Blayne Alexander

I'm worried about this.

And he would say, hey, let's just pray.

It felt like friends that came together that were on one mission together.

About nine months after Jay Lee went missing, that mission entered a new phase.

A grand jury indicted Tim Harrington on upgraded charges of capital murder and kidnapping.

But as the case headed to trial, Jay's family and friends wondered if the evidence would be strong enough to convict.

Is it almost like you're walking in with one hand tied behind your back?

You're having to convince these people that someone is dead without even a body.

That's a huge reasonable doubt right there.

In December of 2024, two and a half years after Jay Lee disappeared, Tim Harrington went on trial for his murder.

Jay's father, Jimmy, was ready for it, but he was nervous.

Were you worried going in?

I think I was a little.

I even remember praying one night for the Lord to give me strength if he was to walk.

Gwen Ago, DA Ben Creekmore's co-counsel, led off the prosecution's case.

Did you have a concern that where we are in Mississippi, in the South, that it could make a jury less sympathetic to Jay?

100% because of people's just sort of ignorance and lack of understanding that Jay's just like you or me, that he was just a college kid whose parents supported him like anyone else's kid and their parents.

So who was Jay?

He was vibrant.

He walked on his own feet.