OXFORD, Miss.—A University of Mississippi student’s disappearance last year has culminated in a high-stakes trial in Oxford, where Sheldon “Timothy” Herrington Jr., 24, stands accused of capital murder. Herrington faces allegations of orchestrating the killing of 20-year-old Jimmy “Jay” Lee, who went missing on July 8, 2022. Despite Lee’s body never being recovered, legal proceedings have moved forward with a declaration of death by authorities.
Before his disappearance, Lee, known for his vibrant presence in the LGBTQ+ community and a keen advocate for the same at Ole Miss and Oxford, reportedly exchanged contentious and sexually explicit Snapchat messages with Herrington. This digital exchange, as revealed in court, could potentially shed light on the events leading to Lee’s final moments.
During the opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Gwen Agho emphasized Herrington’s presumed responsibility for Lee’s death, hinting at a concealed relationship between the two men. In contrast, Herrington’s defense lawyer, Kevin Horan, pointed out the absence of concrete evidence proving Lee’s murder.
The investigation intertwined modern technology with traditional police work, involving extensive reviews of cell phone records, social media interactions, and internet search histories linked to both Lee and Herrington. A chilling revelation from this search was a query made from Herrington’s device about the time required to strangle someone, occurring merely minutes before Lee’s disappearance.
Earlier testimony by Lee’s friend, Khalid Fears, painted a troubling picture of Lee’s last known hours. Fears recounted Lee’s disclosure about a disturbingly ended sexual encounter, followed by Lee deciding to revisit the same individual, moments before he vanished.
Further complicating the timeline, University Police Department Sgt. Benjamin Douglas testified about the crucial messages exchanged on the day Lee vanished. A plea for Lee to “Come back” was followed by rapid arguments and eventual agreement from Lee’s account, stating he was on his way. The digital conversation stopped abruptly after a message from Lee simply stating “Open.”
Security camera footage provided by the Oxford Police Department captured a vehicle, matching Lee’s car, sporadically across Oxford until arriving at the Molly Barr Trails apartment complex. Shortly after its arrival, security cameras recorded a man distinctly jogging away from the scene.
A corroborating witness, Kizziah Carter, later saw Herrington jogging and provided him a ride, unknowingly weaving himself into the case’s narrative. Lee’s sedan was subsequently discovered and towed from the apartment complex parking lot.
Despite their shared alma mater and educational pursuits—with Lee actively working towards his master’s degree and participating in Oxford’s drag show scene—their paths converged under grim circumstances. Herrington, if convicted, faces a life sentence following the prosecutor’s decision against seeking the death penalty, adhering to Mississippi’s definitions of capital murder in conjunction with kidnapping.
As the community and Lee’s support network, “Justice for Jay Lee,” continue to grapple with the ramifications of his untimely disappearance and presumed death, the trial persists, unfolding new layers of a deeply personal and tragic story.