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'Help Find My Child': Father Pleads For Help Finding Missing Ole Miss Student

Jimmie "Jay" Lee, a 20-year-old public policy student, disappeared in the early morning hours July 8 after he was seen leaving an apartment complex. 

By Jill Sederstrom
A photo of missing woman Jimmie "Jay" Lee

A Mississippi father is pleading for help to find a missing University of Mississippi student, who mysteriously vanished a week ago.

“Call, contact the law enforcement. Just tell them what you know,” Jimmie “Jay” Lee’s father, Jimmie Lee said in a video released by Oxford Police. “This is my plea, that you help find my child.”  

Jay Lee, a 20-year-old public policy student, was last seen at 5:58 a.m. on July 8 leaving Campus Walk Apartments, according to a statement from police. He was wearing a silver robe or housecoat, gold cap and grey slippers.

His car, a distinctive 2014 black Ford Fusion with a gold racing stripe down the middle of the front hood, was found Monday at a local towing company.

The company had towed the vehicle from the Molly Barr Trails apartment complex the afternoon of July 8.

“We believe Lee may have been visiting someone at Molly Barr Trails at the time of his disappearance,” police said.

Oxford Police have launched a joint investigation with the University Police Department to try to find the 20-year-old.

In an update Thursday, they urged the public that “no tip was too small” and said that “right now we need information more than anything.”

“Around a dozen search warrants have been executed on both physical and digital entities,” police said. “We are still waiting on some of those entities to return information back.”

Those who know the missing student described him as a kind and motivated 20-year-old, who was passionate about helping the community and an active member of the LGBT community.

I would like for everyone to understand who my son is and know that he is a hard worker,” Jimmie Lee said. “He was currently working on an effort to provide infant formula for children that did not have it available to them.”

The effort was in conjunction with the Lafayette County Child Protective Services, according to The Oxford Eagle.

“I can remember my son coming to this college being willing to face the unknown without a problem,” his father said. “I’m so proud of him for that. I want everyone to know that whether you were black, white, green, polka-dotted, it didn’t matter who you are, he was there to help if he saw the need.”

Keith Antonio Bankston, a community leader and advocate for the black LGBT community in Jackson, also spoke about Jay Lee’s influence on the community.

“Praying for comfort and strength for Jaylee, friends and family, especially Jay’s sister, Tayla Carey,” he said, according to the local paper. “Lee was a beloved member and entertainer here in our Jackson LGBT Community.”

Jay Lee is described as 5’7” tall, weighing 120 pounds with black and blonde hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about the college student’s disappearance, is urged to call the Oxford Police Department at 662-232-2400; University Police Department at 662-915-7234 or Crime Stoppers at 662-234-8477.

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