Mississippi Man Who Murdered Gay College Student to Cover Up Their Relationship Learns Fate

A Mississippi man who killed his gay lover to cover up their relationship was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Sheldon "Timothy" Herrington Jr., 25, murdered Jimmie "Jay" Lee, 20, in 2022. Both men had attended the University of Mississippi, the Associated Press reported.

Lee was openly gay and disappeared in July 2022 amidst a secret relationship with Herrington Jr., who was not open about his sexuality, the AP reported. Prosecutors said the crime was committed to cover up the sexual relationship. Lee's decomposed body was eventually found by hunters.

Lafayette County Circuit Court Judge Kelly Luther said that Herrington Jr. assumed that Lee's case would not be a priority because he "lived a lifestyle that was different from most people in Mississippi," The Clarion-Ledger reported. Luther said that Herrington Jr. was wrong and that "Mississippi got it right this time."

"This case was investigated more thoroughly than any case I've ever dealt with in my 35 years in the criminal justice system," Luther said in court, according to the newspaper. "It was defended ... as well as any case I've dealt with in my 35 years. Everybody did their job."

Luther sentenced Herrington Jr. to 40 years on the murder charge, with 10 years of the sentence suspended. However, Luther also sentenced Herrington to 10 years for tampering with evidence, bringing the total sentence on all charges to 40 years, the Clarion-Ledger reported.

"Mr. Herrington, you still have a chance at life. Mr. Lee does not," Luther said, according to the newspaper. "I would encourage you to take advantage of that opportunity."

Originally published on Lawyer Herald