A Tennessee man who kidnapped raped, and tortured a woman before strangling her to death has been condemned to death, according to a statement from Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark.
Sean Finnegan, 56, was convicted of many charges in the death of Jennifer Gail Paxton, 35, including first-degree murder, aggravated rape, and abuse of a body, according to multiple outlets including the Oak Ridger, WATE, and WBIR.
According to prosecutors, Finnegan kidnapped Paxton in December 2019 and detained her in his Oak Ridge residence. He raped and abused her many times before strangling her to death.
According to the Oak Ridger, Finnegan’s girlfriend or fiancée, Rebecca Dishman, told authorities that Finnegan strangled Paxton with string for a lengthy period while taking breaks to smoke.
According to WVLT, the couple then wrapped Paxton’s body in trash bags and placed it in a freezer. Finnegan stored her remains in a freezer in the bedroom until August 2020, when police arrived to search his home. He then hid Paxton’s corpse beneath his bed, according to authorities.
Dishman allegedly pled guilty to first-degree murder in 2023. She testified against Finnegan in exchange for a life sentence, avoiding the prospect of the death penalty.
The awful nature of the crime, along with Finnegan’s understanding of his acts, caused the jury to sentence him to death, WATE reported.
In the district attorney’s statement following the sentencing, Clark stated, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Jennifer Paxton’s surviving family members who have suffered through this horrific process and have had to hear the details of Jennifer’s last days of captivity, torture, and murder.” They’ve been strong, gutsy, and supportive throughout.”
“It is hoped that with the jury’s verdict and the conclusion of this case there can be some closure and healing for Jennifer’s family from this nightmare,” according to Clark’s statement.
Finnegan was condemned to death via lethal injection. But Darrell Winfree, an attorney for Legal Aid of East Tennessee, told 10WBIR that he’s likely to die of natural causes before being killed.
Winfree told the outlet that the appeals process may take decades, and that healthcare for persons on death row is often poorer than for those who are not jailed.
“It seems like it would be very easy to bring someone’s life to an end,” Winfree said. “But it is a very extended process, a very expensive process, and a very complicated process.”
The state of Tennessee last executed someone via lethal injection in 2021. However, Governor Bill Lee halted lethal injection executions in the state in 2022, and they have yet to restart.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or visit rainn.org.