Jackson, Miss. A man who pleaded guilty to killing a University of Mississippi graduate student was sentenced Tuesday to 50 years in prison with 10 years suspended.
Sheldon “Timothy” Herrington Jr. has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and tampering in the death of Jimmy “Jay” Lee, a gay man who was prominent in the LGBTQ+ community. Herrington, 25, entered his confession on Monday at the start of his second trial.
Herrington was originally charged with capital murder, but prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge to second-degree murder.
He was sentenced to 40 years in prison with 10 years suspended, meaning he will serve 30 years, for second-degree murder. He got another 10 years for tampering. The sentences will run consecutively for 40 years, and he will be subject to 10 years of post-release supervision.
Herrington’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
Lee, 20, He disappeared from OxfordWhere the university is located in July 2022.
It was Herrington, also an Ole Miss graduate He was arrested for two weeks He was later eventually charged with capital murder.
judge A mistrial was declared Last year when jurors failed to reach a verdict after more than 9 1/2 hours of deliberation. At the time of the trial, Lee’s body had not been found, but the judge declared him dead.
In February of this year, deer hunters found Lee’s skeletal remains in a wooded area. According to Mississippi Today.
During the first trial, prosecutors claimed that Herrington, who was not openly gay, killed Lee after the two had a sexual encounter.
During a news conference after the sentencing, prosecutors suggested that Herrington killed Lee to keep their relationship secret.
Campus cameras It showed me leaving his apartment shortly before 4 a.m. on the day of his disappearance. He returned 40 minutes later, before leaving again just before 6am
Prosecutors allege that Lee was at Herrington’s apartment, and that when he left Herrington’s apartment he was upset. They said Herrington invited Lee back and searched “how long does it take to strangle someone” online before Lee arrived.
The final text message was sent from Lee’s phone to a social media account belonging to Herrington at 6:03 a.m. from a location near Herrington’s apartment, law enforcement testified. Accounts belonging to Herrington and Lee had previously exchanged accounts Explicit sexual messagesThey said.
Herrington was later captured on surveillance video running out of the parking lot where Lee’s car was found. He was also seen carrying a shovel and wheelbarrow at his parents’ home, authorities said.
Herrington is from Grenada, Mississippi, about 52 miles (83.7 kilometers) southwest of Oxford. Lee’s body was found in neighboring Carroll County.
Lee was pursuing a master’s degree. He was known for his creative expression through fashion and makeup, and often performed drag shows in Oxford, according to a support group called Justice for Jay Lee.