MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The father of Jimmie “Jay” Lee took to Facebook to thank friends and supporters for their prayers and says his family finally has some closure now that his body has been recovered.

“Finding Jay has created some sense of relief. Some comfort, and we are just so thankful for that,” said Jimmie Lee Sr. “Some that weren’t even law enforcement that did everything within their power to try and help find him. We’re just thankful that he’s here, and we know where he is now.”

The University of Mississippi student disappeared nearly three years ago. Timothy Herrington, Jr., was charged with his murder, but a jury failed to reach a verdict during his trial, and a judge declared a mistrial.

Last weekend, deer hunters discovered remains in Carroll County. On Wednesday, the Mississippi Crime Lab confirmed it was “Jay” Lee.

“It’s been a long one. It’s been almost three years. Two and a half years of pondering your mind all night wondering what field he may be in, what road he may be laying on, what river he may be under. That’s been the hard part. But I thank God for this journey. I thank God for this season,” Jimmie Lee Sr. said.

20-year-old Jimmie “Jay” Lee, who disappeared in July of 2022, was believed to have been visiting someone at Molly Barr Trails in Oxford at the time of his disappearance. Lee’s friends and family reported him missing after he failed to return home. Herrington was accused of killing Lee to hide an alleged romantic relationship.

After the mistrial in December, Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen said he wanted to assure the public that they had not stopped looking for Lee’s body since the day he went missing.

“Thank God for the DA’s office that put on an extremely hard fight and did an amazing job. We thank you.” Jimmie Lee Sr. said. “We’re hoping and praying that justice will prevail. You know, asking God to just keep us as we continue this journey.”

Prosecutors plan to retry Herrington for the 2022 killing of Jay Lee. No trial date has been set.