Sheldon Herrington Took Life of College Student Whose Remains Were Found 2 Years Later – Shocking Details

An Ole Miss student vanished in 2022 after a private relationship turned deadly. Two years later, his remains were found, and a man has now been sentenced.

In July 2022, a University of Mississippi student disappeared without a trace. The disappearance gripped the Oxford community and led to a two-year investigation.

The case involved a secret relationship, an internet search before the killing, and a long period without answers. It concluded recently with a long-awaited resolution.

Who Was Behind the Killing

Sheldon "Timothy" Herrington Jr. was sentenced to 40 years in prison in December 2025 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of 20-year-old Jimmie "Jay" Lee, according to the Associated Press.

On December 3, a video posted by WREG News Channel 3 showed Herrington Jr. being escorted into a Mississippi courthouse in an orange prison jumpsuit and handcuffs. He entered his plea that day, avoiding a second trial.

Lee, a University of Mississippi graduate student, disappeared on July 8, 2022. He was active in the LGBTQ+ community and known for his creative expression through drag performance and advocacy.

Surveillance footage showed him leaving his Oxford apartment just before 4 a.m., returning briefly, and leaving again shortly before 6 a.m.

Investigators said Lee had visited Herrington Jr.'s apartment that morning. The two men had a physical relationship, though Herrington was not openly gay. According to prosecutors, Herrington Jr. searched online, "how long does it take to strangle someone," just before Lee returned to his apartment.

At 6:03 a.m., the final message from Lee’s phone was sent to a social media account linked to Herrington Jr. It was the last known activity before Lee disappeared.

What Led to the Break in the Case

Lee's abandoned car was reportedly found near Herrington Jr.'s apartment, and surveillance footage showed him jogging away from the area.

Authorities reported that he was later seen retrieving a shovel and a wheelbarrow from his parents' home. He was arrested two weeks after Lee's disappearance and initially pleaded not guilty to capital murder.

Despite extensive search efforts, Lee's remains were not located until February 2025, when hunters found skeletal remains in a wooded area of Carroll County, more than 100 miles from Oxford and near Herrington Jr.'s hometown of Grenada.

According to AP, Herrington Jr.'s first trial ended in a mistrial in 2024. As his second trial was set to begin in late 2025, he changed his plea. He admitted guilt to second-degree murder and tampering with evidence as part of a plea deal that avoided another trial.

Under the terms of that agreement, he was sentenced to 30 years for murder and 10 years for tampering, with 10 years suspended. He will also serve 10 years of post-release supervision.

How the Family Is Turning Loss Into Action

One of the prosecutors involved in the case reflected on the personal and emotional weight behind the crime. "If he had felt that same love and acceptance that Jay's family provided to him," said Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Gwen Agho. "Maybe we wouldn't be here today."

Herrington Jr.'s attorney, Aafram Sellers, acknowledged the guilty plea but took issue with the prosecution's interpretation of his client's motive. "That's just not who he was," Sellers said. "The state and I can disagree on that narrative."

At a press conference, Lee's mother, Stephanie Lee, recalled her instinctive fear when her son stopped answering his phone. "I knew. I knew in my heart," she said, thanking investigators for their dedication to the case.

Lee's father, speaking after the sentencing, said he plans to push for a new law in his son's name.

The measure would require tech companies to give law enforcement and families access to the digital accounts of missing people under 21. He believes earlier access in his son's case could have left Herrington Jr. with less time to hide the body.

While Lee and Herrington Jr.'s case concluded with a plea and sentencing in Mississippi, another courtroom proceeding in Georgia involving former beauty queen Trinity Poague drew intense public scrutiny, fueled by video footage and sharply contested legal arguments.

A Clash Over Charges

As previously reported, a presiding judge highlighted a procedural issue, asking both sides whether there was "any disagreement as to the merges of the charges or vacating any of the sentences," noting that some counts appeared to overlap under state law.

The state's attorney, Prosecutor Lewis Lamb, outlined that not all charges should merge, "I don't think we agree. The state's position is that the court can impose sentence that she go straight down the line," before arguing which charges should remain separate.

The state's attorney argued that the charges should be interpreted disjunctively, asserting that damage to either the head or torso alone could support a felony murder conviction.

"So, since either of them would support the felony murder, only one of them merges," the prosecutor said, reiterating the state's position on sentencing.

The defense attorney, W. T. Gamble III, representing the former beauty pageant contestant, disagreed with that interpretation, arguing that the counts overlapped to a degree that required a broader merger.

Social Media Fixates on Poague's Expressions

Throughout the sentencing, viewers fixated on Poague's expressions in the courtroom video, particularly during the moments surrounding the jury's announcement and the judge's remarks. During a brief window earlier in the hearing, she appeared visibly emotional, but she later maintained a composed, almost impassive look as the sentence was discussed.

Those moments sparked a wave of reactions in the video's comment sections. One viewer wrote that they were struck by the sudden shift in her demeanor, commenting, "The way her face flipped when he read the verdict was wild."

Another commenter also focused on that change, saying, "Her fake reaction switched quick," while accusing her of putting on an emotional display.

Others interpreted her expression differently once sentencing began. One person stated that, "Instead of any remorse she looks ANGRY during the sentencing."

Another viewer echoed that sentiment with disbelief, "Watching her facial expressions is unbelievable." Beyond her demeanor, some commenters criticized the possibility of parole decades down the line.

One person argued bluntly, "It should have been life without parole," voicing frustration with the sentence imposed. Another commenter made a similar point, writing, "It should have been live without parole."

The Verdict

The jury's findings themselves were read into the record in detail. "The verdict reads as follows as to each count," the court announced. "On count one, it says, 'We, the jury, find the defendant not guilty.'"

"On counts two, three, four, five, and six, the verdict reads, 'We, the jury, find the defendant guilty.' Felony murder two counts, aggravated battery two counts, and cruelty to a child in the first degree," the court continued.

Only later in the proceeding did the court impose a sentence. Poague, the former Miss Donalsonville, was sentenced to a combined term that effectively places her behind bars for decades.

According to published court coverage, she received 30 years for one offense and 20 years for another, to be served concurrently, making her eligible for parole after 30 years.

Beyond the Video, a Case Rooted in the Death of a Toddler

As the clip continues to circulate, the developing online conversation shows how courtroom footage can take on a second life far beyond the legal record, shifting attention from statutes and sentencing guidelines to the most minor visible reactions and fueling debate over punishment, parole, and perceived emotion in moments of profound consequence.

That courtroom exchange, and the public fixation on her demeanor, marked the end of a case that stunned a Georgia community and put the former pageant winner on trial for the death of an 18-month-old boy entrusted to her care.

An Arrest That Sent Shockwaves Through the Community

At approximately 2 p.m. on January 14, 2024, the Georgia Southwestern State University Police Department requested urgent help from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

An 18-month-old toddler, Romeo Angeles, found beaten and unresponsive on university grounds, had been rushed to the emergency room at Phoebe Sumter Hospital in Americus. Despite the frantic efforts of medical staff, the child's injuries were too severe. He died shortly after being admitted.

After conducting multiple interviews and piecing together the facts, authorities arrested Poague, a sophomore at Georgia Southwestern State University, on January 20, 2024.

She was charged with aggravated battery, felony murder, malice murder, and cruelty to children in the first degree.

Poague was booked into Sumter County Jail and initially held without bond. But public anger exploded when it was revealed that Poague was later released on a $75,000 bond.

"This feels like a slap in the face to me and my family," said Julian Williams, the baby's father. "All we want is justice for my son. Letting her out and being free is not right. She took an innocent 1-year-old's life."

The Americus Police Department joined forces with campus police to carry the investigation forward. At the time, authorities urged anyone with information to come forward and contact their tipline.

Once the investigation was complete, the case was turned over to the Southwestern Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for prosecution.

A Night of Horror Inside a College Dorm Room

The incident that led to Poague's arrest allegedly took place inside her dorm room at the campus, where she had been hosting Williams and his son.

At one point, Williams stepped out to pick up a pizza, leaving the boy alone with Poague. Shortly after, Poague texted her boyfriend, telling him that his child wasn't breathing.

When Williams rushed back, he found his son unresponsive. In a panic, he took the boy to the hospital, hoping doctors could save him.

Medical staff fought to stabilize the toddler to prepare to have him airlifted to a children's hospital in Atlanta, but it was already too late. The child was pronounced dead around 4 p.m.

The Trial Unfolds as a Disturbing Motive Is Allegedly Revealed

Nearly two years have passed since the tragedy that shattered a young boy's life and upended a Georgia community. Now, the long-awaited trial of 20-year-old Poague has finally begun, and every chilling detail is being broadcast live on YouTube for the world to see.

Poague has entered a plea of not guilty to every charge. But prosecutors have started laying out a case that threatens to destroy whatever innocence still clings to her former image.

According to Prosecutor Lamb, the motive behind the child's death was rooted in jealous resentment. The state claims Poague was envious of the bond between her boyfriend and his son from a previous relationship.

"She wanted to have a child or children with Julian Williams," Lamb told the jury on Tuesday. "But not that child."

Prosecutors have alleged that Poague killed the toddler in a jealous rage, believing the attention and affection Williams gave the boy rightfully belonged to her.

The theory goes further, claiming she did not want to be a stepmother and saw the boy as an obstacle to the future she imagined.

The Evidence Begins to Paint a Disturbing Picture

In the last few days of testimony, prosecutors have also unveiled evidence that seemingly casts an even darker shadow over Poague.

Among the most unsettling pieces are text messages, some of which she allegedly sent to her former roommate, Parris Purmort. In one, she expressed how deeply she disliked Angeles, whom his father also referred to as Jaxton Drew.

"I can't stand being around JD anymore. He hates me and I hate him," Prosecutor Lamb told the jury that Poague had written.

The court also heard that Poague once asked her roommate to sleep in her room, claiming the toddler had been "fussy" and that Williams was not helping with childcare.

But a disturbing detail came from Poague's internet search history, which happened while she and Williams were at the hospital. According to a witness from the prosecution's side, Poague looked up phrases such as "How do you get a brain bleed?" and "How can a depressed skull fracture go unnoticed?"

Damning Testimonies Expose Contradictions and Shocking Injuries

Testimony added more context to the events of that night, as Sumter County Coroner Matthis Wright took the stand and revealed inconsistencies in Poague's story.

According to Wright, Poague initially claimed that Angeles had been eating chips shortly before he lost consciousness. But that detail was quickly shattered by medical exams from that night, which confirmed the boy had nothing in his stomach before he died.

What the exam further revealed was even more horrifying.

The toddler had suffered "blunt-force trauma" to his head and upper body. It was so powerful that his brain was rendered "useless."

Then, the coroner explained that Poague changed her story. She told investigators that the child had simply fallen off the bed.

But the emergency room doctor who treated the boy that day, Dr. Michael Busman, testified that the injuries did not match a fall. In fact, he said the swelling and fluid found coming from the child's nose pointed to a "direct blow" to the head.

If that wasn't disturbing enough, a previous indictment had also revealed that Angeles had suffered a "serious disfigurement to his liver."

Meanwhile, the defense attorney, Gamble III, pushed back, arguing that Williams was a "controlling boyfriend" who had been drinking shortly before the boy was injured. He acknowledged the unpleasant tone of Poague's texts but told the court there is no direct evidence she harmed the child.

Still, after her arrest, the pageant organization swiftly responded by stripping Poague of her Miss Donalsonville title. Furthermore, if the jury finds her guilty on all counts, she faces life in prison without parole, or potentially, the death penalty.

In the end, the arguments over procedure and perception could not eclipse the central truth of the case: a child is gone, and a Georgia courtroom has delivered judgment that will echo far beyond the video that captured it.