Who Is Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr. & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile
Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr. was a 22-year-old graduate of the University of Mississippi at the time of his arrest in July 2022. Originally from Grenada, Mississippi, Herrington came from a respected family and was known as an accomplished student with no prior criminal history. His life took a dramatic turn when he became the prime suspect in the disappearance and eventual death of fellow Ole Miss student Jimmie “Jay” Lee.
Prosecutors claimed that Herrington and Lee had been involved in a secret romantic relationship, which Herrington was allegedly desperate to keep hidden. During the investigation, law enforcement uncovered sexually explicit messages between the two and incriminating searches on Herrington’s phone, including “how long does it take to strangle someone.” Surveillance footage also placed him at a local store buying duct tape and a shovel shortly before Lee’s disappearance. These details formed the basis for a capital murder charge filed just weeks after Lee went missing.
Despite pleading not guilty, Herrington was indicted and faced trial in December 2024. That trial ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict, largely due to the fact that Lee’s body had not yet been found. Following the discovery of skeletal remains in February 2025, a second indictment was issued, and a retrial was scheduled.
- “Bringing Jay Home”: Dateline Reports on Jimmie “Jay” Lee Homicide January 30 2026
- Who Was Jimmie “Jay” Lee & What Happened to Him? 2026 Update & Profile
Conviction and Current Status
On December 1, 2025, as jury selection for the retrial began, Herrington pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection with Lee’s death. The following day, Lafayette County Circuit Court Judge Kelly Luther sentenced him to 40 years in prison: 30 years for the murder charge and 10 years for evidence tampering. The sentences are to be served consecutively. Herrington was also ordered to serve 10 years of post-release supervision, which includes five years of supervised probation and five years unsupervised.
Judge Luther, while handing down the sentence, acknowledged the widespread national attention the case received. He directly addressed Herrington, telling him that unlike Jay Lee, he still had a future, and urged him to make something of the life he had left. Herrington did not speak during the sentencing.
As of 2026, Herrington is serving his sentence in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He will not be eligible for release until completing his full 40-year term, after which he will be subject to the terms of his post-release supervision. His plea avoided a potential life sentence, which he would have faced if convicted of capital murder at trial. Herrington has not publicly explained his motive, and his attorney stated that his decision to plead guilty was made without offering a personal explanation for the killing.
Herrington’s incarceration marks a definitive end to a high-profile case that brought national scrutiny to issues of identity, secrecy, and justice in Mississippi.
