R. Kelly Hospitalized After Alleged Overdose in Prison; Lawyers Allege Plot to Kill Him

Aimee Cherry Quartey
By
R. Kelly Hospitalized After Alleged Overdose in Prison; Lawyers Allege Plot to Kill Him
R Kelly
R&B singer R. Kelly was rushed to Duke University Hospital on June 13th after collapsing in his cell at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina, following what his legal team describes as a “near-lethal” overdose of medication administered by prison staff while he was in solitary confinement.

According to court filings by Chicago attorney Beau Brindley, Kelly, serving a 30-year sentence for racketeering and sex trafficking convictions had been taking prescribed anxiety and sleep medications. On June 12, Brindley alleges, guards instructed Kelly to take an extra dose of his routine meds; within hours, he experienced dizziness, blacked-out vision, and ultimately passed out in his cell. Medics discovered he had been given “an amount of medicine that could have killed him.”

At Duke, doctors diagnosed Kelly with blood clots in both legs and his lungs, conditions they said required a minimum seven-day hospitalization and surgery. Despite these findings and against medical advice, prison personnel returned Kelly to FCI Butner after just two days, denying him the recommended treatment to clear the clots.

In a startling twist, Brindley’s emergency court motion alleges this incident was not accidental but part of a broader conspiracy by prison officials to have Kelly killed. The filing includes a sworn declaration from inmate Mikeal Glenn Stine—identified as a member of the Aryan Brotherhood—who claims he was offered incentives, including early release, in exchange for murdering the singer. Kelly’s attorneys say a senior prison official even warned Kelly to avoid the mess hall over fears of poisoned meals.

Seeking relief, Kelly’s legal team has asked the Northern District of Illinois for temporary home detention and petitioned former President Donald Trump for a presidential pardon, arguing that ongoing threats and denial of medical care constitute “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Federal prosecutors and the Bureau of Prisons have dismissed the allegations as “fanciful” and a “continuation of Mr. Kelly’s denials,” emphasizing his unrepentant stance on his convictions and characterizing the medical response as appropriate under prison protocols. A BOP spokesperson declined further comment, citing privacy and ongoing litigation.

A hearing is expected in the coming days before Judge Martha Pacold, who will consider Kelly’s motion for release and the extraordinary claims of a murder-for-hire plot within federal walls. As this high-stakes legal battle unfolds, questions about inmate safety, medical oversight, and the potential for internal corruption at FCI Butner loom large.

Comments

MORE FROM
music

More From 3Music News

EL Signs Publishing Deal With Sony Music Publishing
music | entertainment | BY Christabel Newman | February 11th, 2026

EL Signs Publishing Deal With Sony Music Publishing

Ghanaian music creative EL has announced a major career milestone after confirming a new publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing...

Adekunle Gold Taps Davido For ONLY GOD CAN SAVE ME
music | entertainment | BY Christabel Newman | February 11th, 2026

Adekunle Gold Taps Davido For ONLY GOD CAN SAVE ME

Nigerian music star, Adekunle Gold has officially announced his next single, and it comes with heavyweight support…

Lancaster University Ghana Hosts Model African Union Session on America at 250
culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | February 11th, 2026

Lancaster University Ghana Hosts Model African Union Session on America at 250

Tertiary students from selected universities across Ghana are set to participate in a Model African Union (AU) session focused on the theme “America at 250: The Historical and Contemporary Role of the United States in Africa’s Stability and Development

Hamamat Montia Appointed Ghana’s Global Shea butter Ambassador
entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Christabel Newman | February 10th, 2026

Hamamat Montia Appointed Ghana’s Global Shea butter Ambassador

She is the founder of the Shea Butter Museum in Accra. The first institution of its kind, created to preserve, document and celebrate the history, traditional knowledge and cultural importance of shea butter across West Africa…

Abu Trica Files Lawsuit Against EOCO, Interior Ministry, FBI And NACOC Over Alleged Rights Violations
entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | BY Christabel Newman | February 10th, 2026

Abu Trica Files Lawsuit Against EOCO, Interior Ministry, FBI And NACOC Over Alleged Rights Violations

The suit was filed on Thursday February 5, 2026, at the Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra, where the influencer is seeking GH₵10 million in damages for…

Telecel Brings TURN UP Experience To University Of Ghana
music | entertainment | BY Christabel Newman | February 10th, 2026

Telecel Brings TURN UP Experience To University Of Ghana

Headlining the show are Black Sherif, Kweku Smoke and KiDi, alongside other supporting acts…

Dr Chris Aminarh Explains Permanent Family Planning Options
entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | BY Christabel Newman | February 10th, 2026

Dr Chris Aminarh Explains Permanent Family Planning Options

Speaking on the Big Convo, Dr Aminarh highlighted that many people mistakenly associate family planning solely with sexual activity or avoiding childbirth...

Dr Chris Aminarh Explains Tubal Ligation
entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | BY Christabel Newman | February 10th, 2026

Dr Chris Aminarh Explains Tubal Ligation

The doctor explained that menstrual bleeding is the shedding of the uterine lining, not the release of eggs…

Samini Unveils Tracklist For Upcoming Album
music | entertainment | BY Christabel Newman | February 9th, 2026

Samini Unveils Tracklist For Upcoming Album

With ORIGIN8A, Samini appears to be reconnecting with his foundations while pushing his sound into new creative territories...

DJ Venmak On The Power Of Collaboration
music | entertainment | culture | BY Christabel Newman | February 9th, 2026

DJ Venmak On The Power Of Collaboration

“People have realised that everyone has something to offer,” he said. “If you’re doing something impressive, others will want to connect to that energy.”

DJ Venmak Experiences Ghana For The First Time
music | entertainment | culture | BY Christabel Newman | February 9th, 2026

DJ Venmak Experiences Ghana For The First Time

“Everybody I’ve met has been very welcoming,” he said. “From radio to bars to just chilling in different spaces, the energy has been amazing.”

Bullgod Calls For Urgent Reform Of Police Cell Conditions In Ghana
music | entertainment | culture | BY Christabel Newman | February 9th, 2026

Bullgod Calls For Urgent Reform Of Police Cell Conditions In Ghana

“If we truly believe in ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ then our systems must reflect that,” he stated...

More Similar Videos

Showboy Shares His Journey From Prison To Becoming Ghana's Biggest Trapper
music,entertainment | Lerny Lomotey | October 27th, 2025

Showboy Shares His Journey From Prison To Becoming Ghana's Biggest Trapper