A woman formerly active in adult entertainment stands accused of killing her ex-lover, who also happened to be her stepson’s father. Devyn Michaels, aged 46, was taken into custody following the discovery of the decapitated body of Jonathan Willette, also 46, with chemical burns in his Las Vegas home.
Authorities disclosed that the victim’s body was found desecrated with bleach and ammonia at his residence. The head of Willette was never located. Michaels and Willette had a complicated relationship and shared two young daughters. Adding to the complexity, Michaels was apparently married in secret to Willette’s adult son, making her both his partner and daughter-in-law, as per local sources.
Last fall, the adult film performer confessed to second-degree murder as part of a plea bargain resulting in a 15-year prison term with the chance of parole.
However, during her sentencing hearing in July, Michaels made a surprising claim of innocence. Subsequent to her declaration, prosecutors pursued a first-degree murder trial, which commenced recently.
In the trial’s opening statements, the lead prosecutor alleged that Michaels killed Willette because she desired to raise her children with his son, Deviere Willette, 29, as reported by PEOPLE.
Although Michaels and Jonathan Willette were never legally wed, she purportedly tied the knot with Deviere in 2021. It was said that she informed authorities she married him to assist in managing her medical conditions, according to local media outlet KTNV.
At the time of Willette’s demise, the couple was reportedly intending to reunite for the sake of their children. Prosecutors, however, argue that this arrangement was not what Michaels wanted.
Presenting a family photo featuring Michaels, Deviere, and her children, chief prosecutor John Giordani informed jurors, “This is the future that she envisaged and wanted, and the only way to achieve that future was by removing John from the equation.”
Deviere also underwent a polygraph examination, during which she supposedly exhibited a strong physical reaction when questioned about her involvement in Willette’s death.
When asked about this reaction, Michaels allegedly confessed to hitting Willette in the head with a wooden spoon on the night of his demise. She reportedly stated that her intention was not to kill him but to harm him enough to necessitate hospitalization, as she wanted him out of the way to plan for her children.
Investigators suspect that Willette’s severed head was disposed of in the trash and later taken to a landfill. Before her scheduled sentencing in July, Michaels broke down in court and asserted her innocence.
“I understand that currently, nobody in the family believes in my innocence at any point, but I can actually prove it,” she stated. “I can show that I was trying to help him.”
The trial is ongoing.