the reader through the bizarre destructive events of a dysfunctional family culminating with Mary Winkler’s murder trial."
Diane Fanning
-Early life and education:Fanning was born Diane Lynn Butcher in Baltimore, Maryland. She attended Perry Hall High School, then Lynchburg College in Virginia, where she majored in chemistry.-Career:...
, is a true crime account of Pastor Matthew Winkler, who was found dead, fatally wounded in his back, from a shotgun blast, in 2006 at his Fourth Street Church of Christ parsonage in Selmer, Tennessee. The book was mass-market released by St. Martin's True Crime Library in November 2008.
It has been made into a movie, also titled The Pastor's Wife, set to be released in 2012 by Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
.
The movie was released on November 5, 2011.
Case information
Mary WinklerMary Winkler
Mary Carol Winkler was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the 2006 shooting death of her husband, Matthew Winkler, the pulpit minister at the Fourth Street Church of Christ in the small town of Selmer, Tennessee...
, the pastor's wife, and their three daughters—aged 8, 6 and 1 at the time—were still missing when Matthew's body was discovered. A frantic search for his family ensued. They were eventually located on a beach in Alabama, and Mary was charged with the murder of her 31-year-old husband.
In the months that followed, events surrounding the crime—and the Winklers' marriage—would be exposed nationally, including with Mary's appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
. The story is set in a world of domineering men, obedient wives, and unshakable faith.
In April 2007, Mary was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the death of her husband and sentenced to 210 days. She served out 67 days of her sentence in a mental health facility.
Winkler's entire defense team, Attorneys Steve Farese, Sr., Leslie Ballin, Tony Farese and Steve Farese, Jr. and Investigator Terry Cox, all represented her pro bono.
Reception
The book was listed on Oprah's Book ClubOprah's Book Club
Oprah's Book Club was a book discussion club segment of the American talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, highlighting books chosen by host Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey started the book club in 1996, selecting a new novel for viewers to read and discuss each month. The Club ended its 15-year run, along with...
and included in Doubleday Book Club. It remains on The Literary Guild's Top 100 bestseller list in the biography category.
Book reviewer Anita Porterfield with The Boerne Star wrote about the book, "With great skill, Fanning guides the reader through the bizarre destructive events of a dysfunctional family culminating with Mary Winkler’s murder trial."