Incarcerated Florida rapper YNW Melly says he has tested positive for coronavirus

YNW Melly, the South Florida rapper who remains behind bars in Broward County jail on double murder charges, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The “Mixed Personalities” artist shared the news via his Instagram account Thursday evening.

“He hopes for your support and to recover soon #prayformelly send positive energy to him please,” the caption read.

The announcement came a few hours after the Broward County Sheriff’s Office confirmed two unidentified inmates tested positive for COVID-19.

Born Jamell Demons, Melly has been imprisoned since mid-February 2019 when Miramar police arrested him on charges related to the shooting deaths of Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. Aspiring rappers from Vero Beach, Williams and Thomas Jr. were brought to Memorial Hospital Miramar in October 2018 with multiple gunshot wounds.

Demons’ associate YNW Bortlen, or Cortlen Henry, was also arrested on similar charges. Both have since pleaded not guilty. The state, however, filed a “notice of intent to seek death penalty” against Demons in April 2019.

There’s speculation that Demons’ test will lead to an early release. Just days before the 20-year-old tested positive, his mother, Jamie Demons-King, said the coronavirus outbreak had postponed her son’s release. His lawyers also intend to file for a restricted release “due to any jails not being prepared to treat this new virus,” the post read.

Demons’ rise to fame began when he uploaded “Murder on My Mind,” a song that features his grim retelling of an unintentional homicide, to Soundcloud in March 2017. The track later peaked at no. 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. He has since collaborated with several popular artists such as Kanye West, Juice WRLD and Trippie Redd.

This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 5:30 AM.

C. Isaiah Smalls II

Miami Herald

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C. Isaiah Smalls II is a sports and culture writer who covers the Miami Dolphins. In his previous capacity at the Miami Herald, he was the race and culture reporter who created The 44 Percent, a newsletter dedicated to the Black men who voted to incorporate the city of Miami. A graduate of both Morehouse College and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, Smalls previously worked for ESPN’s Andscape.

Devoun Cetoute

Miami Herald

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Miami Herald Cops and Breaking News Reporter Devoun Cetoute covers a plethora of Florida topics, from breaking news to crime patterns. He was on the breaking news team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2022. He’s a graduate of the University of Florida, born and raised in Miami-Dade. Theme parks, movies and cars are on his mind in and out of the office.