A Jefferson County man has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for the murder of his wife.
On Thursday, Jefferson County Judge Jerry Crisel sentenced 51-year-old John W. Finney of rural Mt. Vernon to the Illinois Department of Corrections. Following sentencing, Finney was returned to jail to await transfer to state prison.
The case began on Sept. 1, 2025, when the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible homicide. Authorities were provided with a suspect vehicle description and later located the vehicle near the intersection of Illinois Routes 14 and 148 in Franklin County.
Law enforcement officers conducted a felony traffic stop in rural Du Quoin and detained Finney. During a protective sweep of the vehicle, officers discovered the body of his wife, 42-year-old Amy J. Finney.
Investigators later determined the crime scene was at the couple’s residence north of Mt. Vernon. Evidence gathered during the investigation indicated Amy Finney died from a gunshot wound during a domestic dispute at the home.
Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation, including the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Christopher Police Department, Du Quoin Police Department, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, and Mt. Vernon Police Department.
Finney was subsequently arrested and charged with First Degree Murder.