MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The murder trial of Timothy Herrington Jr., the man accused of killing University of Mississippi student Jimmie “Jay” Lee continued on Thursday.
Testimony centered on how Oxford Police tracked Jimmie Jay Lee’s vehicle the morning of July 8, 2022. Prosecutors attempting to establish a connection with the accused, Timothy Herrington Jr.
Oxford Police Detective Mark Hodges testified that around 7:25 that morning, security camera footage showed Lee’s distinctive Ford Fusion entering Molly Barr Trails apartments, and a subject leaving less than 10 minutes later.
“Minutes later you’ll see Mr. Herrington run,” he said, but Herrington’s attorney objected, saying it had not been established that the subject was Herrington.
Judge John Kelly Luther disallowed that reference, but prosecutors have contended that person is Herrington.
Fireworks then started flying when the prosecution referenced a map Oxford Police prepared showing the route Lee’s car took that morning, referencing Herrington’s residence in Lafayette Place Apartments.
“They showed Jay Lee’s apartment, leaving in his car and car going to Molly Barr,” said Kevin Horan, Herrington’s defense attorney. “That is the evidence right now and I’m going to object to anything else on top of that. There’s nothing whatsoever that Lafayette Place and my client’s apartment has anything to do at this point in time, or a car leaving from Lafayette Place, that Jay Lee’s car ever left from Lafayette Place at this point in time. They don’t have any video from Lafayette Place to say he left from that location.”
The jury was not present during the objection and a map was redrawn removing Lafayette Place from the route.
Jurors were also shown a number of security camera photos, allegedly of Lee’s car at various locations that morning.
20-year-old Jimmie “Jay” Lee, who disappeared in July of 2022, was believed to have been visiting someone at Molly Barr Trails in Oxford at the time of his disappearance. Lee’s friends and family reported him missing after he failed to return home.
Herrington is the man accused of Lee’s death and could face the death penalty if found guilty of the crime. Lee’s body has never been found.