Florida rapper YNW Melly, born Jamell Demons, has once again been denied bond as he awaits his double murder retrial, now scheduled for January 6, 2027, in Broward County Court. Judge Martin S. Fein filed a 39-page order on May 6 denying Melly bond pending retrial, after reviewing the full case file, prior trial evidence, and testimony from multiple witnesses at an April 30 evidentiary hearing.
This marked Melly’s fourth attempt to secure bond in the case. He has been held in pretrial detention since February 13, 2019 — more than seven years — without a conviction. He faces two counts of first-degree murder and could receive the death penalty if found guilty at trial.
Prosecutors allege Demons shot and killed Christopher Thomas Jr. and Anthony Williams in October 2018 after a night at a recording studio, later staging the scene to appear as a drive-by shooting. His 2023 trial ended in a mistrial when jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.
In each bond attempt, the defense has argued conditions of confinement have been excessively harsh. Defense attorneys Carey Haughwout and Drew Findling stated in their filing: “Although he is presumed innocent, his conditions of confinement are more onerous than if he was actually convicted of a crime and sentenced to prison. He has not seen or talked to his mother or other family members in years.” They further argued: “He is not permitted any human contact with others except the ERT guard and his legal team. It is well-accepted that solitary confinement is psychologically damaging, and can lead to long term mental illness and physical illness.
During a four-hour hearing ahead of the latest denial, attorneys for Melly argued he would have 24-hour security and family support if allowed out of custody. The defense had set up a home in Broward County for Demons if the judge agreed to let him out before the trial, with conditions including no access to social media, limited movement, and 24-hour supervision.
In a prior bond denial, prosecutors argued that the capital murder allegations against him, along with a pending tampering with a witness case, should prevent him from receiving bond, also citing ballistic evidence and cell phone records they said put Demons at the scene of the crime.
Melly remains behind bars as both sides prepare for the January 2027 retrial.
