Suvechha Sarkar
In July 2022, the University of Mississippi and the broader community of Oxford, Mississippi, were shaken to their core when Jimmie Dale Lee III, affectionately known as Jay, went missing. He was a 20-year-old graduate student who was openly a part of the LGBTQ+ community. What began as a frantic search by family and authorities soon turned into heartbreak when a judge legally declared him dead in November 2024. The episode titled ‘Bringing Jay Home’ on NBC’s ‘Dateline’ delves deeply into the facts surrounding Jay’s disappearance, the arrest of the killer, and the profound impact on those who loved him. It also features interviews with his loved ones and the officials who helped serve justice.
Jimmie “Jay” Lee Dedicated His Life to Community and His Identity
Stephanie and Jimmie Lee Sr. were overjoyed when they welcomed their son, Jimmie Dale Lee III, lovingly known as Jay, into the world on August 6, 2001. Growing up, Jay received immense love and support from his parents and his sister, Tayla Carey. He was often described by his friends and family as an outgoing person who was always unapologetically himself. After completing his initial education, Jay enrolled at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. After graduating in May 2022, he began pursuing a Master’s at the university.
According to Jimmie Sr., Jay was organizing a baby formula donation drive in Oxford, Mississippi, as part of his internship with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services. Jay was always confident about his sexuality, which allowed him to live openly as a gay man and a proud part of the LGBTQ+ community. He was not just active in the Ole Miss student government association but also served as the Director of LGBTQ Outreach in Oxford. According to reports, Jay also performed as a Drag Artist under the name “Jay Diva” at the Oxford drag event, Code Pink.
Jimmie’s Remains Were Discovered Around 3 Years After His Disappearance
Things seemed to be going well when Jay’s life turned upside down on July 8, 2022. It was his mother’s birthday, but despite calling him multiple times, she got no response. As more calls went unanswered, she grew worried and called 911 for a welfare check on him. Around 8:28 pm, when officials arrived at Jay’s home in Campus Walk Apartments in Oxford, they were unable to find him. The investigators reportedly found that he had left behind his dog, Lexus Lola. As they reviewed nearby surveillance footage, they found that it captured Jay for the last time around 5:58 am on July 8, as he drove away in his car. Around three days later, his black Ford was located at a towing company after it was towed from the Molly Barr Trails apartment complex.
Despite intensive search efforts, officials were unable to find Jay. In November 2024, Jay was officially declared dead by a judge. On February 1, 2025, a group of hunters reportedly discovered human skeletal remains down a gully in a wooded area of Carroll County, Mississippi. At the scene, the remains were reportedly found wrapped in blankets and tied by duct tape. They reportedly discovered a gold necklace near the remains, inscribed with Jay’s name in cursive. A DNA test soon revealed that the remains were Jay’s. Reports state that the autopsy couldn’t determine the cause and manner of death due to the advanced decomposition and the condition of the remains.
The Course of the Investigation Changed After Some Text Messages Surfaced
As the investigation began, a friend of Jay reportedly reached out to the authorities, informing them that in the early hours of July 8, Jay had told the friend he was going to meet a person he had previously been intimate with. According to official reports, the friend stated that Jay had blocked the person he was supposed to meet after a disagreement, which occurred a few hours before Jay went missing. Court records state that, as officials obtained Jay’s cell phone data, they discovered that his location pinged near the apartment of another man, Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr. Detectives also uncovered sexually explicit Snapchat messages exchanged between Sheldon and Jay, as per reports. Around 5:37 am, Jay had texted him, “Yeah, now it seems like you just trying to lure me over there to beat my a** or something.”
Police records state that the authorities next deployed cadaver detection dogs in Sheldon’s apartment, during which the dogs alerted several times, indicating the possible presence of human remains at some point. According to investigative reports, officials next reviewed CCTV footage from the Molly Barr Trails student housing, where Jay’s car was found. The surveillance footage reportedly captured a person matching Sheldon’s description jogging away wearing a gray hoodie, shortly after Jay’s vehicle arrived at the location. Official reports state that it was further confirmed by a witness who had given Sheldon a ride back to his apartment from that location that morning. Another CCTV footage showed him loading a wheelbarrow and a shovel into a truck at his parents’ house, according to reports.
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Physical Evidence and Trail of Digital Searches Pointed Officials to the Killer
According to court records, on July 8, 2022, Sheldon bought duct tape at Walmart. During the investigation, the forensic experts reportedly found Jay’s DNA on the bedsheets of Sheldon’s apartment. Further police records state that during the inspection of Sheldon’s mobile data, they discovered that he had searched “How long does it take to strangle someone, Gabby Petito” around 5:57 am. As per investigative reports, the mobile data also uncovered that he searched for Jay’s Twitter account before law enforcement made the news of his disappearance public. Reports suggest that when Sheldon was questioned, he denied having any involvement in the crime but admitted that he was in a casual relationship with Jay.
Investigators reportedly believed that Sheldon had killed Jay to prevent information about Sheldon’s sexuality from being known. Ultimately, based on an overwhelming amount of evidence, Sheldon was arrested on July 22, 2022, and charged with Jay’s murder. His first jury trial began in December 2024 but ended in a mistrial when the jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Court records specify that the jurors disagreed whether the case could be categorized as murder since Jay’s remains had not been recovered. Things changed when Jay’s remains were found in February 2025. According to official reports, the blankets found at the scene were very similar to those Sheldon often carried in his truck.
Reports state that forensic experts found the edges of the duct tape at the crime scene were consistent with the edges of the tape Sheldon had bought on that fateful day. A grand jury reportedly re-indicted Sheldon on the charges of capital murder and tampering with evidence. Ultimately, on December 1, 2025, Sheldon pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. On the following day, he received a 40-year prison term for murder, and 10 years of the sentence were suspended, which means he has to serve 30 years for the charge. Sheldon was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for tampering. Both of his sentences are to be served consecutively, followed by 10 years of supervision after his release.
