Campus cameras showed a gay student leaving his Ole Miss apartment the day he disappeared

In the United States, specifically in Mississippi, University of Mississippi student Jimmy Lee, known for his involvement in the LGBTQ+ community, was last seen alive on July 8, 2022. On that morning, security cameras showed Lee leaving his campus apartment twice. His mother reported him missing later that day when he failed to respond to multiple messages, prompting campus police to initiate a welfare check. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Lee's social media activity ceased and there were no financial transactions on his credit card after that date. Sheldon Herrington Jr., a 24-year-old from Grenada, Mississippi, is accused of capital murder in Lee's case. As the trial unfolded, witnesses testified that they saw Herrington jogging near where Lee's car was found shortly after Lee was last seen. Furthermore, surveillance footage captured Herrington running away from the scene where Lee's car was located, later being observed collecting a shovel and wheelbarrow at his parent's house. Despite a thorough investigation, Lee's body has not been recovered. In October 2022, a judge declared him dead at the request of his parents, who are seeking answers and justice. The prosecution has stated that they do not intend to pursue the death penalty for Herrington, meaning, if convicted, he may face a life sentence in prison. This tragic case highlights the vulnerabilities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and raises broader questions about safety and community support for marginalized groups.