Matthew Winkler described as man who dominated wife – McMinnville residents paint dark picture of former preacher
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?He had a reputation as a bully,? testified local resident and longtime Highway Patrol Sgt. Jimmy Jones of his one-time meeting with the minister in 2003. ?He seemed out of control. I nicknamed him the Tasmanian Devil.?
Jones was referring to Matthew Winkler allegedly confronting him and others as they stood in his grandmother?s yard in McMinnville the day before she died. Jones, fighting back tears while remembering his grandmother, said Mr. Winkler was angry about a dog, he thought to be theirs, which had barked and kept him awake. Jones noted he was surprised how a man of the cloth treated the worried family, adding other neighbors called him a bully.
Jones? comments were the first of many negative portrayals of the victim as the defense got under way in the Mary Winkler murder trial, wasting no time going on the attack.
?He treated me lower than him,? recalled McMinnville resident and former Central secretary Lori Boyd of her time working with Mr. Winkler, noting she had even seen Ms. Winkler not eat because her husband had mentioned that she was gaining weight.
?He picked her clothes,? Boyd added, saying Mr. Winkler micro-managed his wife?s life.
In addition to maintaining the victim dominated his wife, Boyd also suggested there were questionable purchases made by Mr. Winkler during his time as youth minister, adding a ?Matthew File? was opened to keep up with purchases he made. Boyd also said Mr. Winkler would lock his children in his office while he was in another part of the church working.
While no proof of physical abuse was presented by defense witnesses until Mary?s psychologist took the stand late in the day, McMinnville resident and Winkler friend Rudie Thomsen, who gave Winkler a place to stay while out on bond, suggested he had heard things.
?I wish I had said something or stepped in,? Thomsen testified, stopping short of saying he had heard of physical abuse.
Instead, Thomsen said he saw Winkler with a black eye one day at Central, a black eye Winkler explained by saying she was accidentally hit while she was playing with her girls.
?She looks happier now than when she was with Matthew,? Thomsen said.
Ms. Winkler?s sister, Tabatha Freeman, one of the few non-McMinnville residents to testify Tuesday, said she had seen changes in her sister?s demeanor since she was married.
?A bubbly, outgoing sister became subdued,? Freeman said, noting she did not get to see her sister much once she got married. ?He pretty much dictated everything she did.?
Prosecutor Walt Freeland pointed out the changes could have been natural as many people don?t see relatives as much once they get married. Freeland also noted there was evidence Ms. Winkler and her father were not on good terms, accounting for her absence.
While Freeland said nothing about physical abuse, attorney Steve Farese made his own accusation to the objections of prosecutors.
?Is it not true he beat your sister?? Farese interjected as Freeland objected profusely, ending in a court recess.
McMinnville resident and Central youth member Jonathon Allen testified he had seen Mr. Winkler yell at his wife, but added he thought it might be a normal married thing which did not send up red flags.
Central minister Tim Parish said he never saw any physical abuse during the 10 months he worked at the church with the Winklers. Parish said he hired his own attorney because he felt a statement taken from him by a TBI agent was not exactly accurate. Before he was able to leave the stand, however, Freeland asked him about Ms. Winkler?s return to church after being granted bond, suggesting she was welcomed with open arms.
?Was there a reception line for Mary?? Freeland asked to the objection of the defense.
Other locals testifying included Winkler?s probation officer here, Donna Dunlap, who said she had been on good behavior while being here in McMinnville on bond. Dunlap added the incident where Winkler was seen smoking a cigarette while sitting at the bar at New York Grill did not constitute a violation of her bond.
Local doctor Timothy Fisher said he treated Ms. Winkler in 2002 for a swollen cheek, noting she said it was caused by being hit by a softball.
?That was her story,? Dr. Fisher said.