Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Murder of University of Mississippi Student Jay Lee
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A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of University of Mississippi graduate student Jay Lee. Sheldon 'Timothy' Herrington Jr. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and tampering in the death of Lee, a gay student who was prominent in the LGBTQ community. Herrington, an Ole Miss graduate, was originally charged with capital murder but prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge. He was sentenced to 40 years with 10 years suspended, meaning he will serve 30 years for second-degree murder and an additional 10 years for tampering. The sentences will run consecutively, and Herrington will be subject to 10 years of post-release supervision. Prosecutors alleged that Herrington and Lee, 20, had a sexual relationship and that Herrington killed Lee to keep their relationship a secret. In a press conference, Jay Lee's mother broke down and thanked law enforcement for their work on the case. Lee's father announced plans to push for a bill that would require phone and social media companies to provide login information to law enforcement or parents in cases where a minor is declared missing. Lee's remains were found in a wooded area in February after he was reported missing in July 2022. Herrington was arrested two weeks later after being captured by surveillance video jogging out of a parking lot where Lee's car was found. The case drew attention to the challenges faced by law enforcement in obtaining login information from technology companies. Lee's family believes that if this information had been provided more quickly, Herrington may have had less time to hide Lee's body.
