Police in Oxford, Mississippi, have confirmed that remains found last week are those of University of Mississippi student Jimmy “Jay” Lee, who disappeared more than two years ago.
The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department said deer hunters had stumbled on Lee’s remains on Saturday off a road where illegal dumping is prevalent, Mississippi Today reported. A gold necklace bearing Lee’s name sparked rumors even before DNA analysis confirmed his identity.
“The Oxford Police Department made a commitment to finding Jay, no matter how long it took,” Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen said in a statement Wednesday. “This case has remained an active investigation since July 8, 2022. We are grateful to the Lee family and Jay’s friends for their help and support throughout this process. We hope this confirmation brings them even a small measure of comfort.”
Lee, a prominent member of the LGBTQ+ community at Ole Miss, had last been seen leaving his campus apartment complex just before 6 a.m. on July 8, 2022. The 20-year-old was wearing a silver robe or housecoat, a gold cap and gray slippers, police said at the time. On July 11 his car was traced to a local towing company, having been towed from another apartment complex the morning he vanished.
On July 24 that year police arrested Timothy Herrington Jr., 22 at the time, and charged him in Lee’s murder, though the body had not been found. Herrington was indicted on a capital murder charge for allegedly murdering Lee to hide their romantic relationship, the Clarion Ledger reported at the time.
In October 2024 a Lafayette County judge declared Lee legally dead after his parents filed a petition requesting it, the Clarion-Ledger reported. In December a deadlocked jury forced a mistrial in Herrington’s case, with the absence of a body one of the deciding factors.
The case is far from over, though it was not clear Thursday how it would affect charges going forward. Even before the grim discovery, Lafayette County District Attorney Ben Creekmore had said he plans to retry Herrington.
“While this part of the investigation is complete, additional work remains,” police said in their statement. “However, we are unable to provide further details at this time.”