A rural Mt Vernon man has been arrested in Perry County for a Jefferson County murder.
Just after 8pm Monday, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible homicide in Jefferson County. A possible location and suspect vehicle description were given in the report. While Deputies were searching for the suspect vehicle and potential scene, an officer from the Christopher Police Department located the suspect vehicle near highways 14 and 148 just after 9pm. The suspect was stopped in the 9000 block of Birch Rd in rural Du Quoin. The stop and securing the location were assisted by the Du Quoin Police Department, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police.
The driver, identified as 51-year-old John W. Finney of rural Mt. Vernon was detained. A preliminary protective sweep by the officers conducting the stop of the vehicle discovered Finney’s wife, 42-year-old Amy J. Finney, deceased in the vehicle.
While this was happening, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies discovered that the likely crime scene was the Finney residence.
Detectives from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence in Jefferson County and felony stop location in Perry County to conduct the investigation and obtain search warrants for both locations with the assistance of the Jefferson County State’s Attorney. The Perry County Coroner was notified and responded to the felony stop location to take custody of the victim’s body.
Preliminary evidence gathered indicates that Amy Finney died from a gunshot wound during a domestic dispute with John at their home. John Finney was arrested for the crime of First-Degree Murder and incarcerated in the Jefferson County Jail to await his pretrial detention hearing.
The Sheriff’s Office thanks each and every agency that helped us with this investigation, which led to quick justice. John Finney is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
