YNW Melly's Ex-Girlfriend Held for Witness Tampering

Mariah Hamilton, the former girlfriend of rapper Jamell 'YNW Melly' Demons, was arrested on a civil contempt warrant upon her return to the U.S. after failing to testify in his 2023 murder trial, which ended in a mistrial. Hamilton, who had been ordered to testify about the 2018 murders of Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr., did not appear in court, resulting in an outstanding warrant. Her attorney claims she was unaware of the warrant and argues her detention without bond is punitive. Hamilton is currently held in Broward County Jail and has expressed willingness to cooperate, citing threats from law enforcement as reasons for her initial absence. Prosecutors argue her testimony is vital as no other witnesses can provide the same information. A retrial for YNW Melly is scheduled, where he and his co-defendant face charges of witness tampering for allegedly attempting to prevent Hamilton from testifying.