News Summary
The retrial of Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr. is set for December 1, after the trial date was moved from October due to extensive media coverage. The decision for a change of venue was made to ensure a fair trial, with jurors selected from a different county. Herrington faces capital murder and evidence tampering charges linked to the tragic disappearance of Jimmie ‘Jay’ Lee, whose remains were found earlier this year. The retrial follows a previous mistrial and continues to draw significant community interest.
Oxford, Mississippi – The retrial for Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr. has been rescheduled to begin on December 1, 2025. The rescheduling was recorded in court documents filed on September 9, 2025, moving the trial date from October 13, 2025. Jury selection is set to commence from a pool outside of Lafayette County, which follows the approval of a change of venue due to extensive media coverage surrounding the case.
The decision to change the venue was made by Judge Kelly Luther after Herrington’s defense team argued that the high-profile nature of the case would prevent him from receiving a fair trial in Lafayette County. The motion for a change of venue was granted in June 2025 without opposition from state prosecutors. As part of this process, jurors will be selected from a yet-to-be-determined county and will be transported to Lafayette County for the trial.
This upcoming trial follows Herrington’s first trial, which ended in a mistrial in December 2024. During that trial, a jury from Forrest County deliberated for over nine hours before ultimately reaching an 11-1 vote, which was insufficient for a conviction.
The case has drawn widespread attention due to the tragic disappearance of Jimmie “Jay” Lee, a 20-year-old student at the University of Mississippi and an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Lee disappeared on July 8, 2022, and his mother reported him missing after losing contact with him. Investigators did not locate Lee until February 2025, when deer hunters discovered human remains in Carroll County. The remains were confirmed to belong to Lee by the Mississippi Crime Lab.
Following the discovery of the remains, a grand jury indicted Herrington on February 7, 2025, on two charges: capital murder and tampering with evidence. Herrington was arraigned on the new indictment on February 11, 2025 and pleaded not guilty. His bond was revoked on February 27, 2025, as the severity of the charges took precedence. Prior to this, a tampering charge was dismissed by Judge Luther on March 7, 2025, citing that it was time-barred under the statute of limitations.
As the new trial approaches, Herrington remains in custody at Lafayette County Jail without bond. The case continues to evoke significant community interest and has underscored the challenges associated with ensuring a fair trial in highly publicized cases.
The scheduled trial on December 1, 2025, will serve as a pivotal moment for the legal proceedings, as both the prosecution and the defense prepare to present their cases before a new jury, away from the intense public scrutiny that has characterized this matter since its inception.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Mississippi Murder Case of Missing Student Jay Lee Results in Mistrial, Leaving Community in Disarray
Mistrial Declared in Oxford’s High-Profile Murder Case of University Student Jay Lee
Additional Resources
- WAPT: New trial date set in murder of Ole Miss student
- Google Search: Ole Miss student murder
- Clarion Ledger: Judge sets new trial date for Herrington
- Wikipedia: Jimmie Lee
- Telegraph Herald: Significant trial updates
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Murder
- WLBT: Capital murder retrial details
- Google News: Jay Lee murder case
- Oxford Eagle: Request to move Herrington’s trial
- Google Scholar: Capital murder trial
Author: STAFF HERE OXFORD WRITER
The OXFORD STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOxford.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Oxford, Lafayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Oxford Film Festival, Double Decker Arts Festival, and University of Mississippi football games. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and the University of Mississippi, plus leading businesses in education and retail that power the local economy such as Ole Miss Athletics and Square Books. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Mississippi's dynamic landscape.
