Matthew Eric Wrinkles was born on January 3, 1960 in the United States. Little is publicly detailed about his early life, but by adulthood, he married Debra Jean Wrinkles, with whom he had children. Their marriage was troubled, worsened by Wrinkles’ growing dependence on methamphetamine, which he later blamed for his erratic behavior and the violence that unfolded.

By 1994, the marriage had collapsed. Debra moved with the couple’s children into the home of her brother Tony Fulkerson and his wife Natalie in Evansville, Indiana. Wrinkles’ behavior had become increasingly unpredictable, and relatives grew concerned. His mother sought psychiatric intervention for him two weeks before the killings, but medical authorities determined he did not meet the criteria for commitment. He was briefly hospitalized, evaluated, and discharged after three days.

In the days leading up to the murders, Wrinkles exhibited obsessive behavior toward his estranged wife. Despite a protective order, he tracked her movements, went to her workplace, and harassed friends in search of her. On July 20, 1994, he attended a divorce hearing where the protective order was lifted under legal agreements for visitation. A family meeting with the children was planned but Debra chose not to attend.

In the early hours of July 21, 1994, Wrinkles carried out a carefully premeditated attack. Disguised in camouflage clothing and face paint, and armed with a .357 Magnum handgun and a knife, he drove to the Fulkerson residence in Evansville. He parked a block away, cut the telephone wires, and forced entry by kicking in the back door.

Once inside, Wrinkles went room to room. He first shot Tony Fulkerson in the bedroom, hitting him multiple times in the face, hip, chest, and back. As Natalie Fulkerson attempted to flee onto the porch, he shot her fatally in the face. Finally, he confronted Debra Wrinkles in the hallway, shooting her in the chest and shoulder. Debra died where she fell.

The couple’s children, who had been living in the house, survived the attack but were left traumatized by witnessing the aftermath. Wrinkles fled to a cousin’s home, where he was later arrested. The murder weapon was recovered at the scene of his arrest.

Wrinkles was brought to trial in 1995. On June 14, 1995, a jury convicted him of three counts of murder. He was sentenced to death. At trial, the defense argued that his long-standing methamphetamine use and deteriorating mental state contributed to the killings, but the jury found him fully responsible.

Wrinkles spent 14 years on Indiana’s death row at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. His appeals were repeatedly denied, including his final review rejected by the Indiana Supreme Court in November 2009.

In a rare move, Wrinkles appeared via remote video feed on The Oprah Winfrey Show in November 2009, just weeks before his execution. In the televised segment, he faced members of his victims’ families. The appearance highlighted the broader debate over capital punishment in America and drew national attention.

On December 9, 2009, Wrinkles was served his last meal — unusually provided three days before execution under Indiana policy. The meal included prime rib, pork chops with fries, a loaded baked potato, rolls, and salads with ranch dressing.

On the night of December 11, 2009, Wrinkles bid farewell to fellow inmates, reportedly shouting down the corridor, “I’ll see you fellas!” as he was led to the death chamber.

At 12:39 a.m. CST, Wrinkles was executed by lethal injection. He declined to make a formal last statement, saying only:

“Let’s get it done. Let’s lock and load … it’s plagiarized, but what the hell.”

He was 49 years old at the time of his death. Wrinkles remained Indiana’s most recent execution for over 15 years, until Joseph Corcoran was executed in December 2024.