by Nevada – A Nevada woman at the center of one of the state’s most disturbing murder cases is now trying to clear her name — more than a year after she confessed to killing and decapitating her boyfriend, who was also her husband’s father.
The Grisly 2023 Discovery
Police say Johnathan Willette’s headless body was discovered inside a Henderson, Nevada home on August 7, 2023. According to authorities, his mother found the horrific scene, surrounded by bottles of bleach and ammonia — suggesting an attempt to clean or destroy evidence.
The Henderson Police Department confirmed that Willette’s girlfriend, Devyn Michaels, was arrested about a week later. At the time, she allegedly admitted to striking Willette in the head with a wooden stick during a confrontation. Michaels reportedly told investigators she only meant to hurt him — not kill him — after he allegedly tried to coerce her into a sexual act.
“I just wanted to hurt him so I could figure out what to do with my children while he was in the hospital,” she reportedly said, according to FOX 5 Las Vegas.
From Guilty Plea to Dramatic Turnaround
Last year, Michaels pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, seemingly closing the case. However, during her July sentencing hearing, she had a sudden breakdown in court — proclaiming her innocence and claiming she had been misunderstood.
Her emotional outburst led Clark County District Court Judge Tierra Jones to allow her to withdraw her guilty plea and request a full jury trial. That trial officially began on November 5, with Michaels hoping to prove she was not responsible for Willette’s death.
A Twisted Family Connection
The case took another bizarre turn when it was revealed that Michaels was married to Willette’s son at the time of the killing. Despite the shocking connection, police reports suggest the marriage was more of a mutual arrangement than a romantic relationship — one meant to help Michaels with unspecified medical issues.
However, prosecutors say that Michaels and Willette — her father-in-law — had become romantically involved and were planning to move in together with their two shared children.
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During the trial, the jury was reportedly shown intimate photos of Michaels and her husband, taken when the son was still in his teens — deepening the layers of complexity in the case.
Defense Shifts Blame
Michaels’ defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, argued that the real killer could be Willette’s son, who allegedly had strong motives for revenge and jealousy.
“He was no longer going to be in this relationship because his dad — the dad he hated — was coming in and taking not only his home but also his wife,” Draskovich told jurors, according to 8 News Now.
As testimony continues, prosecutors maintain that Michaels is solely responsible for Willette’s brutal death, while the defense insists she is being framed in a web of twisted family dynamics and misplaced blame.
The jury’s verdict will determine whether her shocking claim of innocence holds any truth.
What’s your take on this disturbing Nevada murder trial? Share your thoughts in the comments or join the discussion at mikeandjonpodcast.com.
