When the Capital Murder retrial of Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr. commences later this year, it’s expected to not be held in Lafayette County following a judge’s decision Monday.
According to court documents, Lafayette County Circuit Court Judge Kelly Luther granted the defense’s motion for a change of venue, which was filed on May 19, after considering evidence in support of it. The state prosecutors did not oppose the motion.
When the change of venue motion was filed, Herrington cited extensive news coverage and public scrutiny via social media posts as reasons for his motion. Herrington argued that he would not receive a fair trial in Lafayette County.
Herrington is the Grenada man accused of killing University of Mississippi student Jimmie “Jay” Lee, who was active in the LGBTQ+ community. He has pleaded not guilty. The state said in court that it will not be seeking the death penalty.
Lee’s skeletal remains – confirmed through DNA – were discovered in a wooded area in Carroll County on Feb. 1, 2025, nearly three years after going missing. Lee was last seen leaving his west Oxford apartment on July 8, 2022, but his body had never been found. The investigation extended into Grenada County. A Lafayette County judge declared the 20-year-old dead in November 2024.
Herrington’s retrial had been scheduled for Oct. 13, 2025.
For more on this story, see next week’s edition of The Grenada Star.
