Human Remains Found in Carroll County Linked to Missing Ole Miss Student

CARROLLTON, Miss. — Human remains discovered in Carroll County over the weekend may be linked to Jimmie “Jay” Lee, a missing University of Mississippi student and prominent member of Oxford’s LGBTQ+ community. A gold necklace bearing Lee’s name was found alongside the remains, though authorities have not yet confirmed the identity through DNA testing.

Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker confirmed the discovery of the necklace but declined to comment further. The Oxford Police Department could not be reached for comment before press time. An image of the cursive nameplate obtained by Mississippi Today matches a necklace Lee wore in photos and videos on his Instagram account just days before his disappearance in July 2022.

Lee’s mother reported him missing after losing contact with him. Weeks later, Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr., a fellow Ole Miss student and recent graduate, was arrested and charged with capital murder. Herrington allegedly killed Lee to conceal their secret sexual relationship. Evidence presented in the case revealed that Herrington retrieved a long-handle shovel and wheelbarrow from his parents’ home in Grenada County on the day Lee disappeared, placing the tools in a box truck belonging to his moving company.

Herrington’s trial for capital murder ended in a mistrial in December 2024 after the jury deadlocked 11-1. The dissenting juror cited the absence of Lee’s body as a reason for refusing to convict. The Lafayette County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, with the jury selected from Forrest County.

The remains were found in a rural area about an hour and a half south of Oxford. Sheriff Walker stated that his office, along with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and other agencies, is working to identify the remains. The discovery has reignited interest in the case, which has drawn significant attention due to Lee’s prominence in the LGBTQ+ community and the unresolved nature of his disappearance.

Herrington’s attorney, state Rep. Kevin Horan, R-Grenada, declined to comment on the recent developments. Lee’s parents could not be reached for comment.