Judge denies transfer request from man who killed metro-east pastor

A former Troy man who fatally shot a Maryville pastor during a church service has been denied a request for transfer to a non-secure treatment facility, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Wednesday.

Terry J. Sedlacek, 43, was prosecuted for the fatal shooting of the Rev. Fred Winters and stabbing two other men inside First Baptist Church in Maryville on March 8, 2009.

One shot from a .45-caliber handgun hit a Bible that Winters was holding during his sermon while another shot hit him in his chest, according to reports by the Belleville News-Democrat. Sedlacek, who also stabbed himself, was subdued by church members when his gun jammed.

In 2015, a judge found Sedlacek not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered be held at a secure mental-health facility operated by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

On Wednesday, Circuit Judge Kyle Napp denied Sedlacek’s request to be transferred from Alton Mental Health Center to a non-secure treatment center, according to a release from Haine’s office.

The judge also denied Sedlacek’s alternative request – to be given increased privileges at Alton Mental Health, including supervised off-grounds outings.

Prosecutors told Napp that Sedlacek should remain in a secure treatment center.

A defense lawyer for Sedlacek could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

“It’s unfortunate that, in many cases, victims are re-traumatized during post-conviction proceedings and petitions such as this,” Haine said in a statement. “No matter how much time passes, we will always pursue justice for victims and will work to keep our communities safe from dangerous individuals.”

Winters’ widow, Cindy Winters, provided a victim-impact letter to Napp about her husband, who was 45 when he died.

“We hurt, but we do feel comfort in knowing that the man who ended his life is confined, getting appropriate treatment and not a threat to us and to anyone else,” she wrote. “We take comfort in knowing that the one who ended Fred’s life and attempted to end many others, is not a threat to our community, or to any other family.”

This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 6:04 PM.