A woman previously known for adult entertainment is facing allegations of killing her former partner who had become her father-in-law after reportedly engaging in a romantic relationship with her stepson. Devyn Michaels, aged 46, was taken into custody following the discovery of the decapitated body of Jonathan Willette, also 46, who was found with chemical burns at his residence in Las Vegas, United States.
Authorities state that the victim’s body showed signs of tampering with cleaning agents like bleach and ammonia. Despite the missing head, Michaels and Willette, who share two young daughters, had a complex relationship due to Michaels secretly marrying Willette’s adult son, creating a peculiar family dynamic where Michaels was both Willette’s partner and daughter-in-law.
In a legal development, the former adult film performer entered a guilty plea for second-degree murder last fall as part of a plea agreement that included a 15-year prison term with the chance of parole. However, during a sentencing hearing in July, Michaels surprisingly proclaimed her innocence, prompting prosecutors to initiate a first-degree murder trial, which commenced recently.
During the trial’s opening statements, the lead prosecutor informed the court that Michaels allegedly killed Willette because she desired to raise her children with his son, Deviere Willette, aged 29. Michaels and Jonathan Willette never formalized their relationship, but Michaels reportedly tied the knot with Deviere in 2021, claiming it was for assistance with her medical issues.
At the time of Willette’s demise, the couple was allegedly planning to reconcile for the sake of their children. Prosecutors assert that Michaels had different intentions and wanted Willette out of the picture to secure a specific future with her son. Presenting a family photo of Michaels, Deviere, and her children, the chief prosecutor emphasized Michaels’ alleged motive for the crime.
Further investigation revealed that Deviere underwent a polygraph test, during which he reportedly exhibited significant physiological reactions when questioned about his involvement in his father’s death. Michaels later confessed to striking Willette with a wooden spoon on the fatal night, claiming she did not intend to kill him but aimed to hospitalize him to clear the way for her and her children’s future.
Authorities suspect that Willette’s severed head was disposed of in the trash and eventually taken to a landfill. Before her scheduled sentencing, Michaels emotionally defended her innocence in court, asserting her determination to prove it. The trial is ongoing as Michaels continues to maintain her innocence and fight the accusations leveled against her.
