After two and a half years, the family of Jimmie “Jay” Lee, an Ole Miss student who went missing in 2022, can finally have some closure and put their loved one to rest properly.

The Oxford Police Department and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office have confirmed the recovery of Lee’s remains.

On Saturday, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Oxford Police Department regarding human remains discovered in their jurisdiction by a group of hunters.

The remains were sent to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for DNA testing.

Today, the Mississippi State Crime Lab confirmed through DNA analysis that the remains belong to Jimmie “Jay” Lee.

“The Oxford Police Department made a commitment to finding Jay, no matter how long it took. This case has remained an active investigation since July 8, 2022. We are grateful to the Lee family and Jay’s friends for their help and support throughout this process. We hope this confirmation brings them even a small measure of comfort,” said Chief Jeff McCutchen.

McCutchen said additional works remain on the case and no other details are being released at this time.

The cause of death was not provided by OPD.
Lee, 20, was last seen at about 6 a.m. on July 8, 2022, when he left his apartment at Campus Walk Apartments. Lee’s body was never recovered.

Timothy Herrington, originally from Grenada but living in Oxford in July 2022, was arrested on July 22, 2022, and charged with Lee’s murder.

Carroll County is located about 22 miles south of Grenada where Herrington’s family lives and where he was seen the day after Lee disappeared.

A trial took place in Lafayette County in December; however, the trial was declared a mistrial when the 12-person jury could not reach a unanimous verdict. The jury voted 11-1 to convict Herrington of capital murder. The trial has not yet been rescheduled.

This is a developing story.