(photo credit: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department)
A Jefferson County man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following the death of his wife on September 1st.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said it received a report of a possible homicide around Monday at 8:03 p.m., with a suspect vehicle described in the call. Just after 9 p.m., a Christopher Police officer spotted the vehicle—a gray 2007 Ford Escape—at Illinois Highways 14 and 148 and followed it until backup arrived.
Deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, along with DuQuoin Police, the Perry County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police, assisted in conducting a felony stop in rural DuQuoin. The driver, 51-year-old John W. Finney of rural Mt. Vernon, was detained. During a protective sweep, officers discovered Finney’s wife, 42-year-old Amy J. Finney, deceased inside the vehicle.
At the same time, Jefferson County deputies located evidence indicating the crime scene was the couple’s residence on Illinois Highway 148, which was secured with assistance from Mt. Vernon Police. Illinois State Police crime scene technicians processed both locations.
Detectives, working with the Jefferson County State’s Attorney, obtained search warrants for the sites. The Perry County Coroner took custody of the victim’s body.
Preliminary evidence indicates Amy Finney died from a gunshot wound during a domestic dispute. John Finney was arrested for first-degree murder and is being held in the Jefferson County Jail pending a pretrial detention hearing.
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