The trial of Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr., age 24 accused of killing a popular Ole Miss student who was gay after the two had a sexual encounter continued into its second week on Monday after prosecutors introduced damning evidence including Herringtons purchase of duct tape, rubber gloves, and trash bags from a local Walmart the day his victim disappeared.Jimmy Jay Lee, 20, was well known among the LGBTQ+ community at the University of Mississippi in the town of Oxford. Both men were former students there. Lee vanished on July 8, 2022. Herrington was not out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, according to prosecutors. Related Man convicted for the twisted murder & cover up of his alleged gay lover The internet searches and lengths he went through to hide his crimes are shocking. Police said cellphone history showed conversations between Herrington and Lee early on the morning Lee disappeared. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today On Wednesday, jurors were shown surveillance video of Lee leaving his apartment shortly after 4 a.m., dressed in a robe and slippers. He returned about 40 minutes later and left again just before 6 a.m., speaking on his cell phone.Khalid Fears, a friend of Lees, testified that he had a video chat with Lee at that time, in which Lee said he was on his way to see a man hed been with hours earlier.Lee and Herrington saw each other twice during the hours before Lee disappeared, Assistant District Attorney Gwen Agho said during opening arguments. The men had sexual contact during their first meeting and Lee was upset when he left Herringtons apartment.Herrington invited Lee back, Agho said.Before Lee arrived, Herrington searched online for how long it takes to strangle someone.Surveillance video recorded on the day Lee disappeared shows Herrington running from where Lees car was found at an apartment complex near Herringtons. Herrington was later seen picking up a shovel and wheelbarrow at his parents house, authorities said.Lees body has never been found. He was recently declared dead by a judge at his parents request.Herrington maintains his innocence. In opening arguments, his defense lawyer said there is zero proof that Lee was killed or that any crime took place. Other evidence introduced at trial includes the gray hoodie Herrington was allegedly wearing when he was seen on video near Lees car, and an acrylic fingernail discovered in Herringtons apartment.Prosecutors said Herrington gave conflicting statements over two interviews about Lees disappearance. Police first interviewed Herrington in his apartment, when he said he knew Lee but did not have any kind of sexual relationship with him, said Shane Fortner, one of the officers involved.In the second interview at an Oxford police station, after Herrington was advised of his rights, he said he and Lee had a deeper relationship and that they had a sexual encounter just hours before Lee disappeared. Lee was pursuing a masters degree in fashion, according to a support group called Justice for Jay Lee, and was a popular drag performer in Oxford.Prosecutors announced they dont intend to pursue the death penalty against Herrington if convicted. Capital murder in Mississippi is defined as a killing committed along with another felony, in Herringtons case, kidnapping.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.