Deceased/Not Found MS - Jimmie "Jay" Lee, 20, University of Mississippi student, drove away from apartment, Oxford, 8 Jul 2022 *MISTRIAL - Hung Jury*

[Tranquileyes]

While I wholeheartedly agree that it always in all of our best interests for fair trials to be obtainable and satisfied, I think you may be under the impression that Oxford is a smaller town than what it is in reality due to it being a college town, so it has a totally different vibe than your average smaller city in the state. It is my understanding that TH's family is not from there, but from Batesville. I'm happy to be corrected if need be, but I am unaware of his family having any kind of clout or image in and around Oxford. I can't imagine politics (as mentioned by the poster you replied to) playing any role in this case. Oxford is a university town containing the University of Mississippi, more commonly referred to as Ole Miss which is an SEC school. Without students the city has a population of roughly just under 30,000. Students add another 23,000 or so. It is only about 75 miles southeast of Memphis.

As for concrete evidence, I expect to see things brought forth at trial that that will do more than raise eyebrows.

Perhaps my initial reply should have been more clearer.

I am not referencing the Oxford community at all, rather the community from which TH was raised, in Grenada, MS (as mentioned in the below article).

Man accused of killing Ole Miss student Jimmie 'Jay' Lee to stand trial Monday. What we know

According to the info from the US Census in Grenada, the population is about 21,000.

Explore Census Data

When the OP mentioned they wonder what the community at large thinks of him, I was thinking about the community he's from, where over 69 people wrote letters in his support as reference in the below article.

'I cannot think of anything negative:' Letters from friends, family paint picture of Ole Miss grad charged with murder

Of those who wrote letters, there were several church leaders who spoke up about TH's character and even mentioned him playing guitar in church as a young kid. Therefore, from this information, one can surmise that he was in a very close community growing up. When one grows up in this type of community/village, it is great for the sense of connection, belonging, and support. However, I can see how one would hide certain parts of themselves that they feel would not be accepted in this community, thus upholding a certain image. Although many spoke up in his defense, I am sure there are still many who have different feelings in the back of their mind. Maybe, due to relationship dynamics of that community, they choose to stay silent. Perhaps some may have noticed something about him before and thought nothing of it, but this situation now makes them look at things in a different light. Personally, I find it hard to claim his innocence just based on the information we do know. Initially, TH had a previous family member through marriage representing him who vehemently denied his involvement. However, after the first few pieces of evidence started to hit the media, he was no longer available to represent him. I cannot say that is the reason why he resigned, but it is peculiar timing to one min be so sure you can prove his innocence to all of a sudden not being available anymore when questionable evidence is released.

I wasn't making reference to this because I was implying there would be some type of judicial influence. I referenced the community's perception of TH as I'm sure that this situation has hit his direct community hard and may have caused some rifts between people who support him and those who may doubt his innocence.

I certainly hope that during trial there is a plethora of undisputed evidence to show who was responsible.

MOO

Justice for Jay Lee.

 

[Quill]

Perhaps my initial reply should have been more clearer.

I am not referencing the Oxford community at all, rather the community from which TH was raised, in Grenada, MS (as mentioned in the below article).

Man accused of killing Ole Miss student Jimmie 'Jay' Lee to stand trial Monday. What we know

According to the info from the US Census in Grenada, the population is about 21,000.

Explore Census Data

When the OP mentioned they wonder what the community at large thinks of him, I was thinking about the community he's from, where over 69 people wrote letters in his support as reference in the below article.

'I cannot think of anything negative:' Letters from friends, family paint picture of Ole Miss grad charged with murder

Of those who wrote letters, there were several church leaders who spoke up about TH's character and even mentioned him playing guitar in church as a young kid. Therefore, from this information, one can surmise that he was in a very close community growing up. When one grows up in this type of community/village, it is great for the sense of connection, belonging, and support. However, I can see how one would hide certain parts of themselves that they feel would not be accepted in this community, thus upholding a certain image. Although many spoke up in his defense, I am sure there are still many who have different feelings in the back of their mind. Maybe, due to relationship dynamics of that community, they choose to stay silent. Perhaps some may have noticed something about him before and thought nothing of it, but this situation now makes them look at things in a different light. Personally, I find it hard to claim his innocence just based on the information we do know. Initially, TH had a previous family member through marriage representing him who vehemently denied his involvement. However, after the first few pieces of evidence started to hit the media, he was no longer available to represent him. I cannot say that is the reason why he resigned, but it is peculiar timing to one min be so sure you can prove his innocence to all of a sudden not being available anymore when questionable evidence is released.

I wasn't making reference to this because I was implying there would be some type of judicial influence. I referenced the community's perception of TH as I'm sure that this situation has hit his direct community hard and may have caused some rifts between people who support him and those who may doubt his innocence.

I certainly hope that during trial there is a plethora of undisputed evidence to show who was responsible.

MOO

Justice for Jay Lee.

Thank you for clarifying. I had seen your post and another that mentioned politics so my mind went the wrong direction thinking that someone thought his family reputation would have influence. I think it will be interesting to see what comes out in court.

 

[Tranquileyes]

Thank you for clarifying. I had seen your post and another that mentioned politics so my mind went the wrong direction thinking that someone thought his family reputation would have influence. I think it will be interesting to see what comes out in court.

No problem.

That is for sure! Tomorrow, we shall see how things begin.

 

[Tranquileyes]

Jury selection finished in trial for Sheldon Herrington accused of murdering Jimmie Jay Lee

Jury selection started Monday in the trial of Sheldon Herrington Jr, a man accused of murdering Ole Miss student Jimmie "Jay" Lee.

www.clarionledger.com

Interesting, detailed article on the jury selection process.

 

[CHEL]

 

[SluethinAway]

While I wholeheartedly agree that it always in all of our best interests for fair trials to be obtainable and satisfied, I think you may be under the impression that Oxford is a smaller town than what it is in reality due to it being a college town, so it has a totally different vibe than your average smaller city in the state. It is my understanding that TH's family is not from there, but from Batesville. I'm happy to be corrected if need be, but I am unaware of his family having any kind of clout or image in and around Oxford. I can't imagine politics (as mentioned by the poster you replied to) playing any role in this case. Oxford is a university town containing the University of Mississippi, more commonly referred to as Ole Miss which is an SEC school. Without students the city has a population of roughly just under 30,000. Students add another 23,000 or so. It is only about 75 miles southeast of Memphis.

As for concrete evidence, I expect to see things brought forth at trial that that will do more than raise eyebrows.

So the political connection I was referring to would be the Grenada/Batesville Community (Panola County, Grenada) as the defendants father is a well known pastor and from my understanding owns some businesses as well. Family is well known to the Sheriff of that county and it is my understanding there were some roadblocks when the search began.
The Sheriff was one of the ones that wrote a letter to the judge in favor of bond for Timothy Jr.

'I cannot think of anything negative:' Letters from friends, family paint picture of Ole Miss grad charged with murder

Sixty-nine friends, family and local officials from Grenada wrote letters last month asking a judge to release Sheldon Timothy Herrington, Jr.

mississippitoday.org

This, and not Lafayette county politics is what I am referring to.

 

[Quill]

So the political connection I was referring to would be the Grenada/Batesville Community (Panola County, Grenada) as the defendants father is a well known pastor and from my understanding owns some businesses as well. Family is well known to the Sheriff of that county and it is my understanding there were some roadblocks when the search began.
The Sheriff was one of the ones that wrote a letter to the judge in favor of bond for Timothy Jr.

'I cannot think of anything negative:' Letters from friends, family paint picture of Ole Miss grad charged with murder

Sixty-nine friends, family and local officials from Grenada wrote letters last month asking a judge to release Sheldon Timothy Herrington, Jr.

mississippitoday.org

This, and not Lafayette county politics is what I am referring to.

I understand what you are saying but I don't think I would characterize those as political connections. I don't think the defendant's parent's business holdings and church connections will save him. I remember the initial reactions were disbelief from that community, but once more was learned it soon faded and everything seemed to go quiet. Also, the jury is being pulled from Forrest County which is 263 miles (a 4 hr drive) away from Lafayette Co. For all intents and purposes, it is literally from one end of the state to the other.

 

[SluethinAway]

I understand what you are saying but I don't think I would characterize those as political connections. I don't think the defendant's parent's business holdings and church connections will save him. I remember the initial reactions were disbelief from that community, but once more was learned it soon faded and everything seemed to go quiet. Also, the jury is being pulled from Forrest County which is 263 miles (a 4 hr drive) away from Lafayette Co. For all intents and purposes, it is literally from one end of the state to the other.

Sheriff is an elected official.
Small Town with a lot of people with the same last name owning a whole lot of real estate and businesses.
I'm not saying he won't get a fair trial.
I think maybe if a new sheriff was elected, Jay might be found.
The original post I made before all of these was in reference to him being found .

 

[Quill]

Sheriff is an elected official.
Small Town with a lot of people with the same last name owning a whole lot of real estate and businesses.
I'm not saying he won't get a fair trial.
I think maybe if a new sheriff was elected, Jay might be found.
The original post I made before all of these was in reference to him being found .

I don't think there is anything unusual about what we've seen from the community support that has been shown to TH. I think it sounds like a big possibility that he has been leading a double life. They can't comprehend he could be responsible and the whole community threw their support his way. I wonder if they have learned anything to change their minds yet? Bottom line is that the DA clearly had enough that none of these pleas influenced anyone. The small town that you speak of is not where the crime occurred. Two different counties. Regardless, the judge wasn't influenced by the public support of TH and It is pretty obvious TH is not getting any public support in Lafayette Co. due to the trial being moved nearly 300 miles away.

'I cannot think of anything negative:' Letters from friends, family paint picture of Ole Miss grad charged with murder

Sixty-nine friends, family and local officials from Grenada wrote letters last month asking a judge to release Sheldon Timothy Herrington, Jr.

mississippitoday.org

Despite these pleas, Tollison denied Herrington bond after the prosecution presented evidence that he was planning to move to Dallas and had, the day before Lee was murdered, looked up flights to Singapore.

 

[CHEL]

They are reading Jay Lee and Tim's texts in court and one of them from Jay Lee to Tim was "it seems like you're trying to lure me over there to beat my a--" and other texts about him thinking Tim Herrington was going to hurt him. Makes it so much more sad.

 

[SluethinAway]

They are reading Jay Lee and Tim's texts in court and one of them from Jay Lee to Tim was "it seems like you're trying to lure me over there to beat my a--" and other texts about him thinking Tim Herrington was going to hurt him. Makes it so much more sad.

I wish he would have trusted those instincts
I've been having to catch up after work everyday.
Has been an interesting trial.
Defense and State were at each others throats yesterday!

 

[CHEL]

Google search on defendants phone "how long to strange someone gabby petito"

 

[CHEL]

An Ole Miss student exchanged messages with the man now on trial in his killing, police say

In the final hours before University of Mississippi student Jimmy “Jay” Lee disappeared, sexually explicit Snapchat messages were exchanged between his account and the account of the man now on trial in his killing.

apnews.com

 

[CHEL]

I found someone live tweeting if anyone is interested.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1864716547563852095

 

[cocomod]

 

[Tranquileyes]

One thing I’m not sure anyone will really understand is why TH made the leap to murder. There was no record of Jay threatening him to out him. Not saying it wasn’t said when they were in person at the apartment the first time. However, it just seems an extreme jump.

 

[Marysmith]

One thing I’m not sure anyone will really understand is why TH made the leap to murder. There was no record of Jay threatening him to out him. Not saying it wasn’t said when they were in person at the apartment the first time. However, it just seems an extreme jump.

It sure does! And Jay wasn't being aggressive in any way on the texts or anything.

 

[SluethinAway]

Weekend Re-Cap
Court was in session Sat and Sunday.

Week 1 wraps of Timothy Herrington Jr.‘s murder trial—here’s what we know

Week one of Ole Miss student Timothy Herrington, Jr.‘s trial comes to a close.

www.actionnews5.com

 

[CHEL]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1866160794813047106

 

[SluethinAway]

Father of man accused of killing Ole Miss student Jay Lee takes the stand. Defense rests case

Father of Sheldon Herrington, Jr., said he was not aware that his son had an interest in men, but he does now after evidence presented in Jay Lee trial.

www.clarionledger.com

A circuit court judge denied on Tuesday the defense's motion to throw out the capital murder trial against Sheldon Timothy Herrington, Jr., who is accused of killing Ole Miss student Jimmie Jay Lee.

After the state rested its case shortly before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the defense brought forth a motion for a directed verdict arguing the trial should not move forward on "murder, capital murder or any criminal charge."
According to Mississippi rules of criminal procedure, a motion for directed verdict is a request made by the defense to the presiding trial judge to issue a ruling that there is no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to reach a different conclusion.

Herrington's defense attorney Kevin Horan, a Mississippi state representative, said there is insufficient evidence to prove Lee was lured to Herrington's apartment or "held against his will", nor is there any proof of a death.

"It's clear that the state has not placed in the record any proof whatsoever before the jury to consider," Horan said.
"Per the evidence provided, a reasonable jury could reach a conclusion," Agho said. "The state has in fact put forth a prima facie case of death, kidnapping and altogether capital murder."

Lafayette County Circuit Court Judge Kelly Luther denied the defense's motion finding significant evidence has been presented by the prosecution.

"I think the state has set forth a prima facie case that (Lee) was alive, that he is no longer alive… (and) came to his death at the hands of Mr. Herrington. The jury could see it that way, the jury could see it another way,” Luther said.