DJ Erick Morillo dead days before court hearing for sexual battery charges

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 03:33:40 MSK

His death was confirmed to Miami Beach outlet Local 10 News by Miami Beach Police Department’s Ernesto Rodriguez.

He was found dead after police responded to a call at 10:42am, and detectives are currently in the early stages of an investigation.

No other details, such as cause and date of the death have been announced.

TMZ reports that there were no apparent signs of foul play, and Morillo’s cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.

US DJ Erick Morillo.

Morillo’s death comes just under a month after he was arrested and charged with sexual battery on a woman at his home in December.

Despite denying the accusations, the musician turned himself in after a rape kit tested positive with his DNA.

His court hearing was scheduled for Friday.

The DJ worked under several pseudonyms, such as Reel 2 Reel, which is the name under which I Like to Move It was released. Other names he’s used include Ministers de la Funk, The Dronez, RAW and Smooth Touch.

Fans and dance music figures have paid tribute to the “troubled” DJ, who leaves behind a “complicated legacy” given the charges he was facing:

Heartbreaking news. No words. Rest In Peace @ErickMorillo pic.twitter.com/2y0L3msLdb— Joseph Capriati (@josephcapriati) September 1, 2020

We can hold both thoughts concurrently:Erick Morillo left an undelible mark on house music; his death is tragic & premature.Also, Erick Morillo was out on bail after being arrested for sexually assaulting another DJ last year.His legacy is complicated but loss is still loss.— Zel McCarthy (@ZelMcCarthy) September 1, 2020