A former adult film star is facing a first-degree murder trial in the United States, accused of the gruesome beheading of her on-and-off lover, who was also the father of her two children, amid allegations of a secret affair with her own stepson.
A Grisly Discovery and a Tangled Web
Devyn Michaels, 46, was arrested after the body of Jonathan Willette, also 46, was discovered in his Las Vegas residence. The scene was particularly harrowing, as Willette had been decapitated and his body subjected to chemical burns from bleach and ammonia. Prosecutors described the body as having been "defiled." His head has never been found, with investigators believing it was discarded in the trash and later taken to a landfill.
The family dynamics surrounding the case are intensely complex. Michaels and Willette shared a long-term relationship and had two young daughters together. In a shocking twist, local reports revealed that Michaels was also secretly married to Willette's adult son, Deviere Willette, 29. This made her both Jonathan Willette's partner and his daughter-in-law.
A Dramatic U-Turn in Court
Initially, the case seemed headed for a resolution when Michaels pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the autumn of 2024 as part of a plea deal. This agreement would have seen her serve a 15-year prison sentence with the possibility of parole.
However, during her sentencing hearing in July 2025, Michaels made a dramatic reversal. She broke down in court, insisting she was innocent and vowing to prove it. "I know right now no one in the family feels that I am innocent at any point and I understand that, but I can actually prove my innocence," she stated. "I actually can. And I am not going to stop fighting to prove my innocence." Following this outburst, prosecutors withdrew the plea deal and moved forward with a first-degree murder trial, which began this week.
The Prosecution's Case: A Motive for Murder
During opening statements, the lead prosecutor, John Giordani, laid out the state's theory for the killing. He claimed that Michaels murdered Jonathan Willette because she wanted to build a future with his son, Deviere, and their children, free from Jonathan's involvement.
Holding up a family photograph, Giordani told the jury, "This is the future that she saw and that she wanted, and the only way to have that future was with John out of the picture." Prosecutors allege that at the time of his death, Michaels and Jonathan Willette were planning to move back in together for the sake of their children, an arrangement they claim Michaels did not want.
Further evidence presented to the court included a polygraph test taken by Michaels. She reportedly displayed a strong physiological reaction when asked if she was involved in Willette's death. When questioned about this, she allegedly admitted to striking Willette in the back of the head with a wooden spoon on the night he was killed. She told detectives she did not intend to kill him but "only wanted to hurt him enough that he would have to go to the hospital because she wanted him out of the way so she could figure out what she could do with her children."
The trial continues as the court hears evidence in this deeply disturbing case.
