After spending nearly two weeks behind bars, Mariah Hamilton, the ex-girlfriend of South Florida rapper YNW Melly, is finally free. Judge Martin Fein granted her release on the condition that she commit to attending all future court appearances linked to Melly’s high-profile murder case.
Hamilton was first drawn into this case when she was scheduled to testify at YNW Melly’s initial trial for the 2018 double murder of his friends Christopher Thomas Jr. and Anthony Williams. That 2023 trial ended in a mistrial, but Hamilton’s not appearing in court to testify did not go unremarked. She fled when the court ordered her to testify, and a warrant for her arrest soon followed.
Her return to the U.S. on January 26 didn’t go as planned—she was immediately taken into custody and spent nearly two weeks in jail for civil contempt. Meanwhile, allegations of witness tampering swirled around Melly and his associates, with prosecutors suggesting they had pressured Hamilton into staying silent.
Judge Fein laid down the law at her hearing:
“Miss Hamilton, you’ve got to show up. If someone subpoenas you for a deposition, a hearing, or a trial—whether that’s the state or the defense—you’ve gotta answer the subpoena.”
Her defense lawyer pushed for an unconditional release. Still, Fein didn’t budge, citing Florida statute 902.15, which allows civil contempt jail time in cases involving life sentences or the death penalty—the exact stakes of Melly’s retrial. Hamilton now walks free but under strict conditions: an ankle monitor, a signed commitment to attend every court date, and mandatory communication with attorneys and prosecutors.
In an exclusive interview, Hamilton opened up about the pressure from law enforcement, revealing that she felt threatened when the case erupted.
“I was 17, about to turn 18. They came to my house, telling me they were going to arrest me on accessory after the fact,” she recalled. She also accused lead investigator Detective Mark Moretti of coercing her into making statements. “He told me that I was lying… and that he could arrest me for accessory after the fact.”
These encounters led her to file a harassment complaint against Moretti, adding another twist to the case’s already tangled web.
Meanwhile, YNW Melly—real name Jamell Demons—continues to fight charges for the 2018 murders of his friends. The upcoming retrial, scheduled for September 10, 2025, is expected to be a defining moment in his legal battle. Prosecutors have also accused Melly and his alleged accomplice, Cortlen Henry, of witness tampering, further complicating the case.
Hamilton’s reluctant yet unavoidable role in the trial has made her a central figure in the prosecution’s strategy. Her testimony could tip the scales in a case already weighed down by intense scrutiny and speculation. As the legal battle rages on, all eyes are on Hamilton, whose next move could have major implications for the fate of YNW Melly.
