Murder victim’s family wants rapper YNW Melly in jail despite contracting coronavirus

South Florida rapper YNW Melly’s recent novel coronavirus diagnosis doesn’t mean he should be released from jail, according to the family of one of the people the rapper is charged with killing.

Court documents show the family objected to the 20-year-old’s motion to be released for proper medical care. Melly, whose born name is Jamell Demons, faces double murder charges in connection with the 2018 shooting deaths of Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr. in Miramar.

“While the victims sympathize with the alleged medical condition Mr. Demons faces, Mr. Demons presents a threat to the family, to society and cannot sufficiently be restricted if released,” says an excerpt from the court filings by Thomas’ family.

It’s unclear where the Vero Beach native would go if released.

A “fan” recently agreed to house Cortlen Henry, a companion of Demons’ who also petitioned to be freed because of concerns about contracting the virus. John M. Phillips, an attorney representing Thomas’ family, took particular exception to this considering Henry is also charged in the murders, according to a motion filed Thursday.

“It is preposterous they seek to release him to a ‘fan’ and that defense counsel put that fan’s name, address, phone number and information in the public domain,” John M. Phillips, one of the family’s lawyers, told WPEC-CBS12. “We again ask the public to be sensitive of the victims here. They lost children.”

The motion criticized Henry’s counsel for releasing the fan’s phone number and address, saying it jeopardized his “safety and security.” It also asserted that the fan’s school-age daughter, who the family’s lawyers discovered via social media, should “disqualify him from housing someone charged with murder.”

Demons and Henry have been behind bars since early 2019. Miramar police said the two had “staged the crime scene to resemble a drive-by shooting” at the time of their arrest. Both have since pleaded not guilty.

The “Mixed Personalities” artist could be sentenced to death if convicted.

This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 7:17 PM.

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.