(Update, 6/12/06 - for new information on the Winkler case, click here)Â
As most bloggers are prone to do, I like to check my site meter to see who’s reading THE MEDIAN SIB and what brought them here. It amazes me the information one can gain about blog visitors by reviewing the site meter. It fascinates me to see the search words people have used on Google, MSN or Yahoo that brought them to TMS.Â
For the past four weeks, upwards of 50 or more times a day people have visited TMS because of an internet search for “Mary Winkler motive”, “Winkler Love Child”,  ”Church of Christ minister murdered by wife” or other combinations of words/phrases on that topic.
Mary Winkler shot and killed her husband, Matthew Winkler, a month ago, and I wrote several posts about it. (The other posts are listed at the end of this post). After the last post, I wrote that I was tired of the topic.  It had been discussed up one side and down the other.  However, four weeks later, each time I check ”by search words” on my site meter, I see that the interest in the story hasn’t waned much since it happened. THE MEDIAN SIB is still getting dozens of hits a day from that topic. And people are still leaving comments on those weeks-old posts.
Such interest begs the questions: What makes that particular story so intriguing to people? Why are so many people still searching for information about it?Â
I think it is a combination of the facts that (1)Matthew Winkler was not only a minister but a Church of Christ minister - not a lot of ministers are murdered by their wives, (2)The Winklers gave the impression of being very happy - everyone who knew them has talked of how shocked they are about it - no warning signs that anyone noticed; (3)Many people speculate about whether or not the beliefs of the Church of Christ had any impact on Mary’s actions; (4)The murder seemed so out of character for a quiet and respectable person like Mary Winkler; (5)There has been little in the news about the case the past few weeks; and (6)Mary Winkler has declined to make public her reasons for shooting her husband.Â
I think the most important reason that the story has held people’s interest for so long is item #6 above. If we knew WHY she did it, then people could let it go. We’ll learn soon enough. Until then, people will continue to search through the internet to find more information in order to try to make sense out of the senseless. And I will continue to check my site meter from time to time to see just how long this interest will continue.Â
Previous posts:  Tennessee Church of Christ Minister Murdered by Wife - No wonder?, Mary Winkler - Motive? Tragedy!, My Cruel, Callous and Mean-Spirited Opinion about the Winkler Murder Case, Women’s Place in the Church - Is the Church of Christ right? (Winkler post follow-up),
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April 22nd, 2006 at 3:54 pm
Your sister told me that your blog had moved, Carol. I love the changes here. Even though the look is the same it’s obvious that there’s been some serious tweaking under the hood, so to speak. I also envy you having your own domain, Carol. Very nice!
April 22nd, 2006 at 4:37 pm
Glad you found TMS, David, and glad you like the changes!
April 22nd, 2006 at 5:09 pm
It is interesting that I have not heard much about Mary Winkler for awhile. Has the news media lost interest? Or has Mary Winkler decided she will take her reason for the shooting to the grave with her? She knows whatever statemnt she makes will b headline news. It is so sad.
BTW…I also enjyed your post about the kids T Shirts. I amazesd me that parents buy some of these T Shirts…
April 24th, 2006 at 5:34 pm
I apologize to someone who left a comment here earlier this afternoon (Monday, 4/24). I was moderating the most recent comments and the “spam” button and the “approve” button are right next to each other. I was also talking on the phone - so I was distracted. Anyway, I accidentally deleted the comment as “spam” - and I don’t think there is a way to “undo” it. I tried my best to undo it, but it’s just not possible. The comment listed some Bible verses, and I had wanted to look them up. The first was Titus 3:2, I believe. However, I didn’t get a chance to note what the others were. So if that commenter was you, please re-post, and please accept my apologies. I love to get comments, and I feel really bad that I accidentally deleted your comment.
April 24th, 2006 at 11:45 pm
I received an email from the person whose post I inadvertently deleted. She provided the Bible verses she had mentioned in the comment (Titus 3:2, James 4:11, and James 3). She tells me that my comments here are hurtful and that I have not followed the scripture admonition to “speak the truth in love” and that I have been been “jabbing other church members.” I have certainly not deliberately set out to hurt anyone’s feelings. However, I AM genuinely puzzled by the responses I’ve received from COC people. I’m 57 years old, and I’ve been in the church my whole life. I’ve read and studied the Bible. I was completely astounded when I first attended a COC a few years ago and realized the extent of their mistreatment (in my opinion) of women. I honestly and truly had no idea that there were any churches - other than perhaps a few back woods, uneducated ones - that still clung to those beliefs. And I’ve been even further amazed that women themselves continue to insist that it’s what the Bible tells them to do - when clearly if one studies the Bible in depth and in context of the times in which it was written, that interpretation is not correct.  In reading and studying the Bible as sincerely and prayerfully as I possibly can, I don’t get the same interpretation. And I sincerely believe that those dominant male/submissive female beliefs are a prescription for abuse to occur. Of course it doesn’t always occur, and of course there are happy and fulfilled people in the COC. However, when the tendencies are there, that belief system provides fuel for it to happen.  Women have written comments here about how wrong I am - that they’re outspoken and are able to do whatever they want - that they are NOT treated as inferior to the men …but then they add except they can’t speak in church or attend the “mens’ business meetings” or teach a class that has adult male believers in it. One even went to far as to use the fact that women are able to play women’s roles in dramas in church as evidence that they are not treated as inferiors. I guess it IS a concession that the COC men don’t insist on Shakespearean acting where men play the women’s parts, too. I believe the COC will answer to God for not using fully the God-given talents and abilities of half their members. I believe, as the Bible teaches, that Jesus came to do away with the religion of “law”, but from what I experienced, and from what I’ve read in comments here, the COC has replaced Jesus’ mercy and grace and freedom with more laws. Laws couched in lofty words, but laws nonetheless. However, if the beliefs of the COC are your choice, then that’s your decision. And on the issue of no instrumental music - as I’ve written before, that’s no big deal. It’s rather absurd, but it doesn’t have anything to do with how people are treated - it’s a minor thing. So if you feel “hurt” by what I’ve written, I’m sorry. If you’ve chosen to follow the COC’s beliefs, then that’s your business.  However, the things I’ve written are my sincere beliefs.
April 25th, 2006 at 4:23 pm
Pastor Winkler used to be our Youth Pastor in Mcminnville, where he was dismissed because of inappropriate conduct/relations with minors…
I will leave it at that.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
AND, just a little FYI, our website for Central Church of Christ in Mcminnville says absolutely NOTHING about his death. There is a reason for that. If we have to pick sides, it wouldn’t be his.
April 25th, 2006 at 8:25 pm
Renee, I had heard rumors about that, but I had not heard from anyone who had any knowledge of it. And so I haven’t mentioned it here before. It would certainly explain the decision to murder rather than divorce. It’s a mystery at this point, and I’m looking forward to the time when the reasons for the murder are revealed. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
May 11th, 2006 at 11:40 am
Carol…People won’t let go because they want to know why. A jury will want to know why. The police and other authorities know what she said to be the reason, and it is highly unusual for the reason to have not been disclosed, some way, to this point. She is probably not a sociopath, probably not legally insane, so it is not unusual for a segment of the general public to be suspicious and inquisitive. I know you feel everyone should just let it go. So….I will pose this question: did he deserve to die…in her mind?
I check this story every two weeks. Be back with you then.
September 19th, 2006 at 9:18 am
she must have felt trapped.