Casey Anthony Assists YNW Melly Defense Prep Ahead Of January Retrial

Casey Anthony is assisting with preparation for YNW Melly‘s January 2027 double-murder retrial in Florida.

TMZ reports Anthony is working as a research assistant for private investigator Pat McKenna, whom the rapper’s law firm hired.

Her work involves researching parts of the case, although the team has not described the specific evidence or issues assigned to her.

Anthony and McKenna did not respond to the outlet’s requests for comment. YNW Melly’s legal team also did not explain how long Anthony has been involved in the preparation.

The rapper, whose legal name is Jamell Demons, faces two counts of first-degree murder in the October 26, 2018 deaths of Anthony Williams, known as YNW Sakchaser, and Christopher Thomas Jr., known as YNW Juvy.

Prosecutors allege Williams and Thomas were shot inside a vehicle and that the scene was made to look like a drive-by shooting. Demons has pleaded not guilty.

His first trial ended in a mistrial in July 2023 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. The retrial is set to begin January 6, 2027. Prosecutors are again seeking the death penalty if he is convicted.

Antonio Henry, known as YNW Bortlen, was charged alongside Demons. Henry pleaded guilty in September 2025 to accessory after the fact and witness tampering charges. He received a 10-year prison sentence followed by probation.

The defense added attorney Drew Findling this year. Findling joined the case after helping secure Lil Durk’s acquittal in a federal murder-for-hire trial.

AllHipHop previously reported that Findling criticized the length and conditions of Demons’ pretrial detention.

Anthony’s role connects McKenna to another high-profile criminal case. McKenna worked as a defense investigator during Anthony’s 2011 trial in Florida.

A jury acquitted her of murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter in the death of her daughter, Caylee.

She was convicted of four misdemeanor counts of providing false information to law enforcement, and two of those convictions were later overturned on appeal.

Demons has remained in custody since February 2019. His defense now has two months to finish its preparation before jury selection is scheduled to begin in January.