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Photos Reveal Different Mary Winkler

POSTED: 12:40 pm CST February 1, 2007
UPDATED: 11:00 pm CST February 1, 2007

A Channel 4 News exclusive may change everything you believe about the preacher's wife charged with killing her husband.

Related: Video | Images

The Channel 4 I-Team has obtained exclusive pictures of Mary Winkler that raise questions about her behavior as she awaits trial for murder.

Was she the wife of an abusive preacher or a cold blooded killer?

On New Year's Eve, Winkler wasn't at the home where she's staying in McMinnville, quietly contemplating her upcoming trial or at the church she attends and where her husband once worked -- she was at a bar and grill.

“She was very happy. She was having a lot of conversation in the bar. She was giggling and everything,” said Luis Correa.

The I-Team spoke to Correa and his wife Libbie and another customer who came to the New York Grill late that night.

The Correas said they were so surprised to see the accused murderer at the bar, they started taking pictures on their cell phone.

“She appeared to be drinking. Of course, I don't know what she was drinking, but she was smoking and drinking and appeared to be pretty light hearted,” Libbie said. “I just thought to myself, ‘If I had shot my husband and wasn't able to see my children and probably (will go) to prison, I wouldn't be going out on New Year's Eve."

It wasn't an early night.

Libbie said she and Luis left at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m.

“She was still here after we left,” she said.

It also wasn't the only night.

The bar owner confirms he's seen Winkler there before.

The conditions of Winkler's bond release don't prohibit her from going to bars.

“Given the situation, I think I would be too upset about being separated from my children to go out and celebrate in such a fashion,” said Libbie.

Winkler’s friend Matt Hash doesn’t see a problem with Winkler going out.

“I wouldn't have asked her to go out if I didn't think it was OK,” he said.

Hash is Winkler's long time friend, who provided her a job at his dry-cleaning business while she awaits trial.

He said they did celebrate New Year’s Eve, but that Winkler did not drink alcohol, despite witness accounts.

“We were out doing nothing but simply socializing,” he said. “Is her life supposed to stop? That's a personal question that would have to be answered by her.”

The I-Team attempted to speak with Winkler, but her attorneys did not return repeated calls for comment. The district attorney prosecuting the case is closely watching the latest developments.

He said he wants to see the pictures to determine if Winkler is overstepping the terms of her release on bond.

Winkler’s friends and others said this wasn’t the only time that Winkler has been out socializing.

Her friends said they go to movies and out to eat and try to live as normal a life as possible until her upcoming trial.

There has been no date set for the trial.

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