Former Pornstar Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Ex-Husband’s Beheading Case

Guilty Verdict in High-Profile Murder Case

A former adult film actress turned real estate agent was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury after a gripping two-week trial. Devyn Michaels was convicted and sentenced for the brutal beheading of her ex-husband, Johnathan Willette.

Willette’s severed head was discovered in a state indicating attempts to conceal the crime, as his body had been covered with chemicals when found by his mother.

Trial and Motives Explored

The 14-member jury reached their unanimous verdict just hours following the closing arguments. Prosecutors painted Michaels as driven by jealousy, focusing on her ex-husband’s custody of their children.

They revealed complex family dynamics, including the fact that Michaels was once married to Willette for six years, from 2012 to 2018. Subsequently, in 2021, she married his 29-year-old son, Deviere Willette. Michaels referred to both unions as “marriages of convenience.”

The defense tried to shift blame onto Deviere, claiming he became enraged after Michaels sought a divorce to reunite with Johnathan, but the jury did not find this argument convincing. Deviere himself testified, denying any involvement in his father’s death.

Incriminating Statements and Interviews

During the trial, a video surfaced showing Michaels admitting to striking Willette with a “candlestick-like” object while providing him a massage. She described the moment saying, “He didn’t say anything. He stopped moving.”

Detective Dennis Ozawa detailed an interview where Michaels confessed to disposing of Willette’s head in a trash bin near her residence. She reportedly said “Bye-bye” to Willette after hearing the beep of a garbage truck, although this particular comment was never presented to the jury because it was recorded without her attorney present despite her requests.

Unresolved Evidence

Critical pieces of evidence remain missing, including the murder weapon and the tools used in the decapitation. The coroner’s office speculated that a knife and a saw were likely employed in the grisly act.

Claims of Innocence and Trial Proceedings

Previously, Michaels had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder as part of a plea deal that would have allowed for a parole hearing after 15 years. However, she later sought to withdraw this plea, claiming innocence, which led to a full trial. Jurors were not informed of the plea agreement during the proceedings.