Jefferson County man to stand trial in January for wife’s murder

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

MT. VERNON, Ill., (KBSI) — A Jefferson County man accused of fatally shooting his wife and concealing her body in a car trunk is scheduled to stand trial in January 2026.

John W. Finney, 51, of rural Mt. Vernon, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, 42-year-old Amy J. Finney. Authorities believe the homicide occurred at the couple’s home along Illinois Highway 148 during a domestic dispute.

Investigators discovered Amy Finney’s body in the trunk of a vehicle her husband was driving after a traffic stop on Sept. 1 outside Du Quoin.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Dec. 10 at 9 a.m. at the Jefferson County Courthouse, followed by a final pre-trial on Jan. 20, 2026. The jury trial is set to begin Jan. 27, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Courtroom A.