Mariah Hamilton, the ex-girlfriend of rapper YNW Melly, has been arrested in Miami-Dade County on a warrant related to the rapper’s first murder trial. Hamilton, 24, was taken into custody on Sunday, with the warrant appearing to stem from Broward County. Allegations against Hamilton include failing to appear at Melly's previous trial and witness tampering. Details of her arrest surfaced following her return to the U.S., according to Local 10 News.
YNW Melly, legally known as Jamell Demons, is facing a retrial on charges of double murder. The victims, fellow rappers Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas and Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams, were found fatally shot in a Jeep Compass on October 26, 2018, after a studio session with Melly in Broward County. His co-defendant, Cortland “Bortland” Henry, is also implicated in the alleged crimes, standing accused of driving the Jeep, and collaborating in the concealment of the homicides, per Local 10 News.
The first trial of YNW Melly ended inconclusively as the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision after several days. A report from Local 10 News indicates that after three days of deliberation in 2023, the 12-member panel could not come to an agreement, resulting in a mistrial. Meanwhile, Local 10 News also reported that as of Monday morning, Hamilton was being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center pending her transfer to Broward.
As a key witness in the trial, Hamilton's arrest for witness tampering complicates the legal proceedings involving YNW Melly, according to information from a post by The806er.
