Woman who decapitated ex-boyfriend, tossed his head in the trash, pleaded guilty

Devyn Michaels, a 46-year-old Las Vegas woman, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the brutal death of 46-year-old Johnathan James Willette, the father of her children.

Michaels faces prison sentence with eligibility for parole after 15 years, following her plea on Tuesday.

The case gained attention after Willette’s mother found his headless body at his residence, with the room filled with smoke from a chemical mixture of bleach and ammonia.

Willette’s mother reportedly discovered the gruesome scene and contacted police, describing her son’s body wrapped in blankets and covered in blood. His head was missing, and investigators later determined it had been taken by Michaels and likely discarded in the trash, picked up during regular service, and taken to a landfill.

The crime took place in the 2000 block of Pala Dura Drive, and Michaels was identified as a suspect after police found Willette’s personal items, including his keys, wallet and a bloody phone at the scene.

The relationship between Michaels and Willette was described as an “on-again, off-again affair,” and they had two daughters together. Willette’s mother told authorities that the two were trying to reconcile.

Complicating matters, Michaels was also married to Willette’s son, a marriage she explained was to help one another with various issues, including medical problems. Willette’s son also supported this claim, stating the marriage was to assist Michaels with her health needs.

During her interrogation, Michaels claimed that Willette had been abusive, and she hit him with a stick while they were in bed, causing his arms to go limp. She asserted that she did not intend to kill him but only wanted to injure him enough to get him out of the way so she could focus on her children.

Willette’s mother also noted that a meat cleaver was missing from the kitchen, adding to the suspicion that Michaels had dismembered him.

In an unrelated case, Michaels was also facing a child abuse charge at the time of Willette’s murder. She had been sentenced to one year of probation for allegedly abusing her 8-year-old daughter, who had reported to her teacher that she had received a “whooping” at home.

Michaels is scheduled to be sentenced for Willette’s murder on October 31, 2024.

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Willette, a father of two, was well known in the Las Vegas area, where he worked in the timeshare business for over 20 years. His obituary described him as a helpful and generous man who would assist anyone in need.