MT. VERNON – A preliminary hearing and a motion hearing have been set for a Jefferson County man accused of shooting his wife to death during a domestic dispute at their home on Illinois 148 in rural Mt. Vernon Monday night.

Online court records show the hearings for 51-year-old John W. Finney of Mt. Vernon are set for 2 p.m. next Wednesday in Jefferson County Court.

Finney did appear for his detention hearing Wednesday and was given an In Absentia warning. A public defender was appointed to represent Finney. Finney was also advised about the state’s petition to deny pre-trial release. A hearing on that matter was also set for Wednesday. The petition was filed Tuesday.

Law enforcement tracked a Ford Escape into rural Du Quoin where Finney was stopped and detained in the 9000 block of Birch Road. Investigators found his wife, 42-year-old Amy J. Finney, dead inside the vehicle.

John Finney is charged with First-degree Murder and remains in the Jefferson County Jail.