OXFORD, Miss. (Courtroom TV) — A person is standing trial on fees he murdered a lacking College of Mississippi pupil whose physique has by no means been discovered.

Sheldon “Timothy” Herrington Jr. is charged with the homicide of Jimmie “Jay” Lee III, who disappeared on July 8, 2022. Herrington has pleaded not responsible to the fees. An indictment reviewed by Courtroom TV alleges that Herrington murdered Lee whereas engaged in kidnapping.

On the time of his disappearance, Lee was a widely known member of the LGBTQ+ group on the College of Mississippi and infrequently took half in drag performances, The Advocate reported on the time.

In 2022, the Oxford, Mississippi, Police Division mentioned it was working with the college’s police to analyze Lee’s disappearance, and introduced it had situated his automobile on July 11. The automobile had been discovered with an area towing firm after it was faraway from the Molly Barr Trails house advanced on July 8. In response to police, Lee was final seen leaving the Campus Stroll residences at 5:58 am on July 8, sporting a silver gown or housecoat, a gold cap and grey slippers. On the time, investigators mentioned they believed that Lee could have been visiting somebody on the Molly Barr Trails when he disappeared.

At a bond listening to in Aug. 2022, prosecutors mentioned that Herrington and the sufferer had recognized one another for about 4 months and had just lately entered right into a sexual relationship, the Oxford Eagle reported. Investigators additionally famous mobile phone conversations between the 2 males on the morning of Lee’s disappearance and mentioned that Herrington searched on-line for “how lengthy it takes to strangle somebody” minutes after a message from Lee saying he was en path to Herrington’s house.

Lee’s physique has by no means been discovered, however a choose declared him useless in October following a request by his dad and mom.

DAILY TRIAL UPDATES

DAY 3 – 12/5/24

• Oxford Police Det. Mark Hodges testified to surveillance video that confirmed Jay Lee’s automobile arriving on the Molly Barr residences and a person leaving the residences shortly thereafter.
  • The automobile may very well be seen to have a racing stripe on its hood and a sticker saying “I ❤️ my Pomeranian”
• College of Mississippi Police Sgt. Ben Douglas testified that he was the detective on Jay Lee’s disappearance and described makes an attempt to ping the sufferer’s telephone.
  • Douglas mentioned that officers interviewed Khalid Fears, who advised them that he was on the telephone with Lee the night time he disappeared and that Lee mentioned he was on his method to “hook up” with somebody that he had beforehand blocked.
  • Douglas testified that police discovered textual content messages that Herrington despatched to Lee.
  • The jury noticed sexually express Snapchat conversations between Herrington and Lee.
  • Google searches on Herrington’s account included “how lengthy does it take to strangle somebody gabby petito”
    • Auto-correct added the title “Gabby Petito” to the tip of the search
    • Herrington searched the Molly Barr residences on the day that Lee was introduced lacking, however earlier than police had discovered his automobile.

DAY 2 – 12/4/24

• Three witnesses took the stand
  • Kizziah Carter: Gave defendant a experience on the day the sufferer went lacking
    • Carter primarily acknowledged that the thought he could have given a killer a experience away from a time scene shook him up a lot, he left Oxford, Mississippi and began a model new life
      • WATCH: Man Who Gave Herrington a Journey the Day Lee Went Lacking Testifies
  • Capt. Jane Mahan: College Police Dept.
    • Concerned in preliminary phases of seek for Jay Lee, oversaw the college’s facet of investigation
    • Testified that the sufferer’s automotive was discovered inside her (Oxford) jurisdiction
    • Walked the courtroom via studying of Lee’s disappearance:
      • Sufferer’s mother referred to as requesting a welfare examine
      • Officer dispatched to his on-campus house: No reply. They checked campus, hospitals, motels, towing firms, and so on.
      • Met sufferer’s mother 2 days later, Mother mentioned son had an internship that he’d by no means skip out on and that he would by no means have deserted his canine
      • Finally realized {that a} towing firm had Jay Lee’s automotive, investigators confirmed it was his automotive
  • Mark Kaiser: Oxford Police Dept. Investigator
    • Joined the investigation 3 days after Lee was reported lacking
    • Was concerned within the restoration of the sufferer’s automobile and reviewed surveillance footage
• WATCH: Lacking Pupil Homicide Trial: Ole Miss Grad Accused in Pupil’s Homicide

DAY 1 – 12/3/24

• Each side ship opening statements
• 4 witnesses took the stand:
  • Stephany Lee, the mom of Jimmie Lee
  • Jennifer Buford, Lee’s professor
  • Jose Reyes & Khalid Fears, buddies of Lee