Remains of missing University of Mississippi student Jimmy ‘Jay’ Lee found

Police successful Oxford, Mississippi, person confirmed that remains recovered past week are those of University of Mississippi pupil Jimmy “Jay” Lee, who disappeared much than 2 years ago.

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department said deer hunters had stumbled connected Lee’s remains connected Saturday disconnected a roadworthy wherever amerciable dumping is prevalent, Mississippi Today reported. A golden necklace bearing Lee’s sanction sparked rumors adjacent earlier DNA investigation confirmed his identity.

“The Oxford Police Department made a commitment to uncovering Jay, nary substance however agelong it took,” Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen said successful a connection Wednesday. “This lawsuit has remained an progressive probe since July 8, 2022. We are grateful to the Lee household and Jay’s friends for their assistance and enactment passim this process. We anticipation this confirmation brings them adjacent a tiny measurement of comfort.”

Lee, a salient subordinate of the LGBTQ+ assemblage astatine Ole Miss, had past been seen leaving his field flat analyzable conscionable earlier 6 a.m. connected July 8, 2022. The 20-year-old was wearing a metallic robe oregon housecoat, a golden headdress and grey slippers, constabulary said astatine the time. On July 11 his car was traced to a section towing company, having been towed from different flat analyzable the greeting helium vanished.

On July 24 that twelvemonth constabulary arrested Timothy Herrington Jr., 22 astatine the time, and charged him successful Lee’s murder, though the assemblage had not been found. Herrington was indicted connected a superior execution complaint for allegedly murdering Lee to fell their romanticist relationship, the Clarion Ledger reported astatine the time.

In October 2024 a Lafayette County justice declared Lee legally dormant aft his parents filed a petition requesting it, the Clarion-Ledger reported. In December a deadlocked assemblage forced a mistrial successful Herrington’s case, with the absence of a assemblage 1 of the deciding factors.

The lawsuit is acold from over, though it was not wide Thursday however it would impact charges going forward. Even earlier the grim discovery, Lafayette County District Attorney Ben Creekmore had said helium plans to retry Herrington.

“While this portion of the probe is complete, further enactment remains,” constabulary said successful their statement. “However, we are incapable to supply further details astatine this time.”

With News Wire Services