LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The homicide trial towards an ex-porn actress accused of decapitating the daddy of her youngsters started Wednesday as her legal professional pointed to a different suspect, her stepson, whom she later married.
Henderson police arrested Devyn Michaels, 47, who additionally makes use of the names Nikki Fairchild and Tracee Tavarez, on Aug. 15, 2023, for the homicide of 46-year-old Johnathon Willette. Police mentioned Michaels killed and decapitated him at his Henderson house on Aug. 7, 2023.
Final fall, Michaels pleaded responsible to a second-degree homicide cost. As a part of the deal, she could be eligible for parole after serving 15 years in jail. Michaels later tried to revoke her plea, however Clark County District Courtroom Choose Tierra Jones decided Michaels entered it “voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently,” paperwork mentioned. Throughout sentencing this summer season, Michaels apologized after which instantly mentioned she was harmless.
After an outburst, Clark County Chief Deputy District Lawyer John Giordani recommended the case go to trial, which Jones then ordered.
Devyn Michaels sits in courtroom on the primary day of her trial on Nov. 5, 2025. (KLAS)
Wednesday, after seating a jury of 14, which incorporates two alternates, Michaels’ trial started with opening statements.
Giordani informed the jury that Michaels killed Johnathon Willette to reside a life with their two youngsters and her husband, Johnathon Willette’s son, Deviere Willette.
“And all I can say is, ‘Buckle up, because you’re in for a wild ride,’” Giordani informed jurors as he confirmed them crime scene pictures, which included Johnathon Willette’s decapitated physique. Police by no means recovered his head or the homicide weapon.
Michaels allegedly beat Willette with a stick after which decapitated him, Giordani mentioned. Police then imagine she poured chemical compounds over his physique.
Michaels and Johnathon Willette by no means married and within the months earlier than his homicide, Johnathon Willette was granted full custody of their two youngsters. In an try and stabilize their lives, Johnathon Willette was within the strategy of transferring in with Michaels, although Giordani mentioned that was not her actual want.
Referencing a photograph of Michaels, Deviere Willette and the youngsters, Giordani informed 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.”
Michael’s protection legal professional, Robert Draskovich, informed the jury a special story, alleging Deviere Willette killed his father. Police by no means named Deviere Willette as a suspect and interviewed him a number of instances, in line with Wednesday’s testimony.
“Look at the motivations, and find her not guilty,” Draskovich informed the jury.
Prosecutors allege Devyn Michaels killed Johnathon Willette after which poured chemical compounds on him. (KLAS)
In accordance with Draskovich, Deviere Willette informed police he and Michaels had a sexless marriage. Draskovich then confirmed the jury intimate pictures and messages the pair shared courting again to 2016 when Deviere Willette was in his late teenagers.
Within the days earlier than Johnathon Willette’s homicide, Michaels messaged Deviere Willette, calling him a “liar” and a “cheater” and asking for a divorce, Draskovich mentioned.
“What happened on Aug. 7, 2023, was Deviere was getting kicked out, he was no longer going to be in this relationship because dad, the dad he hated, was coming in and not only taking his home, but taking his wife,” Draskovich mentioned.
No cellphone or video proof places Deviere Willette on the crime scene, Giordani informed the jury. Draskovich informed the jury that Deviere Willette works as a home-security system technician and has entry to energy saws.
Throughout sentencing in July, Devyn Michaels, apologized to Willette’s household after which instantly mentioned she was harmless. The choose then ordered the case to go to trial. (KLAS)
Deviere Willette was among the many names anticipated to testify within the trial. Due to this, he was not within the courtroom on Wednesday.
Michaels is accused of taking Willette’s head from the Henderson crime scene and driving it to her house in Las Vegas, the place she threw it within the trash, paperwork mentioned. The pinnacle was then possible picked up by a trash service, prosecutors mentioned.
Because the 8 Information Now Investigators reported after Michaels’ arrest, Clark County District Courtroom Choose Mary Kay Holthus sentenced her to at least one yr of probation on the kid abuse cost on Aug. 9, 2023 — after prosecutors imagine Michaels had killed Willette. Within the days earlier than and after that listening to, police interviewed Michaels and picked up proof as a part of their homicide investigation, paperwork mentioned.
Jones ordered prosecutors to not focus on the kid abuse case on this trial.
“I don’t know how to fix this,” Michaels cried as she requested to withdraw her plea throughout sentencing final summer season.
