PERRY COUNTY, IL — A rural Mt. Vernon man has been arrested for the murder of his wife following a deadly domestic dispute in Jefferson County, Illinois.
Just after 8 p.m. on Monday, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible homicide, including a suspect vehicle description and location. Around 9 p.m., an officer with the Christopher Police Department spotted the vehicle near Highways 14 and 148 in Perry County.
The vehicle, driven by 51-year-old John W. Finney, was stopped in the 9000 block of Birch Road in rural Du Quoin, with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies including the Du Quoin Police, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police.
During a protective sweep of the vehicle, officers discovered 42-year-old Amy J. Finney, John’s wife, deceased inside. At the same time, Jefferson County Deputies confirmed the likely crime scene was the Finney residence.
Detectives from Jefferson County and other agencies executed search warrants at both the vehicle stop location and the couple’s home. The Perry County Coroner took custody of the victim’s body.
Preliminary evidence suggests Amy Finney died from a gunshot wound during a domestic altercation with her husband. John Finney was arrested on a charge of First-Degree Murder and is being held in the Jefferson County Jail pending a pretrial detention hearing.
Authorities thanked all involved agencies for their swift response. John Finney is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
