A Tennessee man has been sentenced to death after he kidnapped, raped, and tortured a woman before murdering her by strangulation.
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Trigger Warning: Contains distributing details about a murder.
According to WATE, Sean Finnegan was convicted of multiple crimes, including first-degree murder, aggravated rape, and abuse of a corpse.
Fellow media outlet WBIR aired the sentencing, where the judge explained Finnegan would be transferred to the state penitentiary in Nashville. He is to be executed by lethal injection.
The victim, identified as Jennifer Gail Paxton, was kidnapped by Paxton in Dec. 2019 and was held in his apartment in Oak Ridge. While being held against her will, the man raped and tortured the woman before strangling her to death.
The Oak Ridger also reported that Finnegan’s significant other Rebecca Dishman told the authorities that he strangled Paxton during an extensive period of time. She noted he even took smoking breaks.
After Paxton died, both Finnegan and Dishman wrapped her body in a garbage bag and placed it in a freezer. Finnegan kept Paxton’s body in the freezer, which was located in his bedroom, until Aug. 2020. This was when the authorities searched his apartment. He then put her body underneath his bed.
Dishman eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2023. In exchange for a life sentence, she testified against Finnegan, sharing the gruesome details about Paxton’s death in court.
District Attorney Releases Statement About Sentencing, Extends Sympathy to the Victim’s Family
Meanwhile, District Attorney General Dave Clark released a statement about the sentencing. He reflected on the decision to put Finnegan to death and spoke about Paxton’s family having to endure being in court with her murderer.
“Most particularly, our thoughts and prayers are with the surviving family members of Jennifer Paxton,” Clark stated. “Who have suffered through this horrific process and who have had to hear the details of Jennifer’s last days of captivity, torture, and murder. They have been strong, courageous, and supportive throughout.”
He then added, “It is hoped that with the jury’s verdict and the conclusion of this case that there can be some closure and healing for Jennifer’s family from this nightmare.”
Although Finnegan was sentenced to death via lethal injection, Darrell Winfree, an attorney for Legal Aid of East Tennessee, told WBIR that he’ll likely die of natural causes before his execution. “It seems like it would be very easy to bring someone’s life to end,” he explained. “But it is a very extended process, a very expensive process, and a very complicated process.”
Winfree also said that the appeals process could last for decades as well. Finnegan is currently 56 years old.