Oak Ridge man on death penalty

Sean Finnegan, 56, is on trial for the murder, rape, and torture of 35-year-old Jennifer Paxton, whose body was discovered in a freezer months after her death in December 2019. The prosecution alleges that Finnegan and his girlfriend, Rebecca Dishman, lured Paxton to their Oak Ridge home with promises of shelter, where they held her captive, physically assaulted her, and ultimately killed her. Dishman, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2023, is expected to testify against Finnegan as part of her plea deal. The trial, presided over by Judge Don Ash, began with jury selection in Clinton, Tennessee, and will see jurors sequestered throughout the proceedings. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty, highlighting the gruesome nature of the crime, which included severe mutilation of the victim's body. The trial is expected to last approximately two weeks.