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HUNTINGDON (February 15) – A
Nashville-based trustee must submit certain
details of a trust fund, which was
established for Matthew and Mary Winkler’s
three daughters. Carroll County Chancellor
Ron Harmon ruled Friday that attorneys for
Mary Winkler have a right to inspect the
details of the fund.
The Winklers were in Carroll County Friday
subject to motions concerning adoption
proceedings filed by Dan and Dianne Winkler,
grandparents to the three children of
Matthew and Mary Winkler. Dan and Dianne
have had custody of the children since Mary
fatally shot her minister husband on March
22, 2006, loaded the family van, and headed
toward Florida with the three girls. She was
captured in Alabama and the elder Winklers,
who reside in Huntingdon, were summoned to
take custody of the children at the request
of Mary. They have had custody since that
fateful day. Mary was convicted, served five
months in jail and two months in a mental
institution.
Mary is fighting the grandparents’ adoption
proceedings. The mother is seeking to gain
custody of the children, whom she now sees
during limited and monitored visitations.
Friday, Chancellor Ron Harmon ordered
trustees to submit details on the amount in
the fund, a list of contributors and
contributions, and a detailed list of
expenses and to whom those expenses were
paid and why.
During the brief portion of open court
proceedings, Mary Winkler’s attorney, Kay
Turner, requested trust information,
indicating it was established for the
counseling and education of the three
children. Turner said her client has a right
to certain information regarding the trust,
since it was established for the welfare of
the children. Turner implied that the funds
might have been tapped for other purposes,
such as expert witnesses like psychologist
Dr. Keith Ablow, who, according to court
testimony, was paid $30,000 to give expert
testimony in the case even though he had
never interviewed Mary Winkler or the three
children.
The elder Winklers also lost their bid to
prohibit Mary Winkler and her attorneys from
speaking about the case. The Winklers wanted
to prevent any video taping and news media
from being present at any future hearings
and also to place a gag order on attorneys
to keep them from talking to the media
afterward. The Winkers’ attorney said the
motion is an attempt to “keep a lid on
publicity.”
Attorneys for Mary Winkler argued that they
and their client, Mary have a right to speak
to the press but have been put on notice
that they are be responsible for what is
said to the media.
Following the ruling on the two motions,
Chancellor Harmon excused the media and the
public from the courtroom to hear motions
concerning the adoption proceedings.
Four members of the Fourth Street Church of
Christ, Selmer were in attendance and were
supportive of Mary.
Jimmy and Susie Wolfe and Dorothy
Weatherford of Selmer described Mary as
confident and prideful. “She has pride about
herself,” said Mrs. Wolfe. They said Mary
has sent photographs to them of Mary and the
three children. One of them said that the
youngest daughter, Brianna, told her mother,
“I don’t remember your name, but I know you
are my mommy.”
They indicated the membership of the Fourth
Street Church of Christ was torn following
the 2006 shooting death of their minister.
However, the church membership is growing
and now back to about 200. |
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