A trial date has been set for the suspect accused of killing Ole Miss student Jimmie “Jay” Lee.
According to the Lafayette County District’s Office, 22-year-old Timothy Herrington, Jr., will stand trial beginning October 14, 2024.
Herrington was indicted by a grand jury on a capital murder charge in March. The 22-year-old was arrested on July 22, 2022, and was charged with first-degree murder in conjunction with the disappearance of Lee.
Though bond was initially denied for Herrington, his legal team filed a lawsuit against the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department, which ultimately led to the suspect being released on the condition that his legal team withdrew their litigation. Herrington was also required to wear an ankle monitor and surrender his passport.
Investigators report that Herrington and Lee had been in an intimate relationship with each other prior to Lee’s disappearance. It is believed that the two were in an argument as Lee was traveling to meet Herrington.
In addition, court documents show that Herrington had gone to Google on his computer to search, “How long does it take to strangle someone?” just moments after Lee told Herrington that he was heading to his apartment.
Detective Ryan Baker with the Oxford Police Department stated that cadaver dogs were alerted four times to the aroma of a dead body inside Herrington’s apartment and twice inside his car. Police K-9s were also alerted multiple times of the scent of a decomposing body in a box-moving truck Herrington had access to.
According to the lawsuit, detectives were unable to confirm if the dogs were verified to detect human remains.
Jay Lee has not been seen since July 8, 2022. Herrington’s trial is expected to span over a two-week period.
