Coroner describes dramatic autopsy in Oak Ridge murder trial

ANDERSON COUNTY, Tennessee – Prosecutors called a key witness to the stand Thursday in the capital crimes trial of Sean Finnegan.

Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan is the chief medical examiner for Knox and Anderson counties. Her office performed the autopsy on Jennifer Paxton's body in 2020.

Dr. Mileusnic-Polchan took the stand Thursday afternoon and remained there for several hours, detailing the autopsy and the various physical injuries Paxton sustained before, during and after her death.

Paxton suffered dozens of injuries, too many to count, she said.

Paxton's throat was slit and her body had cuts on her face, back, arms, wrists, hands, abdomen, pelvis and buttocks.

Her nose was removed with a sharp knife and the cuts were “precise,” Mileusnic-Polchan said. Paxton's left breast was also cut out in a ring around her nipple, Mileusnic-Polchan added. Paxton's right breast had a similar cut pattern but was not removed, as if it was “never finished,” the doctor said.

Paxton also suffered deep cuts to his abdomen. The cuts were made randomly but very deep, Mileusnic-Polchan said.

The autopsy determined that Paxton's cause of death was strangulation, meaning a rope or cord had been placed around her neck. The state asked Mileusnic-Polchan if a shoelace would be consistent with Paxton's injuries, and she answered in the affirmative.

Mileusnic-Polchan used a foam dummy and several red and black markers to show the jury where Paxton had sustained injuries. While showing these injuries, several members of the jury were visibly uncomfortable, wincing and looking away.

Mileusnic-Polchan also showed the jury 41 graphic autopsy photos of Paxton's body. Several jurors had great difficulty looking at the photos, having to look away or rub their eyes with their hands.

While the autopsy photos were shown, Finnegan kept his eyes down and looked at the ground. Throughout the trial, he remained alert, showing no emotion, watching and listening to the witnesses.

Jennifer Millsaps is a TBI agent who helped examine DNA evidence taken from Finnegan's home in 2020. She testified that a shoelace from a pair of black shoes found in Finnegan's bedroom contained the DNA of three people, including at least one man. However, DNA results were inconclusive when it came to linking those profiles to actual people.

The TBI agent went into further details about the DNA evidence found at the crime scene.

Swabs from Paxton's vaginal area contained DNA from an unknown man. During cross-examination of Millsaps, the defense pointed out that the DNA found therefore came from another man who was not Finnegan, since they already had a profile of Finnegan's DNA.

The prongs of the choke chain found in Finnegan's house were also wiped clean. No DNA was found.

Swabs were also taken from the two dog leashes. The DNA of at least two individuals, including at least one male, was detected, but the results were not conclusive.

The metal chains found in Finnegan's house were also examined. DNA from two individuals, including a man, was found on one side of the chain, but the main DNA donor was Paxton.

On the other side of the chain, the main DNA donor was identified as Rebecca Dishman. The DNA of another donor was also found but could not be identified.

The inside of the freezer was also tested for DNA. Prosecutors say Finnegan kept Paxton in a freezer for eight months after she was killed. Mileusnic-Polchan testified that the medical examiner's office had to thaw Paxton's body for several days to perform an autopsy because it was completely frozen.

Paxton's hemoglobin, a blood component, was found in the freezer.

Her DNA was also found in a swab from a stain near the fireplace in Finnegan's house.

Millsaps explained in her testimony that time, sunlight and cleaning products can destroy DNA and make testing more difficult.

The state also called Daniel Miller to the witness stand. Miller is a sales and customer service representative at Rent-A-Center.

Miller testified that Sean Finnegan ordered a freezer to be delivered to his home on December 27, 2019. He instructed employees to leave the freezer on his porch. They delivered it on December 28, 2019. Prosecutors argued that Paxton was killed sometime around Christmas 2019.

But in cross-examining Miller, the defense outlined Finnegan's history with Rent-A-Center, trying to prove that Finnegan was a regular customer of the company and always made his payments on time.

The trial will continue Friday morning in Clinton. The prosecution is expected to call only a few more witnesses.