Rachel Hatfield was in a 14-year relationship with a struggling artist named Tim when she met her future husband, Todd Winkler.  Todd couldn’t be much more different than Tim. He was a former F-16 fighter pilot with a big corporate job, a house, and even his own plane. When Tim heard about Todd, he hurried to propose to Rachel.  But it was too late. Rachel had made up her mind to marry Todd within weeks of meeting him. She would be his third wife and the second one to suffer a violent and sudden death.

Join us at the quiet end for Out of Wedlock. Rachel had high hopes for a happy marriage and a family of her own. But after having three children together, the Winkler’s’ marriage was in trouble. Rachel fell in love with another man and asked Todd for a divorce. But Todd was having none of it. Then, on February 27, 2012, a neighbor received a call from Todd explaining that there had been a domestic violence incident at his house. And Rachel was dead.

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Sources

Deadly Twist, Dateline NBC, E23 S31, 3/20/2015

Edge of Reason, American Monster, S4 E9, 10/27/2019

The People v. Todd Alan Winkler, In the Court of Appeal of the State of California Third Appellate Disctrict, 11/20/2020

Prosecutor points to gruesome evidence as Winkler murder case goes to jury, The Sacramento Bee, Peter Hecht, 3/21/2015

The Two Faces of Todd Winkler, 48 Hours, CBS, S28 E11, 12/13/2014