Mary Carol Freeman was born on December 10, 1973, in Guys, Tennessee. 

On March 22, 2006, Mary Carol Winkler shot her husband, Matthew Winkler, in their home in Selmer, Tennessee. He was a pulpit minister at the Fourth Street Church of Christ. After missing an evening service, church members found his body lying on the floor. He had been shot in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Following the shooting, Mary Winkler admitted to police that she had argued with her husband about finances before the incident. She later fled with their three daughters to Orange Beach, Alabama, where they were discovered after an Amber Alert was issued due to concerns for their safety. Mary was then arrested and brought back to Tennessee to face charges.

During a bond hearing, a statement from Mary revealed details of the events leading up to the shooting. She mentioned that she did not remember picking up the gun but knew it was in the house. In her statement, she recalled hearing a loud boom and that her husband, who was still alive, asked her why she had shot him. She responded with an apology before leaving the house.

Mary was indicted on June 12, 2006, for first-degree murder. Her bond was set at $750,000, a decision her attorney argued was excessive. After being held for about five months, she posted bond and was released under the condition that she stay with friends in McMinnville, Tennessee.

The trial began in April 2007. Mary took the stand in her defense, sharing that her husband often belittled her and forced her into uncomfortable situations, including wearing revealing costumes. She claimed the shooting was an accident and that she only wanted to confront her husband about their issues. On April 19, the jury found her guilty of voluntary manslaughter, a lesser charge than first-degree murder.

In June 2007, a judge sentenced Mary Winkler to 210 days in prison and allowed her to spend part of that time in a mental health facility. After serving her time, she was granted full custody of her three daughters in August 2008.