Who was Jimmie "Jay" Lee? What we know about missing Ole Miss student as human remains found in Carroll County MS

Remains found in Carroll County, Mississippi, may be connected to the disappearance of Jimmie “Jay” Lee, who has been missed since 2022. County Sheriff Clint Walker confirmed to The Delta News, that a piece of jewelry found with the body had Lee’s name on it. Walker's department will be leading the investigation and is being assisted by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) to expedite the identification process.

Found by deer hunters on Saturday, the unidentified body is now suspected to be that of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) scholar.

Oxford MS Police Department released a statement on Facebook late Monday evening. Signed by PD chief Jeff McCutchen, the statement outlined,

"Our main priority has always been to bring (Jimmie) Jay Lee home. We, like the public, are anxiously awaiting updates and ask for patience as the investigative process unfolds"

You can read it in its entirety,

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Who was Jimmie "Jay" Lee?

A popular figure in the local queer community, Jimmie "Jay" Lee was well-liked on campus and around the town of Oxford where the university is located.

Also known locally for performing as drag queen 'Jay Divaa' in the town's drag night, Code Pink, Lee's disappearance has sparked great fear within the community.

The town locals have since banded together and formed a group, called Justice for Jay Lee, to bring awareness to his disappearance and find his aggressor.

The story so far

Jimmie "Jay" Lee has been missing from his student housing complex in Oxford since the morning of July 8, 2022. While the local police strongly believe he was murdered, the whereabouts of Jimmie's body largely remain unknown.

In their investigation, Oxford PD discovered that Lee was engaging in a secret sexual relationship with Sheldon "Timothy" Herrington Jr., who was in the closet.

Police officials allege Herrington strangled Lee because he feared their relationship might become public. According to their statement in court, Herrington bought duct tape and a large trash can from a local Walmart and made an internet search for (sic) “how long does it take to strangle someone gabby Petito” - probably a reference to the murder of 22-year-old Gabby Petito at the hands of her fiancé.

A community in terror

The impact of Jimmie "Jay" Lee's disappearance and ultimately death, extends beyond the local community, resonating deeply within the LGBTQ+ populace as a whole. In times when stigma already casts a heavy shadow over queer lives, this horrifying act—someone taking another’s life over emotions they couldn’t process—serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers still faced.