A murder trial that began this week in Nevada has revealed disturbing allegations about a former adult film actress accused of decapitating her ex-partner to pursue a relationship with his son.
Devyn Michaels, 45, faces murder charges in connection with the death of Johnathan Willette, 47, whose headless body was discovered at his Henderson, Nevada residence in 2023.
The trial commenced Wednesday with prosecutors presenting their theory of the crime to jurors.
Deputy District Attorney John Giordani told the court that Michaels wanted to remove Willette from her life to build a future with his son, Deviere Willette, whom she had married.
Michaels had married her former partner’s son, creating an unusual family dynamic where her ex became her father-in-law, according to prosecutors.
The prosecution alleges she envisioned a life where Deviere would raise her two children as his own rather than as his siblings, CBS 8 reported.
“This is the future that she saw and that she wanted, and the only way to have that future was with John out of the picture,” Giordani stated during opening arguments.
The victim’s mother made the grisly discovery of her son’s remains. According to police reports, she found his headless body covered in chemicals and emitting smoke at his home.
When initially questioned by investigators, Michaels provided a different account of events.
Police records indicate she told authorities she struck Willette with a wooden stick after he allegedly attempted to coerce her into performing a sexual act while she was rubbing his back in bed.
The victim’s head has never been recovered. Prosecutors claim Michaels transported it from Henderson to her Las Vegas home and disposed of it in the trash.
The case took several turns before reaching trial. Michaels had agreed to a plea agreement last fall but subsequently requested to withdraw from the deal, forcing the matter to proceed to trial.
Defense attorney Robert Draskovich presented an alternative theory to jurors. While not disputing the existence of the complicated relationship between all parties, he pointed the finger at Deviere Willette as the actual killer.
The defense claims Deviere attacked his father in a fit of jealous rage after Michaels requested a divorce to reconcile with the elder Willette. According to this version of events, Deviere faced losing both his home and his wife to his father.
“Deviere was getting kicked out, he was no longer going to be in this relationship because Dad, the dad he hated, was coming in and not only taking his home, but taking his wife,” Draskovich told the jury, per CBS 8.
Prosecutors characterized Michaels as a calculated killer who eliminated Willette to clear the path for her preferred life with his son.
Giordani warned jurors they were about to hear shocking details about the case.
“And all I can say is, ‘Buckle up, because you’re in for a wild ride,’” Giordani stated before presenting graphic photographs of the victim’s body to the jury.
Investigators have been unable to locate either the murder weapon or the victim’s severed head, complicating the prosecution’s case.
The absence of these key pieces of evidence may play a significant role as the trial progresses.
