Double Murder and Deception

Mark Winger led a seemingly ordinary life as a farmer in Springfield, Illinois, until his desires for wealth and material possessions drove him to commit a heinous crime. In a shocking turn of events, he killed both his wife and an airport shuttle driver, leaving the murders unsolved for years. Winger's alibi was that he shot Roger Harrington after finding him brutally attacking his wife, Donnah Brown, with a claw hammer.

Law enforcement initially believed his story, allowing Winger to collect substantial life insurance payouts following Brown's tragic death. Little did anyone know that Winger was the real killer and had plotted the story and crime scene to make it appear as though Harrington had harmed his wife. However, years later, a break in the case came when Brown's friend, Deanna Shultz, called the police. She confessed to having an affair with Winger during his marriage to Brown and suspected that he was responsible for Donnah's murder. Police reopened the case, leading to Winger’s arrest and conviction for the murders.

Winger, a nuclear engineer with a friendly, calm personality, also happened to be the cousin of actress Deborah Winger.

Marriage, Affairs, and a Murder

He met Donnah in 1989. The pair instantly hit it off and married soon after hooking up. Unbeknownst to Donnah, Winger was not the hardworking, good-natured man he presented himself to be.

In 1995, Mark and Donnah adopted a beautiful baby girl they named Bailey. Shortly thereafter, Winger started an affair with Donnah’s best friend, Deanna Shultz, in 1995. He planned to kill Donnah, marry DeAnn, and raise Bailey with her.

Donnah, an operating room technician, was transported from St. Louis International Airport to her home by airport shuttle driver, Roger Harrington, On August 23, 1995. The Wingers later called the airport to complain about the ride with Roger. According to Donnah, the man had given her a “hard time” since he talked about using drugs and having orgies during the drive.

Roger had a few run-ins with the law, a history of domestic violence, and suffered from mental illness in the past.

A Murder Plot

Learning about Roger’s criminal history and mental health issues, Winger got an idea. He knew exactly how he would get rid of Donnah.

Six days later, Winger dialed 9-1-1 frantically telling the operator he shot and killed Roger Harrington after he walked into the couple’s home and found him attacking his wife with a claw hammer. Donnah died from her injuries.

“I just found this man in my house. He beat my wife…He’s lying on the floor with a bullet in his head…,” Winger said in a breathless state of rehearsed melodrama. “Yes, I shot him — he was killing my wife!“

A neighbor confirmed hearing two gunshots coming from the home.

Police initially suspected Harrington retaliated against the Wingers because they called his employer, causing him to lose his job. They believed Winger’s story and closed the case without filing charges against him.

Winger frequently visited the police station asking questions about his wife’s case, despite it h being closed. This led police to believe he was more involved in the incident. Without evidence Winger committed a crime, however, police could do little to confirm their suspicions.

Winger received $25,000 cash from a fund set up to aid victims of crime. He also received a life insurance payout of $150,000 from Donnah’s policy. Mark even went as far as to write a letter to the newspaper thanking the community for their generosity and support.

Winger Married the Nanny

Five months after Donnah’s death, Winger hired Rebecca Simic as a nanny to care for Bailey. Weeks later, the pair married, giving police even more suspicions about Winger’s involvement in his wife’s death. The couple went on to have three kids.

Unsatisfied with the $175,000 payout, Winger then sued the shuttle company, although he did not expect them to open an investigation into the murder.

DeAnn Shultz came forward four years after Donnah’s murder. She told police about her affair with Winger and how she suspected he had killed Donnah. She broke off their affair immediately after her death.

After the shuttle company investigated the case and DeAnn come forward, police reopened the case in 1999. They soon discovered Winger’s account of events did not match the crime scene. The original placement of the bodies contradicted parts of his story. A review of Winger’s call to 9-1-1 determined Harrington moaned in pain in the background, and according to the neighbor who had heard gunshots, stated the two shots were fired about five minutes apart. He hung up on the 9-1-1 operator during his call, saying “My baby’s crying, my baby’s crying, I’ve gotta go.” Police believe Winger fired the second shot, the one that fatally wounded Harrington, after hanging up the phone.

They also discovered a note in Harrington’s vehicle listing the name Mark Winger, the Winger’s address, and the time 4:30, suggesting Harrington did not unexpectedly show p at their home and attack Donnah. Harrington’s roommates also come forward saying he had received at least one phone call from Winger.

Winger Charged With Murder

Winger was charged with double murder in 2001 and convicted in 2002. He was sentenced to life without prison.

While incarcerated at Pontiac Correctional Center, Winger asked a fellow prisoner to murder DeAnn Shultz, who testified against him at trial, and Jeffrey Gelman, a childhood friend who refused to post his bond. In June 2007, Winger was convicted of solicitation of murder and sentenced to an additional 35 years behind bars.