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Suspect in Ole Miss student’s death requests venue change

By Kaitlin Howell May 20, 2025 | 1:47 PM

OXFORD, Miss. (WJTV) – The man accused of killing University of Mississippi student Jimmie “Jay” Lee is seeking a change of venue for his retrial.

According to court documents, the motion filed by Sheldon Timothy Herrington and his attorney seeks a change of venue due to extensive news coverage and social media posts about the case. Herrington argued that he would not receive a fair trial.

Herrington’s motion for change of venueDownload

Herrington has been charged with capital murder in the case and has pled not guilty. The state said in court that they will not be seeking the death penalty.

Herrington’s retrial has been scheduled for October 13, 2025.

Herrington was accused of killing Lee to hide an alleged romantic relationship in 2022. He went to trial in December 2024, but a jury was unable to reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared.

Jimmie “Jay” Lee and his accused killer Timothy Herrington (Mugshot from Oxford Police Department)

Herrington is in custody at the Lafayette County Jail.

Lee’s remains weren’t found for nearly three years, until February 2025. The Mississippi Crime Lab confirmed through DNA analysis that the remains belonged to Lee.