DJ Erick Morillo, best known for his club hit I Like To Move It released under his stage name Reel 2 Real in the 1990s, has been found dead aged 49, TMZ has reported.
The Colombian-American star was found dead in his home in Miami Beach on Monday morning, the US publication reported.
The circumstances surrounding his death are as yet unclear.
The internationally acclaimed DJ’s death comes less than four weeks after he was arrested in Miami and charged with sexual battery.
A rape kit allegedly tested positive for his DNA, however he denied the accusations made against him by a female DJ.
Morillo surrendered himself to authorities on August 6 and was later released on bail.
DJ Erick Morillo was found dead aged 49 on Monday morning (Image: Getty Images)
He was charged over the alleged incident, which reportedly took place in 2019 at an after party he hosted in his Miami home.
According to a police report, the accuser and alleged victim had been hired to work a private event for Morillo and went to his home for drinks afterwards with a second unidentified female.
The alleged victim claimed to the police that the DJ “made several advances towards her, some sexual in nature, but she refused all of his attempts”.
Morillo was best known for the Reel 2 Real hit I Like To Move It (Image: FilmMagic)
The Miami New Times reported that Morillo apologised to the alleged victim so she stayed and later went to sleep alone in the house.
She claimed that she woke up nude on the bed and Morillo was “standing on the side of the bed also nude”.
After the alleged incident, she said she was in pain and called 911 to report being raped, and Morillo’s DNA was found, police said.
The circumstances of Morillo’s death remain unclear (Image: WireImage)
Morillo denied raping the accuser, but reportedly told police he did have sex with the second woman who had been at the house, who said she didn’t see anything.
At the time of the reports, his attorney told MailOnline: “Mr Morillo’s arrest is based on an incident that occurred back on December 7, 2019. Since then, Mr Morillo has fully cooperated with the police.
“It is important the public understands that the police report contains mere allegations and Mr Morillo is presumed innocent. There is more to the story than what is in the initial police report, and I look forward to sharing this evidence as I defend Mr Morillo in court.
“Our system of justice requires that an accused is treated fairly and with due process. Mr Morillo will be exercising all of his constitutional rights and I am confident when all of the evidence is presented in this case, justice will be served, and Mr Morillo will be vindicated.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
