​​Man Is Accused of Luring Gay U. Miss. Student Before 2022 Killing — and Victim's Remains Were Just Found

The remains of a gay University of Mississippi student believed to have been lured to his death by a man he allegedly had sex with have been recovered.

Remains found in Carroll County, Miss. on Saturday, Feb. 1 have been positively identified by the Mississippi State Crime Lab as those of Jimmie “Jay” Lee, who went missing in 2022, the Oxford Police Department shared in a Feb. 5 press release.

Lee, a well-known 20-year-old student and prominent member of Ole Miss’ LGBTQ+ community, was last seen on July 8, 2022, according to authorities. Lee had previously been declared dead in absentia by a judge.

Sheldon “Timothy” Herrington Jr., 24, was tried on a capital murder charge in connection with Lee’s death, but a mistrial was declared in December 2024 after jurors were unable to reach a verdict.

Kevin Horan, Herrington’s attorney, argued his client could not be convicted without a body present, the Associated Press reported. He also argued that investigators had not exhausted leads on other persons of interest, per the Clarion Ledger. No new trial date has been set.

Prosecutors believed that Lee and Herrington, who was not openly gay, had a sexual encounter that ended badly before Lee’s death. Following this, they allege, Herrington messaged Lee and invited him back to his apartment, where they say the killing took place.

Investigators said they found explicit messages exchanged between the two. The search history on Herrington’s device, meanwhile, allegedly included an inquiry on how long it takes to strangle someone.

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In video footage shared as evidence in court, Herrington was spotted the day after Lee went missing removing a shovel and wheelbarrow from his parent’s house and placing it into the back of a box truck owned by Herrington’s moving company, according to WMC-TV.

Following Wednesday’s announcement, a spokesperson for the University of Mississippi expressed his condolences to Lee’s loved ones.

“The discovery of Jimmie “Jay” Lee’s body is a solemn moment and our thoughts are with Jay’s family and loved ones,” Jacob Batte, Ole Miss’ director of news and media relations, said in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Thursday, Feb. 6.

“University officials have been in contact with his parents to extend condolences. We are grateful to the individuals and agencies for their efforts in this case.”