by Seamus McGraw

(Continued)

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Jones said the woman was cooperating with investigators. He declined to discuss a possible motive for the slaying, nor was it immediately clear why she chose to flee to this resort town on the Gulf of Mexico, he said.

Authorities have also interviewed the children, Breanna, 1, Mary Alice, 6, and Patricia, 8. All three were unharmed, and appeared to be fine. "I'd say they're just pretty tired from all the moving around," he said. The children had been missing since their mother picked them up after school on Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear when Mary Winkler would be returned to Tennessee. Jones referred those questions to the Tennessee Attorney General's Office, and calls to that office were not immediately returned.

Matthew Winkler, victim

Matthew Winkler, a third generation preacher, had been hired at the Fourth Street Church of Christ in this town of 4,600 in February of 2005. It was his first full time post as a minister.

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