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Herrington Gets 40 Years After Pleading Guilty in 2022 Killing of Ole Miss Student Jay Lee

The plea ends a long-running case complicated by a hung jury after remains yielded no cause of death.

Overview

  • Sheldon “Timothy” Herrington Jr. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and evidence-tampering, halting a scheduled capital retrial this week.
  • Circuit Judge Kelly Luther sentenced him to 30 years for murder and 10 years for tampering, followed by 10 years of probation.
  • Prosecutors contend Herrington killed Lee to conceal a secret relationship, a theory first advanced during the 2024 trial that ended in a mistrial.
  • Lee’s skeletal remains were found in February 2025 in rural Carroll County, and the medical examiner could not determine a cause of death.
  • Investigators detailed Snapchat messages, a strangulation-related search, duct tape and wheelbarrow purchases, surveillance footage, and cadaver-dog alerts tying Herrington to the crime.