Sheldon Timothy Herrington, the former Ole Miss student accused of killing his fellow classmate Jimmie “Jay” Lee, has filed a motion for a change of venue for his retrial, as per court documents. Herrington's defense team asserts that due to "extensive news coverage and social media posts about the case," their client is unlikely to receive an impartial trial in Lafayette County. This information comes from an WREG report published recently.
Herrington, who has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder charges, is scheduled to be retried on October 13, after a previous trial in December of 2024 ended with a hung jury. The state has made the decision not to seek the death penalty, as these developments unfolded. According to Action News 5, Herrington was indicted on a two-count capital murder charge after Lee's remains were finally identified in February of this year, almost three years after the student went missing.
In light of the mistrial and subsequent indictment, Herrington's attorneys believe that the pretrial publicity, particularly on social media, has tainted potential jurors, creating an environment where, according to them, "he wouldn’t be able to receive a fair trial." A statement obtained by Action News 5 included this core argument from the defense.
Since the discovery of Lee's remains in Carroll County by individuals walking in the area, Herrington's case has attracted even more public scrutiny. His bond was subsequently revoked by the courts. Herrington’s arrest shortly came after the discovery, a detail highlighted by Darkhorse Press Now. Now, the court must decide whether to grant the motion for a change of venue, a ruling that will significantly impact the retrial preparations.
