Documentaries about murder detail everything. For decades, these programs have examined the realities of true crime and demystified the complex situations involving serial killers and regular people who lost it. One such story is of Donnah Winger.
And if you thought you had seen it all, wait till you learn (if you haven’t already) about Mark Winger’s murder investigation. Years of believing in him as the saviour were followed by unexpected facts that turned him into a prime suspect and led to his successful conviction. Donnah Winger, the victim, unfortunately, passed away before she could tell her story. Then where is Mark Winger right now?
Movie plots are readily available; artists need only look. Some murder investigations seem like scenes from a movie because they are so bizarre and unbelievable. And because of this, investigators often overlook obvious indications in such situations.
For instance, Mark Winger escaped punishment after killing his wife, only to have his guilt revealed afterward. What transpired that fateful day, and where is he now? Detectives then made the necessary connections. Strange, for sure.
The Relationship Between Mark And Donnah Winger
Given the circumstances, it is difficult for people to comprehend the brutality of the murder on August 29, 1995. Most outrageously, a husband murdered his wife. Their journey began with a romantic relationship and concluded in death and sobs.
So, where did it all start? When Donnah, the oldest of three sisters, met Mark, she immediately fell in love with him. In 1989, the couple was married after their romance flourished. As Mark worked as a nuclear engineer, Donnah became an operating room technician. Everything was ideal once they relocated to Springfield, Illinois.
But Donnah desired a kid to complete her contented life. But when she learned she couldn’t get pregnant, she was heartbroken. Lucky for Donnah, the hospital called to tell her about an adolescent who wanted to give up her child for adoption.
They quickly brought the infant home after everything went smoothly. The pair relished their time together and their new parental responsibilities. Furthermore, DeAnn Schultz and Donnah met there. Later on, she would become her closest friend.
A white male with two gunshot wounds to the head was the second casualty inside the residence. Sadly, Donnah Winger succumbed to her head wounds and passed away soon after getting to the hospital. Nevertheless, amazingly, when the cops arrived, he was still alive.
What Was Learned About The Case By The Investigators
As investigators arrived at the crime scene, they started gathering evidence. One of the detectives working the case, Cox, pulled the male victim’s identity out of his pocket before things got out of control. He named the individual Roger Harrington.
The most bizarre aspect was Mark’s allegation that she knew the male topic and that he was pestering his wife. Mark added that as he was using the treadmill, he heard a noise that caused him to walk upstairs. He added that he continued to hear noises and then decided to grab his revolver. Harrington swung a hammer at Mark’s wife when he shot him with the handgun.
Based on Mark’s description, every aspect of the case made sense. It was quite possible that Harrington snapped and grabbed whatever was there and used it on Donnah Winger since Cox, the person in charge of the investigation, even knew that Harrington was quick to become angry. And it was determined that Mark acted in self-defense in this manner; therefore, the matter was closed after 48 hours.
The Murder Case’s Stunning Turn
Despite this, a startling discovery in 1999 caused investigators to reevaluate their approach. His romance with Mark occurred while Donnah was still alive, according to DeAnn Schultz, a close friend of Donnah who reported it to the police.
And she said he told her something that bothered her. Furthermore, Mark disclosed to DeAnn his desire to have Harrington stay at his residence. She did this after learning about her wife’s awful driving experience returning to Springfield from the airport.
The positions of the bodies on the crime scene photos did not fit Mark’s description, according to the police who examined the images. Hence, they began to believe he was responsible for his wife’s death.
In addition, Roger’s former employer engaged a blood-spatter expert to examine the crime scene’s blood splatter. Also, police discovered a bank deposit paper with Mark’s name, address, and time in Roger’s car.
The police concluded that Mark had set up the meeting at his house and had enticed Roger to accuse him of being responsible for the victim’s death based on the evidence. As a result, they detained him on August 23, 2001, and filed two murder-related charges against him.
Where Is Mark Winger today?
Where did Mark Winger end up? After Mark was hero-worshipped in 1995 for attempting to save his wife’s life. Nonetheless, many people were shocked to learn that he was the murderer in this instance.
A trial was held in this case, and the prosecution prevailed. Mark was therefore found guilty of first-degree murder by the jury in May 2002, and as a result, he was given a life sentence without the chance of release. And that was not where things ended. The plan for Mark’s murder for hire was thwarted while he was incarcerated.
When DeAnn testified against him in court, he intended to hire someone to kill her. In 2007, Mark received a second sentence of 35 years in prison for soliciting murder after the matter went through the legal system and the jury deliberated.
Also read: Know About Joanna Dennehy: The Serial Killer
